The aim of clinical studies is to test the safety and efficacy of medicaments, forms of therapy or medical devices. Clinical studies are composed of different phases and pursue both the investigation of scientific questions as well as the improvement of medical treatment options. They are an important tool to translate promising research results from the laboratory to the safe application in patients.
Centers for clinical studies are usually central facilities of university hospitals that support scientists to conduct clinical studies. Comprehensive information on centers for clinical studies can be found (in German) on the website of the ➚ „KKS-Netzwerk e.V.„, which is an joint association of the coordination centers for clinical trials in Germany (KKS) and the centers for clinical trials in Germany (ZKS) that aims to strengthen patient-oriented clinical research in Germany. Furthermore there is the European Network ➚ ECRIN, which aims to facilitate European clinical research.
How does a clinical study work?
Extensive information on how clinical studies are conducted can be found on the internet pages of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space: ➚ https://www.gesundheitsforschung-bmftr.de/de/wie-funktionieren-klinische-studien-6877.php
This information is only available in German.
Centers for clinical studies in North Rhine-Westphalia
Thanks to the high density of university hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia there are more centers for clinical studies than in other German federal states. These are listed alphabetically below:
➚ Center for Translational & Clinical Research Aachen (CTC-A)
➚ Studienzentrum Bonn (SZB)
➚ Koordinierungzentrum für Klinische Studien Düsseldorf (KKS)
➚ Zentrum für Klinische Studien Essen
➚ Zentrum für Klinische Studien Köln
➚ Zentrum für Klinische Studien Münster
➚ Zentrum für klinische Studien an der Universität Witten/Herecke
Site advantage: clinical research in NRW
„Standortvorteil: Klinische Forschung in NRW“ (Site advantage: clinical research in NRW)
A video in German made by the Cluster Medizin.NRW
Contents of the former Stem Cell Network.NRW website
➤ Translational Research:
➤ Concept
➤ Clinical studies
➤ Further Information
➤ Discover:
➤ What are stem cells?
➤ Types of stem cells
➤ Stem cell applications
➤ Questions and challenges
➤ Ethics and legal aspects
➤ Information for patients
➤ Research approaches
➤ Explore stem cells
➤ For schools
➤ For doctors
➤ Expert referral
This information on the Stem Cell Network.NRW are also available in German → here.
Diese Informationen zum Stammzellnetzwerk.NRW stehen → hier auch auf Deutsch zur Verfügung.