Researchers

You Are Here: Home > Researchers > Get Involved in Research

Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies involving volunteer participants to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of health interventions. The interventions may be new treatments including drugs, behavioural therapies or alternative or new methods of diagnosis. A clinical trial is designed in phases:

  1. Phase I. The trial involves a small group (20-100) of healthy individuals to evaluate the safety of the intervention (e.g. to determine safe dose range and side effects);

  2. Phase II. The trial involves a group (100-300) of patients to test for efficacy (e.g. therapeutic dosage) and safety;

  3. Phase III. The trial involves a larger group of patients (1000-2000) to confirm effectiveness, to monitor side effects, and to compare the new treatment to commonly used treatments;

  4. Phase IV. Phase IV is sometimes referred to as Post-market Surveillance. The trial is conducted after the treatment is being used to monitor for long-term effects.

 For those interested in learning more about clinical trials or volunteering for a clinical trial, a few resources are listed below.

NEW!

  • Clinical Trials Quebec, powered by CATALIS Quebec, offers a Personalized Clinical Trials Support Service. It is a bilingual, free and user-friendly research service designed to help Quebecers find clinical trials that meet their needs.

  • Clinical Trials Quebec – Personalized Clinical Trial Support Service learn more

New: Cell Therapy Research in Ontario - Participants Needed! 

Study Title: Investigating the effect of bone marrow aspirate vs. saline injection on osteoarthritis 

Research Host Institution: University Health Network 

Study Aims: This study aims to help researchers understand the effectiveness of bone marrow aspirate in participants with osteoarthritis (OA). Participants will be randomized (1:1) to receive bone marrow aspirate injection or saline injection into their affected knee. Participation is voluntary. 

Eligibility Criteria: 

  • Mild-moderate OA

  • 30+ years old

  • BMI < kg/ m2

  • ​Chronic, symptomatic knee pain

Exclusion Criteria: 

  • Recent knee injections

  • Knee surgery candidate

  • History of inflammatory autoimmune disease or cancers

  • Ligamentous tear (ACL, MCL, PCL)

Interested? Contact the research team!
Toronto Western Hospital Fracture Clinic: Dr. Kim 
Email: SAATC@UHN.ca
For more information, please call the ortho research study team at UHN +1 (877) 818-7340 
You can also check out this study on clinicaltrials.gov