What Are Clinical Trials and Why Are They Important?

A research study, also called a clinical trial, is how we get information on the best ways to prevent disease, diagnose illness and treat patients. There are many clinical trials going on at any given time, each designed to help answer specific questions about possible new treatments or new ways of using treatments that are already available.

What are we doing in clinical trials?

In the past, most clinical trials were carried out in major academic medical centers in major cities. Carilion has emerged as a valued clinical trial site—showing the amount of expertise and respect our physicians have on a national level as well as the success of our research operations and facilities. 

This means that our patients are sometimes able to access new therapies and treatments through clinical trials before they are available to the general public. It also allows participants to receive cutting-edge care locally, rather than traveling to a larger academic center outside of our region. In some instances, such as oncology, access to clinical trials is considered a standard option for treatment.

Who is involved?

In clinical trials, our clinicians work closely with clinical research coordinators (CRCs)—highly skilled professionals who serve as project managers and liaisons to participants and those associated with the trial.

Many of our clinicians also serve in the role of a principal investigator (PI)—subject-matter experts on how the trial will work who are trained on federal regulations for human-subjects research. To be a PI, a person must have proven success in multiple previous trials. After proving successful in recruitment, quality of data and support of clinical trials, PIs are invited to lead national and international trials.  

What are some examples?

Anita Kablinger, MD, CPI is a certified principal investigator recognized by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals as a national leader in clinical trials that predominantly focus on mood disorders and addiction. Find out more on the Psychiatry and Psychology Research page.

Jason Foerst, MD, and the structural heart team are actively enrolling nine clinical trials in the structural heart space. They enrolled the first American patient in the Abbott Paradigm Paravalvular Leak trial, CORCINCH-HF trial, and BASELINE trial among others. They also performed a live case for the international interventional Cardiology conference (2023 SCAI). Find out more on the Cardiology Research page.

The Aortic Center team have been recognized by Cook Research for enrolling two of the first three patients nationwide in the ZFEN+ trial and are tied at sixth in the nation for enrollment in the ROADSTER clinical trial. Find out more on the Endovascular Surgery Research page.

If you have questions about our research or clinical trials, email research@carilionclinic.org

Carilion Clinic Research and Development is honored to partner with a growing list of prestigious national and statewide research centers and health care organizations. Find out more about our collaborative research initiatives; explore our unique public-private partnerships with the Virginia Tech Carilion (VTC) School of Medicine, Virginia Tech, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Radford University Carilion and others. Connect with our team to discuss opportunities to collaborate with our experts or become a participant.