Gulfcoast Clinical Research Center is a leading clinical research organization located in Fort Myers, Florida. Dr. John Prater and staff have been conducting clinical research trials since 2004 and have been widely recognized for their experience and expertise in neurological, psychiatric and behavioral disorders. A clinical trial is a research study in which volunteers receive investigational tre
atments under the supervision of a physician and other research professionals. These treatments are developed by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. These companies select qualified physicians, also known as investigators, to conduct clinical trials to determine the benefits of investigational drugs. Clinical research trials are a critical component in the advancement of medicine. Clinical studies are necessary to test and ultimately develop new treatments for a variety of medical conditions. Your participation in clinical research studies may not only benefit you but may also someday help others. Clinical trials are specifically designed to test the effects of pharmaceutical products. Clinical trials rely upon volunteers to participate under the supervision of a study physician and other research staff members. The purpose of a clinical trial is to evaluate investigational drugs for safety, tolerability and effectiveness. Who Can Participate in Clinical Trials? All clinical trials have guidelines about who can participate. Before joining a clinical trial, a volunteer must qualify for the study. The factors that allow volunteers to participate in a clinical trial are called "inclusion criteria" and the factors that disallow volunteers from participating are called "exclusion criteria." These criteria can include age, gender, the type and stage of a disease, previous treatment history, and other medical conditions. Research studies seek participants with specific illnesses or conditions to be studied in a clinical trial. It is important to note that inclusion and exclusion criteria are used to identify appropriate participants, promote participants' safety, and ensure that researchers learn the information they need.
