Research & Screening / Overview / Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies in fields of medicine. These studies are conducted with an eye to the future, in hopes of finding safer or more effective methods to screen for, prevent, diagnose, or treat a variety of diseases including sickle cell disease.

Usually a clinical trial is not the first step in the development of a new drug or treatment. In fact, it is one of the last. Research and development generally begins in a scientific laboratory. After extensive testing, scientists may test a promising drug or technique on animals. Later, a small number of volunteers willing to undergo experimental treatments take part in studies. Based on the results of these studies, drugs and treatments that have been shown to be effective are made available for larger clinical trials.

Your participation in clinical trials can play a more active role in your own health care, help to gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research.

Periodically SCDAA will encourage consumers to participate in valid clinical trials that are promising to the development or advancement sickle cell treatment. For a list of clinical trials taking place in your area please visit our Participate in a Clinical Trial page. You may also check out our newsletter for updates.

Click here to check for Clinical Trials in your area.