Medical research is a large industry and one that’s often discussed and analyzed in the public sphere.
Why is medical research so important? Is it worth the exorbitant amounts of money spent on it every year? What medical breakthroughs have resulted from such researches? These are just some of the questions related to the medical research industry. It’s a complex issue and one about which everyone seems to have an opinion. The field is constantly evolving as well, which makes the issues even more complicated. Here are some reasons why medical research is important and worthwhile.
Understanding diseases
A large fraction of medical research industry is dedicated to understanding diseases with the goal of creating treatments and cures. There are several stages involved in the study from lab experiments to using animals. The later stages of medical research involve clinical studies with actual patients. Many different types of scientists work together in this field. Biomedical scientists work together with chemists, physicists and biologists. Ethics experts are also consulted during clinical trials, especially those involving human patients.
There are many obvious benefits to medical research. The prolonged lifespan of the modern age compared with previous eras is largely due to breakthroughs in the medical sciences. The outcomes of this research vary from vaccines to antibiotics to new surgical procedures. Modern treatments for cancer, diabetes, AIDS and many other conditions all exist because of medical research. In most countries, medical research receives funding from both government programs and private organizations. There are also many non-profit groups that raise money for medical science.
Drugs and treatments
There is a long history covering the discovery or creation of treatments, from the testing phases and results to when these drugs are released to the public. In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees clinical drug trials. While drugs or treatments may be “discovered” or created in a lab, they’re not considered successful or allowed on the market until extensive clinical trials have been conducted and successfully completed. It’s imperative to study the administration and effects of any treatment using the scientific method to verify the results are consistent.
Another very important part of drug trials is observing and documenting reactions to drugs. It doesn’t just matter whether a drug effectively treats or cures a disease, the side effects must be minor and safe as well. Every drug is evaluated for potential side effects as well as how often those side effects occur in trials so doctors and patients can have an accurate picture of all the relevant information regarding a drug or treatment.
Research and clinical trials have yielded many positive results, especially in the last few years. This is one of the reasons it’s so important to continue funding medical research. Without it, we may not have learned how to prevent malaria or treat various types of cancer. All the science and research dedicated to pharmaceutical development has lead to prevention and cures of numerous diseases that were previously deadly to humans. Continued research may lead to a cure for cancer, heart disease and many other medical conditions.
Health and Food Science
In recent years, some portions of medical research have been dedicated to discovering the links between food and health. This doesn’t only refer to the new “scientific” diet plans that seem to appear all the time, but to actual breakthroughs that related certain foods with medical effects both good and bad. Genetic engineering of food is partially dedicated to discovering ways to make food healthier, as well as more sustainable and accessible to all parts of the world.
Another tie between medical research and food science is related to food-borne illness. Even in developed first-world countries, there are numerous outbreaks every year of food-borne illness such as E. Coli, Botulism, Listeria and others. In many cases, these illnesses are deadly, especially for children and those with compromised immune systems. It’s important that scientific research is dedicated to finding the causes of these outbreaks and creating ways to prevent them as much as possible.
The more medical and food scientists work together to learn about food-borne illness, the more we can expect to see treatments, cures and preventative measures for common outbreaks. There are dedicated scientists like Bruce Eaton PhD who are not only working in the industry, but spending time to educate and inform people about the risks and breakthroughs related to medical science. Seeking information from respected experts reduces the chances of falling prey to false scientific discoveries and ideas.
Medical research is one of the most important scientific industries in existence. It’s responsible for many medical breakthroughs and with continued support will lead to more information about diseases to find treatments and cures. If you’re interested in learning more about the medical research community, clinical drug trials, and the links between food and health, there are many resources available. It’s smart to choose wisely and seek trustworthy sources like experts in the field to avoid common misinformation.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
