Let's talk medical research

Each November is designated as Diabetes Awareness Month, an event that highlights the importance of spreading awareness about diabetes and the health issues it can cause.

Before any new treatment or therapy is able to be used by the patient population, it must go through the process of a clinical trial — this is the case for any new prescription drug, but also true for over-the-counter medications, medical devices, and more.

The medical research industry is fast-moving. Despite the fact that the average clinical trial lasts about 10 years, new discoveries are happening all the time. However, keeping up with new developments can be a challenge.

As the third most common type of cancer in the world, colon cancer is a significant public health concern. Because of the lack of early-stage symptoms in colon cancer and the common confusion about screening requirements, it is often a type of cancer that remains undetected until it reaches advanced stages. This delayed diagnosis can have a significant impact on a person’s prognosis. It is ...

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is an autoimmune disease that mainly targets bile ducts in the liver. PSC is a rare condition, impacting about 1 in 10,000 people worldwide, and it is diagnosed twice as frequently in men as it is in women.

Since 1985, Breast Cancer Awareness Month has been held every October with the goal of raising awareness about the importance of breast cancer screening and prevention. Catching breast cancer early is one of the best ways to increase a person’s prognosis — though one in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, when caught in early stages, the 5-year ...

Clinical trials are an integral part of the medical industry, as they are required for any new treatment to be approved. Every medicine used today, whether prescription or over the counter, is a result of the rigorous research process that is a clinical trial — and for these trials to take place, volunteers are vital.

Clinical trials are how researchers advance their knowledge about potential new treatments, including medications, medical devices, and lifestyle interventions. Clinical trials are divided into phases, each with a distinct duration, purpose, and number of volunteers needed. Before any new treatment becomes available on the market, it must go through this process, as required by the FDA.

Connecting patients with clinical research opportunities is our mission here at Antidote, but often, we find that misconceptions can serve as barriers to achieving this goal. It’s important to carefully weigh the pros and cons of participating in a clinical trial but to do this effectively, it’s critical to have accurate information.

Antidote’s podcast, Talk of the Towne, hosted by Antidote’s Senior Clinical Informatics Manager, Dr. Richard Towne, is an interview series featuring members of Antidote's partner network. During each episode, Rich and his guests take a closer look at particular therapeutic areas, the latest research developments, and specific pain points that impact the patient population.