Biomedical Research

Unit JBiomedical Technology

Basic Research

Conducted to increase fundamental knowledge

Not directed toward solving any particular problem

Provides building blocks for other types of research

Applied Research Directed toward specific objectives

Development of a new drug New treatment New surgical procedure

Conducted with animals, non-animal methods,

Computer models or Tissue samples

and humans

Clinical Research Used after other forms of research have

taken place Used to test potential drugs and treatments

in humans Builds on what is done in basic and applies

stages Broad variety of activities and areas of

study Human clinical trials Psychosocial & behavioral research Disease control research

Biomedical Research Methods

Chemical mechanical mathematical and computer simulations Strengths and limitations

In-vitro tests “in glass” takes place in an artificial environment Strengths and limitations

Non-human models

Biomedical Research Methods (cont)

Non-human models Animals provide the best known

surrogate for humans in the lab Similarities between animals and

humans outweigh differences Strengths and limitations of animal

models

Biomedical Research Methods (cont)

Human studies Most often used in developing

prescription drugs 3 major phases of clinical trials After clinical trials Strengths & limitations of clinical trials

Biomedical Research Methods (cont)

Epidemiological studies Experimental epidemiology Descriptive epidemiology Observational epidemiology Information gathering occurs after the

fact Do not demonstrate a direct cause and

effect, but show a statistically significant association between exposure and disease