Clinical trials are at the heart of all medical advances. Through these important research studies, new and better ways to prevent, detect, treat, and understand diseases are continually discovered and evaluated. The experienced research team at St. Francis Medical Institute offers promising new treatment options through clinical trials for patients from Clearwater, New Port Richey, Palm Harbor, Trinity, Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, FL, and the surrounding area.
The goal of a clinical trial is to determine if a new treatment is effective, and people may choose to participate in clinical trials for a variety of reasons. For example, a patient with a known health problem may be able to receive the latest, ground-breaking treatments while benefiting from the attentive care of the knowledgeable clinical trial staff. These patients, along with healthy volunteers, may also seek participation in clinical trials as a way to contribute to scientific advancement and help others. Both types of participants are vital to the success of the program.
Clinical trials are conducted in four phases, each of which serves a different purpose:
- Phase I – An experimental treatment is initially tested on a small group of people (approximately 20-80) to evaluate its safety and monitor side effects.
- Phase II – The treatment is administered to a larger group of people (approximately 100-300) to further evaluate it safety and effectiveness.
- Phase III – The treatment is administered to an even larger group of people (more than 1,000) to confirm its effectiveness, compare it with other treatments, and gather information on safe usage.
- Phase IV – After the treatment is approved by the FDA and made available to the public, its benefits, risks, and optimal usage are continually tracked.
At St. Francis, we only conduct Phase III and Phase IV clinical trials in order to offer our patients safe and effective ways to potentially improve their health. Our clinical research team is led by Dr. Frank Averill, a well-respected allopathic physician who is board-certified in several disciplines. As a family-owned, spiritually oriented practice, St. Francis takes tremendous pride in providing our patients customized care through clinical trials with the goal of improving their health and well-being.
Contact us today if you’d like to learn more about opportunities for clinical trials for patients in Clearwater, New Port Richey, Palm Harbor, St. Petersburg, Largo, Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, and the surrounding Florida area. Conditions currently under study include insomnia, diabetes, respiratory disorders, and more. Or, perhaps you have a health question, such as, “what is a food allergy?” If so, our board-certified pulmonologist will be pleased to provide the answers you need.