Conducting a clinical trial involves much more than just a physician and a patient. The skills of many experts are required in the design and running of a clinical trial. Such skills include; trial coordination, data processing, regulatory management, medical research, and many more. The people who play these roles are vital components in successfully initiating and conducting a clinical trial 1 . A successful clinical trial is a product of different personnel, all working together on various tasks at the same time to ensure everything comes together. Matching individuals with appropriate tasks ensures the proper use of the program’s resources and that the team members enjoy and remain challenged by their roles. 2 Some of the roles of the core team members involved in clinical trials will be discussed below. Principal Investigator (PI) The principal investigator is the lead personnel at the clinical trial site and oversees the conduct of the clinical trial. The PI is most times ...
Clinical trials are a vital tool in research for the advancement of medical knowledge and also, patient care in general. They are research studies that involve people and are designed with the major aim of improving the health of patients and their quality of life. 1 The importance of clinical trials 2 cannot be overemphasized. They help determine: · If a new treatment works · How effective it is compared to other existing options · If the new treatment has any side effects While very good treatment options are available for some conditions, there are still some other conditions that require better options. Clinical trials are at the heart of all medical developments. They are vital in the discovery of new treatments for ailments, and also new ways to prevent, detect and diagnose such ailments. 3 Clinical trials serve as a mean...