Welcome
If you choose to participate in a clinical study, you will receive educational and informed consent materials. Our staff will help you understand and complete all required paperwork. Our clinical research is governed by the following:
The Food & Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a public health agency, charged with protecting American consumers by enforcing the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and several related public health laws.
The FDA is responsible for the oversight of all clinical trials--drug and device. The FDA was founded in 1906 and has regulated medical devices since 1938. The FDA uses science to make regulatory decisions to make devices safe and effective. Ultimately, the burden of proof is on the FDA. All entities involved in a clinical trial are overseen by the FDA, including the study sponsor (manufacturer of the device), the Institutional Review Board, and the clinical trial investigator. From time to time, the FDA may audit a study site to make sure that the investigator and his/her staff are in compliance with all FDA regulations.
The Institutional Review Board
Under U.S. regulations, an Institutional Review Board (IRB) is an appropriately constituted group formally designated to review and monitor biomedical research involving human participants. In accordance with FDA regulations, an IRB has the authority to approve, require modifications in order to secure approval, or disapprove research. Members of the IRB who have a conflicting interest in any proposal under review may not participate in that review except to give information as requested to the committee. An IRB may invite individuals with competence in special areas to assist in the review of complex proposals, but these individuals may not vote.
Good Clinical Practices
Good Clinical Practices (GCP) is a standard of design, conduct, performance, monitoring, auditing, recording, analyses, and reporting of clinical trials that provides assurance that the data and reported results are credible and accurate, and that the rights, integrity, and confidentiality of trial subjects are protected. Many of these practices are based on the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki, adopted by the 18th World Medical Assembly in Helsinki.