What is a Clinical Study?

The development of new medicines involves many stages, beginning with several years of testing in the research laboratory. The next stage of development generally involves studying these potential new medicines in healthy populations first, then in people who suffer from the illnesses these medicines are designed to treat. The majority of the studies to be conducted at the New Haven Clinical Research Unit (CRU) will consist of these early (Phase I) studies in healthy people. These studies, which are also referred to as Clinical Pharmacology studies, will provide valuable information about how much and how often these potential new medicines should be given and how people tolerate them.

These studies represent the essential initial clinical steps in the search for new ways to meet the world’s changing healthcare needs. Here is where you can help. To conduct these studies, in the carefully controlled and safe environment of the CRU, we need volunteers like you from this community to participate. By volunteering for a clinical study, you will have contributed to our efforts to develop new medicines that will improve the lives of many people from your community and the rest of the world.