The 12 Days of CLINICAL RESEARCH

1 Person With a Big Impact — YOU!

On the first day of clinical trials facts, let’s start with you. Every individual involved in clinical research, no matter their background, makes a difference. So whether you’re an industry professional, researcher, health care provider, participant, or just starting to learn more — thank you!

70% of People Live 2+ Hours From a Research Site

Research sites (like universities or major hospitals) are often located in big cities, but not every participant is nearby. The good news is that the industry is working hard to address this. Technology makes it possible to participate from home or minimize visits. Additionally, many studies will pay for and help arrange travel and a place to stay if necessary. If there is a trial that is a good fit for you but isn’t near home, advocate for yourself; you never know what accommodations could be possible if you don’t ask.

3 Ways to Get Involved

If you’re interested in making a difference, here are three powerful ways:

1. Learn more: 41% of Americans know nothing about clinical research. By simply reading through these facts, you’re helping change that!
2. Spread the word: Share the gift of knowledge with your friends, family, and colleagues. You never know who could benefit from this information!
3. Join a trial: Taking part in a trial can benefit you, your community, and generations to come.

4 Main Clinical Trial Phases

Not all trials have the same goals. Research is split into different phases, and each one includes different types of participants:

• Phase I trials are the first time a new drug or treatment is given to people; the goal is to find the safe dose
• Phase II trials test how well the treatment works with a small group of people with the condition
• Phase III trials compare the new treatment with existing options, usually with a larger group of people
• Phase IV trials monitor long-term effects of a treatment after it is more widely available

5% of People in the U.S. Have Participated in Research

Think about all the different treatments available — everything from over-the-counter pain medications to chemotherapy. Now imagine how many people are involved in the trials to bring those drugs to the world. The number of participants needed is immense, but only 5% of people in the U.S. have participated. What could be possible if more people knew about and joined clinical trials?

6 in 10 People Choose Their Health Care Provider for Information

If you’re thinking about joining a clinical trial, where do you start? 59% of people prefer to go to their health care provider first. They can be a valuable starting point for finding trials that fit your needs. However, keep in mind that not all doctors participate in research, so don’t get discouraged if you need to continue your search after that conversation.

Over $7 Billion Is Spent on Clinical Trials in the U.S. Each Year

A significant amount of the U.S. pharmaceutical budget goes toward trials. This is because clinical research is a big deal! As a participant, you are part of something larger than yourself. And if you’re in the industry, you can help make sure we make the most of this investment by supporting participants and working to reduce barriers to accessing trials.

8 Out of 10 Trials Fail to Meet Enrollment Deadlines

A clinical trial takes a lot of people. Unfortunately, the majority of trials don’t get as many participants as they need on their original time line. This means that potentially lifesaving treatments take longer to get to people who need them. The good news is that we can all do our part to change this by spreading the word and supporting the clinical research participants in our lives.

9% of Americans Have Been Invited to Participate in Research

We learned earlier that 5% of people have participated in research. This is about half of the people who have been invited to participate. Now, imagine how many more participants there could be if more people were asked to join trials! By sharing this knowledge, you can give more people the tools to advocate for themselves and start conversations about research participation.

It Takes Over 10 Years to Develop a New Drug

How long does it take to bring a new treatment to people who need it? On average, it can be anywhere from 10-15 years. This is a long time, but it’s necessary to make sure the treatment works. During that time, many people are part of the journey to bring this treatment to the world — including clinical trial participants!

11% of Clinical Trial Participants Are Hispanic

To know that a treatment is effective, it should be tested with a group that reflects the population as a whole. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. For example, 18.7% of the population is Hispanic, but only 11% of trial participants are. Other groups have similar gaps in trial participation: 8% of trial participants are Black (14.2% of the population) and 6% of trial participants are Asian (7.2% of the population). The industry is working hard to change this by addressing barriers to participation for all people.

12 Sailors With Scurvy Participated in the First Clinical Trial

Clinical trials are not new; the first recorded controlled clinical trial took place in 1747! James Lind tested six different treatments for scurvy with a group of 12 sailors. Every new treatment since then is thanks to clinical research and by taking part, you could be a part of clinical trial history, too.