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ClinicalTrials.gov - What is a Clinical Trial?

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• - A clinical trial (also clinical research) is a research study in human volunteers to answer specific health questions. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest ways to find treatments that work in people and ways to improve health. Interventional trials determine whether experimental treatments or new ways of using known therapies are safe and effective under controlled environments. Observational trials address health issues in large groups of people of populations in natural settings.
  
  
• - Additional Resource Information on clinical trials can be found at http://clinicaltrials.gov/info/resources

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Last updated: 06 May 2004
First published: 01 January 2001
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