The efficacy of drugs and vaccines has a hard work behind it, which the International Day of Clinical Trials struggles to recognize. Later we will tell you all the details about this commemoration.
May 20 has a special place on the calendar to celebrate the International Day of Clinical Trials. The initiative to exalt the value of clinical research is due to its great contributions towards quality and life expectancy throughout the world.
One of the data that features the clinical trial is the 10-year increase in life expectancy in Europe over the last 6 decades. In turn, deaths from HIV / AIDS have been reduced by approximately 80%.
The importance of the clinical trial is in reducing the mortality rate from lethal diseases. In this sense, in our journey we will discover the history, point out the benefits for society, make the objectives of the day visible and observe the best way to support.
History of clinical trials
The story is linked to the election of May 20 as the International Day of Clinical Trials. Before knowing the origins, we must be clear that a clinical trial is defined as the evaluation or experimental study of some substance, product, drug or treatment technique in order to assess its degree of effectiveness.
Thus, to travel to the birth of clinical trials we must place ourselves in the 18th century, when the British physician James Lind led the way with his discovery. At first, Lind set out to find a cure for scurvy, a condition that was ravaging sailors in the British navy.
The epic moment came when Lind was assigned as surgeon for the frigate HMS Salisbury. After 8 weeks, scurvy – about which there was not much information at the time – began to affect the crew, sparking the inventiveness of the Edinburgh-born to test the crew and corroborate his theory of action with acids.
Among the measures that Lind took to test him, the following were found:
Divide 12 sick sailors into six pairs.
Provide varied supplements in each person’s diet, using lemon, orange, cider, vinegar, and dilute sulfuric acid.
Control the process variables.
Evaluate the improvement of the patients.
Draw conclusions from the evolution of the 2 patients who had lemon and orange on their diet.
Vitamin C deficiency is the cause of scurvy, but Lind didn’t know that at first, so her study marked the beginning of the analysis.
Benefits of clinical trials in society
The advantages of the analysis we have been delving into are very broad. Despite this, in the following list it is possible to observe the main benefits of clinical trials for society:
They improve the life expectancy of the world population.
They reduce the expenses derived from poorly approached treatments.
They decrease the possible side effects of medications.
Alternatives to prevent or cure diseases are increasing.
Increase knowledge about rare diseases.
Celebration of the International Day of Clinical Trials
The International Clinical Trial Day Celebration was launched in 2005 by the European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN, due to the European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network). Following that line, it was defined on May 20 by the well-known and famous initiative of James Lind in 1747.
Likewise, we find that its general objectives are to raise awareness, make visible, recognize and inform about the importance of the clinical trial for the quality and life expectancy of humanity. Along with this, there is a specific goal for 2021 focused on the proliferation of accurate data on adaptive platform trials.
This type of clinical trial gives the possibility of making a comparison of different treatments with a single control. The European Commission believes that it is a viable way to combat epidemics and pandemics. In this way, on the International Day of Clinical Trials in 2021, the goal has been set to end with doubts such as the following:
What are the underlying goals of a platform test?
What parameters must be taken into account in the design, statistical plan and data management?
How should policy and ethical issues, as well as patient involvement, be addressed?
What kinds of management, economic and governance concerns can be found when we use this test model?
Events of the celebration of the International Clinical Trial Day
Some of the initiatives for this day are the following:
ICTD 2021 Virtual Conference: Platform Trials: Change in Treatment, Testing and Collaboration.
Virtual conferences of experts showing the phases of research (basic, pre-clinical trials and clinical trials).
Donation campaigns and involvement of different companies in the progress of the clinical trial.
Latin America – Europe Symposium on Research Infrastructure (held after the International Day of Clinical Trials, between June 15 and 17, but has linked objectives).
Clinical research aims to provide results on the safety of procedures and practices that are healthy for humans.
How can I participate?
The ways to participate are related to social networks, through the use of official resources for profiles, posters, photos, messages of support for the work carried out and more. All this with the tags # CTD2021 and #clinicaltrialsday.
In addition, there are recruitment platforms and programs so that people with the intention of taking the initiative can volunteer. The Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA, after Society of Clinical Research Associate) allows home testing and certification.
The International Day of Clinical Trials to live better
As a final consideration, the greatest dynamic to shape the growth of the clinical trial in many latitudes is to inquire with official sources. In this way, it will become possible to replicate knowledge towards the environment to create a chain reaction.
Also, the role of the patients who are part of the tests is essential to achieve the desired objectives of medical effectiveness. In conclusion, all are important so that the International Day of Clinical Trials serves to catalyze and increase the alternatives against diseases that continue to harm many sectors. Essay saves lives!
