Medical research

Medical research (or biomedical research), also known as experimental medicine, encompasses a broad range of investigations ranging from "basic research" (also known as bench science or bench research) – which involves the investigation of fundamental scientific principles that may be applicable to a preclinical understanding – to clinical research, which involves the investigation of individuals who may be subjects in clinical trials. Applied research, also known as translational research, is a subset of this spectrum that is undertaken to advance knowledge in the area of medicine.

Drug development pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry include both clinical and preclinical research stages, with the clinical phase being indicated by the phrase clinical trial, and the preclinical research phase being denoted by the term preclinical research phase. Only a small portion of clinical or preclinical research, on the other hand, is directed at a particular pharmacological goal or indication. Because of the need for basic and mechanism-based knowledge, diagnostics, medical devices, and nonpharmaceutical treatments, pharmaceutical research accounts for just a tiny proportion of total medical research expenditure.

It is possible to trace a major portion of the increase in human lifespan over the last century to breakthroughs made possible by medical science. Immunization against measles and polio, insulin treatment for diabetes, antibiotic classes for treating a variety of ailments, medication for high blood pressure, improved treatments for HIV/AIDS and other cardiovascular diseases, new surgical techniques such as microsurgery, and increasingly successful cancer treatments are just a few of the major benefits of medical research that have been realised. As a consequence of the Human Genome Project, it is envisaged that new and valuable tests and treatments will be developed. Numerous obstacles, such the emergence of antibiotic resistance and the obesity pandemic, continue to exist, must be addressed.

The majority of the research in this topic is carried out by biomedical scientists, although other types of biologists also make substantial contributions to the field. Medical research on people must adhere to the medical ethical standards set out in the Declaration of Helsinki, as well as the policies and procedures of the hospital where the study is being done. In all circumstances, researchers are obliged to adhere to ethical standards.