Why We Love Clinical Research (and you should too!)
Gather 'round, folks. It’s time for a story, one you might have heard before, but it’s one of our favorites.
Once upon a time, in a vast and mystical kingdom called America, was a beautiful research facility…uh…castle. All of the people throughout the land loved to gaze at the magical building. Some had even been inside, but most did not fully understand the important work being done within the castle walls.
Okay, no more fairy tales. Let’s talk about something real. The reality for the global community, not just those of us in the U.S., is that clinical research is a vital part of advancing healthcare and finding ways to help people live longer robust lives.
In a testimony on the value of clinical research before the Senate Subcommittee on Public Health and Safety,Dr. Harold Varmus, then Director of the National Institutes of Health, said “clinical research has changed the face of modern medicine. Fifty years ago, at the end of World War II, physicians had little ability to effectively treat or prevent any of the deadliest diseases. Most of the staples of modem medicine we enjoy today were still unknown: antibiotics, vaccines for polio and several other severe infections, most hormone replacements and steroid therapy, effective drug therapies for cancer and psychotic illnesses, testing for genetic disorders, coronary bypass surgery, transplanted organs, and artificial joints. These and other successes have encouraged public enthusiasm for research and belief in the potency of modem medicine.”
Dr. Varmus went on to mention several common diseases which have seen significant “changes in medical approaches,” such as heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and AIDS—all of which have seen the development of new therapies and treatments due to clinical research. Fifty years ago, any one of those would have meant a serious problem and often death. Now, we have bypass and transplant surgeries, estrogen medication to strengthen bones, insulin and blood glucose tracking, and antivirals. That’s just to name a few of the thousands upon thousands of therapies, surgeries, medical devices and medications that have been developed as the direct result of clinical trials.
So, do you know why we love research (and you should too)?
Because improved disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment for people all over the world starts with research. Our team is committed to improving healthcare through the advancement of science, and we are incredibly excited about what the future may hold. Hopefully, you are too.
