Ph.D Clinical Investigation

Clinical investigation is defined as that segment of clinical research for which an investigator directly interacts with patients in either an outpatient or inpatient setting. This definition excludes studies for which material of human origin is obtained through a third party and for which an investigator has had no direct interaction with the patient. Clinical research is a branch of healthcare science that determines the safety and effectiveness (efficacy) of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment regimens intended for human use. These may be used for prevention, treatment, diagnosis or for relieving symptoms of a disease. Clinical research is different from clinical practice. In clinical practice established treatments are used, while in clinical research evidence is collected to establish a treatment.