What kinds of clinical research trials are there?

Clinical research trials generally fall into two groups: comparative studies and open label studies. In comparative or “controlled” trials one group of participants receives the investigational treatment, while a similar “control” group receives either a traditional treatment or are given a placebo (an inactive medication which appears identical to the investigational treatment). To avoid biased results, studies are often conducted as “double-blind.” Where neither the patients nor the physicians know who is receiving the investigational treatment.