Clinical Trials Specialist

Clinical trials are studies involving human volunteers to find new ways to diagnose, treat, or prevent disease. The dermatologists at Cleaver Medical Group Dermatology, in Alpharetta, Canton, Cumming, Dahlonega, Dawsonville, Gainesville, Johns Creek and Toccoa, GA, operate a research program that conducts clinical trials on skin conditions and treatments. Learn more about clinical trials today by calling Cleaver Medical Group or requesting information online.

What are clinical trials?

Clinical trials are a medical research tool that looks for new ways to detect, treat, and prevent diseases using human volunteers. These trials investigate new drugs, new surgical procedures, or new ways to use old treatments.

The goal of a clinical trial is to determine the safety and effectiveness of these treatments.

Cleaver Medical Group Dermatology has a research program that conducts clinical trials on skin conditions of particular interest, including:

• Psoriasis
• Atopic dermatitis
• Hidradenitis suppurativa (chronic skin condition that causes painful lumps)
• Acne
• Skin cancer

The clinical trials at Cleaver Medical Group Dermatology differ from one to the next. Currently, the practice is recruiting clinical trial volunteers with psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and melanoma.

What are the phases of clinical trials?

Clinical trials are conducted in phases to ensure their safety and effectiveness. These phases are:

Phase I trials

During phase I trials, researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of 20-80 volunteers. The phase I trial aims to make sure the treatment or drug is safe and to find side effects.

Phase II trials

In phase II trials, researchers test new drugs or treatments on a larger group of volunteers (100-300 people), continuing to check for safety and side effects.

Phase III trials

For phase III trials, researchers need 1,000-3,000 volunteers to confirm that the new drug or treatment is effective, monitor for side effects, and compare it to current treatments.

The FDA approves new drugs or treatments after successful phase III trials.

Phase IV trials

Phase IV trials track the safety and effectiveness of the drug or treatment in the general population, continuing to gather data on how best to use it.

Who can take part in clinical trials?

Anyone can take part in clinical trials. However, each clinical trial has a specific set of guidelines, including the kind of volunteers needed.

At Cleaver Medical Group Dermatology, the researchers look for volunteers with specific skin conditions. The researchers might also have other set guidelines for who can participate, like current or past treatments, age, or gender.

What can I expect as a volunteer for clinical trials?

What you can expect as a volunteer for a clinical trial depends.

The Cleaver Medical Group Dermatology researchers provide specific instructions on what you need to do to participate in the trial. This might include taking particular medications and returning to the clinic regularly.

It’s essential to follow these guidelines so that the researchers can collect consistent data. Any deviation from the clinical trial guidelines will affect the study’s results.

To find out more about the clinical trials at Cleaver Medical Group Dermatology, call or request information online today.