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Clinical Research

Paving the Way for New Therapies

Next time you open your medicine cabinet or fill a prescription, think about this: New drugs go through rigorous testing before they are deemed safe and effective for people to use.

Research is done through clinical studies, which are essential for improving health and medical care.

Clinical studies are proving ground for new or better:

  • Drugs
  • Procedures or techniques
  • Devices
  • Vaccines
  • Ways to prevent and diagnose disease

Learn More: Increasing Diversity in Clinical Studies

Without these studies, and the people who volunteer to take part in them, many common medicines including aspirin, statins to lower cholesterol, and medicines for high blood pressure and diabetes would not be available today. Through clinical research, we have developed a deep understanding of diseases, such as heart disease and stroke, and how best to treat and prevent them.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires studies to prove that a treatment or device is safe and effective before allowing it to be given to patients. More than a hundred FDA-approved drugs and devices are available to treat or prevent heart and blood vessel disease.

“Clinical research” refers to studies, including clinical trials, that are done in people. Nearly all treatments available today were once studied in clinical trials. Blood thinners, implantable defibrillators, and stents are some examples.


  • Last Edited 02/21/2023