Glossary of Terms

The main reason for the clinical trial. The types of primary purpose are: treatment, prevention, diagnostic, supportive care, screening,...

The main result that is measured at the end of a study to see if a given treatment worked....

Research using animals to find out if a drug, procedure, or treatment is likely to be useful. Preclinical studies...

A study of a group of individuals taken from the general population who share a common characteristic, such as...

Refers to a clinical study in which the patients in the control group receive a placebo. Source: NCI

An inactive treatment or procedure that is intended to mimic as closely as possible a therapy in a clinical...

A type of clinical trial that studies the side effects caused over time by a new treatment after it...

A study that tests the safety and how well a new treatment works compared with a standard treatment. In...

A study that tests how well a new treatment works for a certain disease and compares the new treatment...

A study that tests whether a new treatment works for a certain type of disease. Phase II clinical trials...

A study that tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of a new treatment. Phase I/II clinical trials...

The first step in testing a new treatment in humans. A Phase I study tests the safety, side effects,...