1.1 The Quest for Medical Evidence

Why modern medicine relies on systematic evidence-gathering rather than anecdotes, and how clinical research became the foundation for treatments that actually work.

1.2 Types of Clinical Research

Understanding the landscape of clinical research: how interventional studies differ from observational research, and when each study design serves the question being asked.

1.3 Why Clinical Trials Matter

The essential role of clinical trials in medical progress: how rigorous research protects patients from ineffective treatments, enables life-saving discoveries, and why participation in research is a partnership that benefits us all.

2.1 Lessons from History

How past ethical failures in human experimentation shaped the protections that safeguard research participants today.

2.2 The Belmont Report and Core Principles

Understanding the foundational ethical principles of human research established by the Belmont Report and how they guide modern clinical trials.

2.3 From Principles to Practice

See how ethical principles became modern regulations and oversight systems

3.1 Discovery and Preclinical Research

Explore how potential new medicines are discovered and tested before human trials

3.2 The IND and Clinical Development

Understand the regulatory gateway from laboratory research to human clinical trials.

3.3 Regulatory Review and Approval

Learn how drugs move from completed trials to market authorization

3.4 Beyond Approval: Post-Marketing

Discover how drug safety is monitored after approval and in real-world use

4.1 Phase I: First-in-Human Studies

Understand why Phase I trials are the critical first step in human testing, who participates, and how dose escalation protects the earliest volunteers.

4.2 Phase II: Proof of Concept

Explore how Phase II trials establish whether an investigational drug works in patients with the target condition, determine optimal dosing, and inform critical go/no-go decisions.

4.3 Phase III: Pivotal Trials

Understand the large-scale confirmatory trials that determine whether an investigational therapy will receive regulatory approval.

4.4 Phase IV and Beyond

Explore post-marketing studies, pharmacovigilance, and the ongoing lifecycle of medications after approval, including how safety signals lead to label changes or market withdrawals.

5.1 Sponsors and Contract Research Organizations

Who initiates, funds, and manages clinical trials, and how sponsors work with CROs to bring new treatments from laboratory to patient.

5.2 Investigators and Site Staff

Meet the research team at the heart of every clinical trial: the investigators who lead the science and the dedicated professionals who make it happen day by day.

5.3 Ethics Committees and Regulatory Authorities

How IRBs, IECs, and regulatory agencies work together to protect research participants and ensure the integrity of clinical trial data.

5.4 Participants: The Heart of Clinical Research

Why research participants are essential partners in clinical trials, what rights protect them, and how the research community is working to make trials more accessible and representative.

6.1 Finding and joining a trial

How potential participants discover clinical trials, navigate the screening process, and move from initial interest to enrollment.

6.2 Understanding Informed Consent

A comprehensive introduction to informed consent in clinical research, exploring its ethical foundations, required elements, the consent process, and special considerations for vulnerable populations.

6.3 During the trial: visits, procedures, and rights

What participants experience once they are enrolled in a clinical trial, including study visits, common procedures, participant responsibilities, ongoing rights, and how to communicate with the research team.

6.4 Study completion and beyond

What happens when a clinical trial ends, including final visits, follow-up procedures, learning about results, and the lasting impact of research participation.

7.1 The Regulatory Landscape

Why clinical trials are regulated, who the major regulatory authorities are, and how national laws work together with international guidelines to protect research participants and ensure data integrity.

7.2 ICH and International Harmonization

How the International Council for Harmonisation transformed global drug development by creating unified standards, and why understanding ICH guidelines is essential for anyone working in clinical research.

7.3 Good Clinical Practice: An Introduction

Understanding the international ethical and scientific quality standard that protects clinical trial participants and ensures data credibility.

7.4 When Things Go Wrong: Inspections and Enforcement

Understanding how regulatory agencies verify compliance, what happens during an inspection, and the consequences of violations in clinical research.

8.1 Career roles in clinical research

An exploration of the diverse career paths available in clinical research, from site-based positions to sponsor-side roles, across pharmaceutical, CRO, and academic settings.

8.2 Education and Certification Pathways

Navigate the educational requirements and professional certifications that can advance your clinical research career, from GCP training to specialized credentials.

8.3 Breaking In: Practical Strategies

Transform your interest in clinical research into a career with actionable strategies for gaining experience, finding opportunities, and making a strong first impression.