How to Participate in Stem Cell Clinical Trials
For patients with specific conditions who are open to the idea of stem cell therapy they should talk to their doctor about the possibility of becoming involved in a clinical trial. Not only will this give them the opportunity to remove an expensive and, oftentimes, dangerous medical tourism trip abroad, but they will be contributing to a better understanding of the use of stem cells in specific and general medicine. It may be that there are factors which make a person unsuitable for stem cell trials, such as other medical conditions that would endanger them to an unacceptable degree, or confounding factors which may affect the results of the trial and make it redundant.
ClnicalTrials.Gov
Checking ClinicalTrials.gov regularly can help to keep you up to date with the kind of research being conducted and serve to provide an insight into the length of some of these trials and their likely publication date when realistic conclusions can be expected regarding the use of stem cells for specific conditions. Potential applicants for clinical trials ought to be aware that their participation may be refused if they have previously undergone untested stem cell therapy in another country. In 2010 trials got underway in the US looking at the use of stem cells for ulcerative colitis, and diabetes, and more are actively recruiting for participants in areas such as sickle cell disease and thalassaemia, osteoarthritis, myocardial infarction (heart attacks), brain tumours, stroke, and numerous other conditions.
It is the use of quality clinical trial data which affects the treatment possibilities available for patients in the healthcare system in general (along with other considerations such as financial and material issues). By understanding the importance of clinical trial data we give ourselves a better chance to further progress medical science and respond appropriately to so-called medical breakthroughs, thereby promoting a healthier future for stem cell therapy and ourselves.
