Medical research
Medical research (or
experimental medicine) is
basic research and
applied research conducted to aid the body of knowledge in the field of
medicine. Medical research can be divided into two general categories; new treatments that are tested in
clinical trials, and all other research contributing to the development of new treatments.
These refer to any form of previously untested treatment for a particular
pathology. This can take the form of a new
surgical procedure, a new
drug, or a new treatment regimen. These are extensively tested in clinical trials prior to widespread use.
New treatments come about as a result of other, earlier discoveries - often unconnected to each other, and in various fields. Sometimes the research is done for non-medical purposes, and only by accident contributes to the field of medicine (see also
antibiotic,
penicillin). Clinicians use these discoveries to create a treatment regimen, which is then tested in clinical trials.
If these trials have been well designed and are successfully duplicated by independent laboratories or field trials, then the papers can be reviewed by an independent body such as the
Cochrane Collaboration to serve as an authoritative source of clinical guidance. Regrettably the majority of research trails published today are done or sponsored by the very same companies who have developed the drug or medical device. Moreover they are frequently poorly designed and executed and exhibit bias therefore most papers should not be taken too seriously. Although each new publication of a survey is often greeted with a sycophantic fanfare of trumpet blowing, few thoughtful and clued up clinicians would change their treatment protocols solely on the bases of just a few research papers. Thus, doctors have expressed their despair when patients bring in printouts of the latest research downloaded from the internet with the high expectation that it will make a significant difference.
Research funding in many countries comes from research bodies which distribute cash for equipment and salaries. In the
UK, funding bodies such as the
Medical Research Council and the
Wellcome Trust derive their assets from UK tax payers, and distribute this to institutions in a competitive manner.
In the United States, the most recent data from 2003
[ # # ##See : Ayurveda* Medical Research jobs]
