New drugs are developed, tested, processed, marketed, and then eventually released to the public every year. During their rigorous testing process, side effects arise in clinical trial patients and are noted by doctors. It is common for drugs to enter the market with a list of side effects, some being beneficial, but most being negative. These negative side effects are known as adverse effects. After a drug has been released to the market, there are systems in place so that healthcare professionals can report any new issues or serious reactions to drug. These are known as adverse drug reactions (ADRs)… READ MORE »
Wrist-worn heart rate tracking devices from companies like Fitbit are big business, and not just with athletes. According to recent estimates, there are over 100 medical studies in the United States alone that involve Fitbit devices, with several more that use bands from competing companies. The intended benefit of using these devices in studies is that they should allow researchers to collect quantitative data about their patients’ health, negating the need to use unreliable self-reported information. Research from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, though, suggests that Fitbit’s continuous heart rate tracking “do[es] not accurately measure a user’s heart rate,” which.. READ MORE »
Every year, new drugs are put on the market with the intention of providing relief for suffering patients. These drugs have gone through years of research, testing, trials, and applications in order to be approved. Therefore, patients have some assurance that the drugs on the market meet certain safety and quality standards. To make that assurance, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), much like Health Canada, uses a five-step drug development process. If you’re interested in a clinical research career, it is important to know each step in the process, as there is frequent collaboration between both governing bodies. Read.. READ MORE »
Canada has long been known as a major player in the field of medical research. Despite only ranking 38th worldwide in terms of population, it ranks 14th in medical research spending and 6th in research paper production. As a country, it is responsible for developing entirely new fields of medicine, more effective surgical methods, and innovative, life-saving treatments. These medical developments could not have happened without the abundance of time, resources, ingenuity, and support provided throughout the medical community—from researchers to clinical trial operators to doctors, and including everyone in between. If you’re interested in clinical research and drug safety,.. READ MORE »
Medicine and clinical research technology have been progressing at breakneck speed, and producing some exciting results. New emergences from medical research teams tackling multiple sclerosis (MS) and epilepsy are painting a promising picture of the future. Professionals working in clinical research are consistently involved in the evolution of medicine. The following are a few examples of some exciting new developments in clinical research that may change lives and improve the health of many Canadians. Read on to discover some new life-saving discoveries made in clinical research! 1. A New High-Risk Therapy for Those with MS Created by Pros in Clinical.. READ MORE »
Clinical studies are the way in which doctors and researchers discover new and innovate ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat illnesses, but there is no way around it; research is expensive. During the 2013/2014 fiscal year, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research spent one billion dollars on the creation, dissemination, and application of health research knowledge. Even with such a large amount of funding available, though, obtaining some of that funding for clinical research can be competitive and this likely stalls some research projects that could provide huge benefits to Canadians. With the emergence of crowdfunding—funding collected online directly from.. READ MORE »
The World Health Organization officially declared the current Zika virus outbreak as a global health emergency last month. Zika, which is transmitted through mosquitoes, was previously thought to only cause mild symptoms in sufferers, and was mainly confined to Africa and some parts of South East Asia. However, with the disease spreading rapidly throughout the Americas, and recent unconfirmed links to fetal abnormalities, the race is on to find a cure. Clinical trials of potential vaccines are now being planned by Indian company Bharat Biotech and the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease in the United States. Read on.. READ MORE »
This year, approximately 24,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in Canada. For nearly 80 per cent of them, surgery and radiation will be enough to wipe out the cancer. However, for the remaining 20 per cent, there’s little that can be done to cure them—until now. On December 2nd, Dr. Marianne Sadar from the BC Cancer Agency announced that a new breakthrough drug has been approved for clinical trials. That drug, known as EPI-506, has the potential to shrink tumours that resist current treatments. Here’s a look at how this new drug could be a game changer, and.. READ MORE »
For years, the world’s leading laboratories have been working to develop technology that collects reliable data continuously, over the longest period of time possible. With a small but powerful biosensor chip, Lisbon-based nanobiotechnology engineer Sandro Carrara may have reached this goal. If you train to become a clinical research professional, you’ll use the latest technology and methodology to prepare for a range of careers in the pharmaceutical industry. As biosensor chip technology improves, it’s more and more likely that you’ll encounter it in your clinical research career. Read on to learn the ins and outs of this exciting new technology,.. READ MORE »
In today’s globalized world, outbreaks of disease and illness are spreading beyond cultural lines and effecting populations in new and unfamiliar ways. If you are planning to pursue a career in clinical research, there is no better time than the present. You can help uncover the dangers that can harm communities and the cures that can save lives. And case-control studies are an excellent method clinical researchers use to do just that. To prepare for your rewarding career in clinical research, read on for the basics of case-control studies. A Brief Description of Case-Control Studies Once you’ve earned your diploma,.. READ MORE »
