medical research
Studying disease scientifically
Medical research is systematic investigation aimed at understanding health, disease, and treatments.
It ranges from basic science in laboratories to clinical trials testing drugs on patients.
Medical research produces the evidence that shapes how medicine is practiced: The medical research on smoking and lung cancer took decades to change public behavior.
Researchers may study causes of disease, develop new therapies, or evaluate existing treatments.
Arranged by chance
- double-blindNeither tester nor tested knows
- placeboInactive therapeutic substitute
- control groupUntreated subjects for comparison
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
enrollment · volunteers · cohort · intervention · outcomes · efficacy · adverse effects · dosage
Study of entire genetic sequences
- pharmacologyStudy of drug actions
- neuroscienceStudy of nervous systems
- immunologyScience of bodily defenses
- epidemiologyStudy of disease spread
pathology · genetics · microbiology · physiology · oncology · virology · cardiology · endocrinology
Plan for conducting research
- data collectionSystematic accumulation of facts
- meta-analysisCombined study statistics
- case studyResearched particular instance
- observationalBased on direct perception
retrospective · prospective · qualitative · quantitative · control group · variables · sampling · bias
Permission given with understanding
- bioethicsMoral philosophy for medicine
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- beneficenceActive desire to help
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
human subjects · animal welfare · vulnerable populations · data privacy · conflict of interest · fabrication · falsification · whistleblowing
Sudden important advance
- findingConclusion from investigation
- advanceMove or progress forward
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- observationAttentive watching or remark
hypothesis · serendipity · identification · detection · mechanism · biomarker · target · pathway
Anti-cancer drug treatment
- radiation therapyIonizing beams treating malignancies
- immunotherapyDisease treatment via body's defenses
- targeted therapyTreatment hitting specific molecules
- hormone therapyTreatment using body's messengers
antiretroviral · remission · dosage · drug interaction · side effects · therapeutic · prophylactic · palliative
Gene-editing molecular machinery
- gene therapyMedical DNA modification treatment
- stem cellsUndifferentiated cells with regenerative potential
- immunotherapyDisease treatment via body's defenses
- nanotechnologyAtomic-scale manipulation science
artificial intelligence · vaccine development · biologics · monoclonal antibodies · mRNA · wearables · telemedicine
randomized
Arranged by chance
- double-blindNeither tester nor tested knows
- placeboInactive therapeutic substitute
- control groupUntreated subjects for comparison
protocol · enrollment · volunteers · cohort · intervention · outcomes · efficacy · adverse effects · dosage · endpoint
genomics
Study of entire genetic sequences
- pharmacologyStudy of drug actions
- neuroscienceStudy of nervous systems
- immunologyScience of bodily defenses
epidemiology · pathology · genetics · microbiology · physiology · oncology · virology · cardiology · endocrinology · biochemistry
study design
Plan for conducting research
- data collectionSystematic accumulation of facts
- meta-analysisCombined study statistics
- case studyResearched particular instance
observational · retrospective · prospective · qualitative · quantitative · control group · variables · sampling · bias · confounding
informed consent
Permission given with understanding
- bioethicsMoral philosophy for medicine
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- beneficenceActive desire to help
confidentiality · human subjects · animal welfare · vulnerable populations · data privacy · conflict of interest · fabrication · falsification · whistleblowing · risk-benefit
breakthrough
Sudden important advance
- findingConclusion from investigation
- advanceMove or progress forward
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
observation · hypothesis · serendipity · identification · detection · mechanism · biomarker · target · pathway · correlation
chemotherapy
Anti-cancer drug treatment
- radiation therapyIonizing beams treating malignancies
- immunotherapyDisease treatment via body's defenses
- targeted therapyTreatment hitting specific molecules
hormone therapy · antiretroviral · remission · dosage · drug interaction · side effects · therapeutic · prophylactic · palliative · adjuvant
CRISPR
Gene-editing molecular machinery
- gene therapyMedical DNA modification treatment
- stem cellsUndifferentiated cells with regenerative potential
- immunotherapyDisease treatment via body's defenses
nanotechnology · artificial intelligence · vaccine development · biologics · monoclonal antibodies · mRNA · wearables · telemedicine
- medical researchclinical trial, drug trial, clinical trials, vaccine trial, clinical studies
- R&D fieldsclinical trials, drug development, materials science, biotech, biofuels
- Research Institutesmarine biology, computer science, materials science, social sciences, oceanography
- Cuban medicinehealthcare system, family doctors, primary care, polyclinics, universal coverage
- Soviet medicinepolyclinics, socialist healthcare, free healthcare, centralized planning, health ministry
- medicinedoctor, doctors, hospital, surgery, treatment
medical researchfolk remedies
Traditional non-medical treatments
traditional medicine · folk medicine · alternative medicine · quackery · faith healing
medical researchclinical practice
Hands-on healthcare delivery
patient care · medical treatment · healthcare delivery · routine care · medical practice
medical researchbiological warfare
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