What Is The Clinical Trials Database?
Have you ever wondered about the behind-the-scenes process of getting a new medical treatment or device approved for use? Clinical trials play a crucial role in this process, and the National Registry of all clinical trials, known as clinicaltrials.gov, is the go-to source for information on these studies. But how did this website come to be, and what can you find on it today?
In 1997, the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act was passed, requiring that all investigational studies (clinical trials) be registered with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and made publicly available. In 2000, the NIH launched clinicaltrials.gov, a searchable database of clinical trials worldwide that are regulated by the FDA and open to the public. Since then, various regulations have been put in place to ensure that more studies are registered with NIH, making the website a comprehensive source of information on clinical trials.
So, what exactly can you find on clinicaltrials.gov? The website provides information on current and past clinical research studies, including:
- A summary of the study and what it is investigating
- Eligibility criteria for participating in the study
- Locations where the study is being conducted
- Contact information for connecting with research sites to enroll in the study
- Results of the study (if the study has been completed)
Whether you’re a researcher, a medical professional, or simply interested in learning more about clinical trials, clinicaltrials.gov is a valuable resource. You can also view our current clinical trials offering here.
