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Barwon Health / Research

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What is a Clinical Trial?

Clinical trials are research studies where people volunteer to help evaluate a new intervention. Interventions may be procedures or tests, that prevent, detect, treat or manage various diseases or medical conditions. A clinical trial helps to determine if an intervention works and is safe, and if it is better than the tests, procedures or medications already available.

A clinical trial may test the following:

  • new drugs, not already approved for use
  • vaccines
  • devices
  • surgical procedures
  • behavioural therapies
  • health service changes
  • dietary changes
  • educational interventions
  • diagnostic or screening tests
  • a new way to detect and treat disease. 

Last Modified: Tuesday, 09 June 2020

Acknowledgement & further information

The content on this website has been adapted from

NHMRC Australian Clinical Trials

Medicines Australia