On this loving 520, as roses and confessions intertwine into a romantic scene, we celebrate the 21st International Clinical Trial Day. On May 20, 1747, Scottish doctor James Lind conducted a controlled clinical trial and successfully discovered that citrus and lemon could treat scurvy. This milestone event in medical history opened the door of hope for countless patients and made this day a memorable day for the global medical community.

Clinical trials in our country are flourishing at an unprecedented pace. Nowadays, more and more patients are asked whether they are willing to participate in clinical trials when seeking medical treatment. Perhaps you are still unfamiliar with clinical trials, but on this special day of 520 International Clinical Trials Day, let's unveil its mysterious veil together.

What is a clinical trial?

In terms of standardization, clinical trials refer to systematic trials conducted on human subjects (patients or healthy subjects) with the aim of discovering or verifying the clinical, pharmacological, and other pharmacological effects, adverse reactions, or absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of a test drug, in order to determine the efficacy and safety of the drug.

Simply put, clinical trials are a necessary step on the road to conquering diseases. The design of every clinical trial is aimed at using the most scientific approach to identify updated and better treatment methods to assist patients.

Why are clinical trials important? What does it really mean?

The process of clinical trials involves rigorous design and follow-up for several years or even more than ten years to ultimately determine whether a new treatment plan is better than the original standard treatment plan, as well as what kind of administration method and dosage are most appropriate. Any innovation in key diagnostic and treatment methods is supported by clinical trials. In short, all medical and health knowledge must and can only be obtained and utilized through clinical trials.

What are the benefits of participating in clinical trials?

Clinical trials often represent the most cutting-edge and cutting-edge treatment directions. Some drugs have not yet been marketed domestically, but have been marketed and applied abroad, ensuring their safety and efficacy. When medication is most urgently needed, patients may benefit from it several years in advance, extending their lifespan and improving their quality of life. For cancer patients or rare diseases, especially those who have not achieved satisfactory results after standard treatment, participating in appropriate clinical trials such as cell therapy and other cutting-edge therapies may benefit from the latest therapies.

Listening to the many benefits of the experiment, is it really safe?

① Strict approval and supervision

In order to protect the interests of patients, approval from regulatory authorities and ethics committees must be obtained for implementation in any country or region. Not all medical institutions are eligible to conduct clinical trials. Only hospitals that comply with the "Regulations on the Management of Drug Clinical Trial Institutions" and have been registered in the National Medical Products Administration's filing system are qualified to conduct such trials. This is a fundamental guarantee for the health of patients.

② Strict admission requirements

Before participating in clinical trials, doctors will provide patients with a detailed introduction to the trial situation, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the trial and individual differences. Patients can only start after fully understanding and giving informed consent. Not all patients can participate in drug clinical trials, only those who meet the inclusion criteria will enter the treatment period, which is an important guarantee for patient safety.

③ Rights and Interests

The rights and safety of the subjects are the primary factors considered in clinical trials, taking precedence over the benefits to science and society. Although adequate preparation may be made before starting, there may still be some risks that we are not aware of or side effects associated with treatment, and the research doctor will closely monitor your physical condition. At the same time, patients can withdraw from clinical trials at any time and seek alternative treatment options. The entire process was fully protected and respected. This is a necessary guarantee for the rights and interests of patients.

How to find suitable clinical trials?

① Consult a clinical doctor

Clinical doctors recommend clinical trials to patients based on their diagnosis and treatment status, physical health condition, etc. Patients can also consult doctors for relevant information about clinical trials. Taking into account one's own condition, following the professional diagnosis and advice of a doctor is the top priority.

② Search the National Publicity Platform

The "Drug Clinical Trial Registration and Information Disclosure Platform" is an information platform for the National Medical Products Administration to register and publicly disclose all approved drug clinical trials conducted in China, including comprehensive information such as sponsors, trial groups, inclusion criteria, exclusion criteria, etc. By searching for disease and drug names, it is easy to find recruited or upcoming clinical trials.

③ Pay attention to the information on the bulletin board

View clinical trial information in the outpatient hall, waiting area, corridor, or information bar of the hospital. If interested, you can directly contact the research doctor or research assistant.

④ Obtaining recruitment information through online channels

Patients can also obtain recruitment information from online channels, such as the hospital website, official account, and official websites of major pharmaceutical enterprises. Follow the Good Doctor and other platform accounts of research doctors to obtain relevant trial information and contact research doctors.

What is the process of participating in clinical trials?

Participating in clinical trials can be roughly divided into screening treatment follow-up, specifically including:

① Preliminary screening: Based on the patient's submitted medical records, a preliminary review will be conducted. If appropriate, the researcher will communicate and explain to the patient to fully understand the clinical trial.

② Informed consent: After the patient fully understands and considers the situation, they sign the "Informed Consent Form" to begin screening. Through relevant examinations during the screening period, the patient's disease and physical condition are further confirmed.

③ Start treatment: After confirming eligibility for enrollment, proceed with treatment according to the study protocol.

④ Accept follow-up: Regularly return to the hospital for treatment and follow-up as required.

What preparations are needed to participate in clinical trials?

Actively cooperate with relevant treatments: As a subject, it is necessary to receive medication treatment on time according to medical advice, fill out diary cards as needed, and conduct regular blood collection and examinations. In many clinical trials of new drugs, if the treatment effect is good, patients can receive long-term free medication and treatment.

Accept relevant follow-up on time: The time required to participate in clinical trials generally ranges from several months to several years, and clinical trials have clear regulations for follow-up. From another perspective, this is also a reflection of the subject's treatment status being monitored throughout the entire process.

Strive to comply with relevant regulations: follow medical advice and do not take prohibited drugs or special foods without special circumstances. If taking other drugs, inform the doctor in a timely manner to avoid drug interference and affect the effectiveness of drug treatment. According to the plan requirements, pay attention to diet, such as quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, etc.

Regarding the Clinical Research Association

The 3rd Clinical Research Institution Exhibition and Guangzhou Clinical Industry Trade Fair (referred to as the "Clinical Research Fair") is a special exhibition of the Guangzhou Medical and Health Industry Expo. It is hosted by the Guangzhou Municipal People's Government, organized by the Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission and the Guangzhou Cooperation Office, and has received strong support from leaders at all levels such as the National Health Commission, Guangzhou Municipal People's Government, Guangdong Provincial Health Commission, Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission, Guangzhou Medical Insurance Bureau, Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, and Guangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau. The 3rd China International Import Expo (CIIE) will be held from August 22nd to 24th in Zone B of the Canton Fair Complex. Since its inception, the CIIE has attracted over 80000 visitors from GCP institutions CR0、SI0、 The sponsor, clinical trial service providers, media, and industry participants attended the conference for visits and exchanges, and signed over 1000 letters of intent for project cooperation. The clinical research association clearly stated that the purpose is to facilitate clinical research project negotiations, transactions, and cooperation, and to assist medical enterprises in connecting clinical research projects.