Clinical Research

CNMG Clinical Research

In their quest to fight and win over diseases, scientists are relentlessly pursuing new treatments to cure or prevent diseases and help prolong or improve the lives of people affected by various illnesses.

The newly discovered treatments cannot be made available for public use unless they are tested in clinical trials. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires clinical trial data before it can approve any medicine or treatment for public use as safe and effective.

At Capital Nephrology Clinical Research, our goal is through participation in clinical trials to assist in the development and the collection of important clinical data needed to receive approval of new medicines that will help manage and prolong our patient's quality of life safely. To support the cause of clinical research, Capital Nephrology Clinical Research participates in parmaceutical sponsored clinical trials.

Our patients' voluntary participation in this process is highly appreciated and vitally important in providing the valuable data needed to develop safe and effective medicinal products.

To find out more information on clinical trials or to find out if you can participate in a clinical trial please speak with your physician or by contacting Colleen Fisher at colleen.fisher@cnmgonline.com or Lucy Ng at lucy.ng@cnmgonline.com.
Dr. Naveen Atray
Dr. Naveen Atray
Principal Investigator

FAQs


What are clinical trials?

Clinical trials are studies involving drugs or devices managed or sponsored by government agencies (such as National Institutes of Health), educational institutions, not-for-profit organizations or commercial groups that develop, produce and/or evaluate effectiveness of new drug or device therapies.


How are clinical trials conducted?

Clinical trials are strictly conducted under the regulatory oversight of bodies such as Institutional Sponsoring Agency, Review Boards (IRB), Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) and/or Food and Drug Administration (FDA).


There are several processes in place designed to protect the potential participants that include:

  1. Informed Consent: The process of providing subjects with detailed information about important information specific to the clinical trial and about the experimental drug or device that may be involved in it.

  2. Sponsoring Agency: Ensures through rigorous protocol and periodic review that potential participants are adequately protected.

  3. Institutional Review Board (IRB): The IRB is responsible for instituting strict oversight of the clinical trial with the goal of protecting the rights and well-being of people who participate in research studies. Most clinical research studies cannot begin without a review board‘s approval. Board members generally include health care personnel such as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. The Board also includes other members of the scientific community, non-scientists such as clergy or social workers, and community members.

What are the phases of Clinical Trials?
  1. Phase I Trial: These are studies to assess how a drug should be administered, how often and what is the dosage.Such trials focus on the safety of the drug agent.

  2. Phase II Trial: Provide preliminary information on how a therapy works and regarding its safety and benefits.

  3. Phase III Trial: The aim is to compare the new therapy, procedure or device with current standard.

  4. Phase IV Trial: Includes ongoing evaluation of the drug or device after it has been approved by the FDA and has become available for general use.

What is a Clinical Trial Protocol?

Clinical Trial Protocols are a set of sepcific and stringent set of guidelines that must be followed throughout the course of study. These guidelines include:

  • Study Design

  • Eligibility criteria: who can participate in study

  • Treatment and medical tests to be followed during the course of study

  • Specific study related questions that trial may be seeking to answer

Who can participate in a clinical trial?

Participation in a clinical trial is defined by eligibility criteria. The particpants must meet these criteria in order to be eligible to particpate in the trial. Having appropriate eligibility criteria assures that the results answer the questions study was desinged for and also determines who is likely to benefit from the researched drug, procedure or device.


What are some of the ongoing clinical trials at CNMG?

Some of the trials that are currently ongoing or may begin soon include:

  • Membranous Nephropathy

  • Proteinuria sec to Glomerulonephritis

  • Hemodialysis Vascular Access ( AV Graft) dysfunction

  • Diabetes mellitus

  • Kidney Disease and Diabetes mellitus

  • Home hemodialysis

  • Anemia Treatments

  • Hypertension

  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

  • Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD)

  • Iron Therapy Comparisons