a type of health research conducted directly with people (patients or healthy volunteers) to evaluate the safety, effectiveness, and outcomes of drugs, medical devices, diagnostic tools, or healthcare practices. It can include activities such as asking participants questions, administering investigational treatments, taking blood or tissue samples, or monitoring patients’ progress while they receive care under a study protocol. Clinical research studies typically have defined eligibility criteria (such as age, gender, disease type, or disease stage) to determine who can be recruited or enrolled.
Synonyms: Patient-Oriented Research, Clinical Investigation
Example
A hospital runs a clinical research study testing a new inhaler for asthma. Eligible participants between 18–65 years old with moderate asthma are randomly assigned to receive either the new inhaler or the standard treatment. Researchers collect data on lung function, symptom improvement, and side effects over six months to determine the new inhaler’s safety and effectiveness.