Site connects patients with clinical trials

One of the significant advantages of living near a major research university with an academic medical center is the access to clinical trials, which are vital to developing treatment options and furthering our understanding of diseases.

Clinical trials are research studies that investigate the effectiveness of new drugs, diagnostics or treatments on human patients. They also give physicians a better understanding about the cost-effectiveness of a treatment and how it improves the quality of life of a patient. They play a vital role in the advancement of medicine, and without the information they provide, doctors wouldn’t be able to evaluate the pros and cons of a specific treatment.

Augusta University has long been the area’s entry point for that kind of specialized, cutting-edge care and research. However, navigating the different studies hasn’t always been easy.

Now, thanks to a comprehensive redesign, learning more about the specific clinical trials being offered is an easy click away.

Prospective participants, physicians or anyone interested in learning more about the studies being offered at Augusta can go to the clinical trials page and conveniently search for clinical trials by body system, typing key words into a search box or by simply scrolling a full list of all the studies being offered.

After reading a description of the study, they can either submit their information online or seek additional information.

The site also provides resources for additional information, including a list of the ethical guidelines that protect research participants and the integrity of science, a list of research participants’ rights and a series of questions potential participants should ask before enrolling in a study.