Clinical research is a vital component in the study of disease. Many of today's most effective treatments were developed based on the results of this type of research.
MRI is an initiative to give patients with diseases such as cancer, pediatric or infectious diseases access to clinical research programs. These studies are developed with groups of patients with specific conditions. Their main objective is to test the efficacy of a new drug, treatment, procedure, or medical device, under constant medical supervision and monitoring. Participation in any clinical study is always free and voluntary.
Clinical investigations require different phases or stages. Generally, they are conducted in four phases, each designed to answer various unknowns intended to test whether the drug, treatment, procedure, or device is genuinely safe and effective.
Due to its complexity, developing a new drug can take 3 to 5 years. Depending on each study's requirements, it can sometimes take up to 10 years. In MRI, most clinical research is approached from phase 2 or phase 3, in which the results of the initial stages are used to build the following steps.
By participating in clinical research, the participant can try a new drug, treatment, procedure, or medical device unavailable outside the study.
If the treatment tested proves safer and more effective than standard care, participants may be among the first to benefit from it. Participants also have immediate, ongoing maintenance and monitoring by healthcare professionals throughout the research.
Advances in this research may help expand future treatment options for others with the same disease.