Clinical Trials Specialist

What are clinical trials?

In the United States, new drugs must get FDA approval before they are released to the public, and the FDA uses the data collected in clinical trials to determine if a drug is safe and effective. Prior to human use, every product undergoes rigorous laboratory testing to make sure it’s safe for study use. The next step is to find out how much it benefits patients who have the condition the medication aims to treat.

Pharmaceutical companies who develop new medications sponsor trials that invite patients who might benefit from the medication to participate in the trial. Participants are never under any obligation to participate, and can change their mind about participation at any point during the trial.

Why would I choose to participate in a clinical trial?

In an interventional trial there’s a possibility that the drug you’re trying may improve your condition beyond what your current medication can achieve, which for many patients is the optimal benefit. Some clinical trials compare the study drug with a placebo, which is expected to have no effect on you. Placebos are used to prove that it was the study drug and not some other factor responsible if there is a change measured in a patient’s condition. Some placebo-controlled trials offer an option for an open-label extension of the trial ensuring the participant gets to experience the study medication at some point. Not all clinical trials use placebos, and your doctor or one of the research staff will more thoroughly cover this when they review the study with you.

Sometimes a clinical trial is used to examine or compare the success of existing drugs on the market, or to more closely study the behaviors or habits of patients with a condition in order to better understand ways to help them. In these observational trials there is no new drug being tested but you may still be able to provide valuable insights into your condition.

Nearly all medications available today were first part of a clinical trial which determined that they were safe and effective with the help of patients like you. The opportunity to better understand your condition and make a contribution towards helping other patients is something many people find highly rewarding. If you choose to enroll in a trial you will not be charged for the clinic visits that occur as part of the trial, and you are often compensated for your time and travel.

What is the Clinical Integrative Research Center of Atlanta?

The Clinical Integrative Research Center of Atlanta (CIRCA) was founded in 2013 by Frank Berenson, MD and Robert Flamini, MD. CIRCA co-exists within PANDA Neurology & Atlanta Headache Specialists and has a mission to utilize the 50 plus years of Dr. Berenson and Dr. Flamini’s combined research experience. Their intention is to build a bridge between their patients and the most current treatments available in the clinical research industry.

The dedicated physicians at PANDA Neurology & Atlanta Headache Specialists aim to provide their patients with the most up-to-date treatments available. As a result, they provide their patients with the opportunity to participate in clinical research trials under their exceptional care.

The status and number of research studies that CIRCA has available changes often, but past studies conducted by Drs. Berenson and Flamini have targeted treatments for both children and adults suffering from:

• Epilepsy/Seizures
• Migraine
• ADHD
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Cerebral Palsy
• Cluster headaches

If you would like to find out more about clinical trials and how to participate, you can provide your contact information on the form or email the research staff at research@pandaneuro.com