Although you may not have given much thought to medical research, unless you have had to look into it for personal reasons, it is a crucial part of the healthcare system.
Think about it this way. Every treatment, intervention, preventative measure, and medication is the result of a discovery and these discoveries take time and resources to happen.
So, exactly how does medical research affect modern medicine and the overall healthcare system? Let’s take a closer look.
What are the different types of medical research?
There are three main types of medical research, all of which play an important role in the discovery and development of new treatments and medicines.
- Laboratory research
This type of medical research is carried out in a laboratory where chemical interactions of biological materials can be observed within a controlled environment. This is often the first step in developing new methods or products that can be used in other forms of research.
- Clinical trials
Clinical trials are the most familiar form of medical research and involve patients volunteering to participate in a study to test the efficacy and safety of a new product.
- Epidemiological research
A large proportion of medical research is information-based, with epidemiological research involving the analysis of data and biological samples.
Why is medical research important?
Although most people take modern medicine for granted, these are only available because, at some point, they were created and tested using medical research. Some of the reasons why medical research is so important include:
In disease diagnosis
Advances in medical research have led to the development of new diagnostic tools and technologies that enable earlier detection and more effective treatment plans. For example, mammography is now used as a highly effective screening method for breast cancer and has resulted in a 20% fall in mortality rates. You can find out more about the latest screening for cancer at moffitt.org.
For the development of new treatments
Medical research has paved the way for new treatments in the fight against cancer, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, and more. Helping to identify what works and what doesn’t, medical research is essential in creating bespoke treatment plans for each patient.
In disease prevention
Diseases that caused millions of deaths in the past such as polio, smallpox, and measles can now be prevented due to medical research and the development of vaccines. More recently, medical research enabled scientists to create COVID-19 vaccinations that gradually slowed down the progression of this disease and helped to protect the more vulnerable members of society.
In public health
When it comes to public health, medical research has helped society to better understand the issues of today and how to address them. More specifically, it helps to provide valuable information on disease trends and risk factors, as well as the outcomes of specific treatments and patterns of care.
The bottom line
Without ongoing medical research, the healthcare industry would not be able to do half of what it does today. Responsible for significant discoveries that have dramatically improved healthcare for people all over the world, medical research is vital in the development of new medicines and treatments.
