Medical Research
Introduction
Medical research (also known as experimental medicine) involves in-depth study and experimentation in the field of health sciences. It encompasses a wide range of biomedical, clinical, translational, and health services research aimed at the prevention and treatment of diseases and the promotion of health.
Biomedical Research
Biomedical research is a broad area of science that seeks to understand the biological processes and mechanisms of living organisms. This research is conducted at a molecular, cellular, and organ/systems level to determine the normal and pathological function of individuals, tissues, and organs.
Molecular and Cellular Research
Molecular and cellular research focuses on the study of diseases at a molecular and cellular level. It involves the use of techniques such as molecular biology, genetics, immunology, and cell biology to understand the cause of diseases and to develop potential treatments.
Systems and Organ Research
Systems and organ research involves the study of the function and diseases of specific systems or organs in the body. This research often involves the use of animal models to understand the pathophysiology of diseases and to test potential treatments.
Clinical Research
Clinical research refers to studies, or trials, that are done in people. As the developers design the clinical study, they will consider what they want to accomplish for each of the different Clinical Research Phases and begin the process of designing the Case Report Forms they will use for each study phase.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies performed in people that are aimed at evaluating a medical, surgical, or behavioral intervention. They are the primary way that researchers find out if a new treatment, like a new drug or diet or medical device (for example, a pacemaker) is safe and effective in people.
Observational Studies
In an observational study, researchers assess health outcomes in groups of participants according to a research plan or protocol. Participants may receive interventions (which can include medical products such as drugs or devices) or procedures as part of their routine medical care, but participants are not assigned to specific interventions by the investigator (as in a clinical trial).
Translational Research
Translational research—often called 'bench-to-bedside' studies—accelerates the discovery of new treatments directed at the basic mechanisms of disorder and disease and hastens the time when effective treatments become a reality.
Preclinical Research
Preclinical research, also called preclinical study or nonclinical study, refers to laboratory experiments conducted on cells, animals, and animal models before they are performed on humans. This research is designed to identify safe and effective therapies before they are tested in humans.
Clinical Implementation
Clinical implementation, the final stage of translational research, involves the delivery of new treatments to patients. This stage involves large-scale clinical trials and the evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of the treatment.
Health Services Research
Health services research is a multidisciplinary field of scientific investigation that studies how social factors, financing systems, organizational structures and processes, health technologies, and personal behaviors affect access to health care, the quality and cost of health care, and ultimately our health and well-being.
Quality and Safety
Quality and safety research focuses on the prevention, detection, and reduction of medical errors and other factors that contribute to unintended harm to patients.
Health Economics
Health economics research seeks to understand the behavior of individuals, providers, insurers, and international, federal, state, and local governments and organizations in the health care system.