UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, recently visited the hospital lobby to thank researchers and clinical trial participants during UAMS’ Clinical Trials Day celebration, emphasizing the critical role that clinical trials play in advancing patient care.
“Clinical trials are designed to determine whether we are treating patients better or not,” Patterson told staff and visitors gathered in the lobby on Tuesday, May 20. “It’s kind of the last step in all the hard work that gets done in research to finally bring it to the bedside.”
UAMS research departments staffed information tables from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the hospital lobby, offering free food, beverages and giveaways to patients and employees. Research staff from the Translational Research Institute, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Office of Research Regulatory Affairs, Office of Research Compliance and the Institutional Review Board participated in the celebration.
Clinical Trials Day is observed worldwide on or near May 20 each year, commemorating the first randomized clinical trial that began May 20, 1747, and discovered that citrus fruit could prevent scurvy in sailors. The day recognizes clinical research professionals and volunteer participants for their contributions to medical advances achieved through clinical trials.
Patterson acknowledged the extensive work required to conduct clinical trials, from enrolling patients to completing regulatory approvals. “The work that we do to enroll patients in clinical trials, convince them of the extra work that they need to do to get involved in it, the regulatory work, the approvals that have to happen — it’s an awful lot of work, but it’s so important,” he said.
Patterson praised trial participants and their families, noting their willingness to take on additional responsibilities for the benefit of medical research. “I hope that you thank the patients who are getting enrolled in clinical trials and their families for the work that they do,” he said.
In addition to the snacks and beverages, research staff provided information about clinical trials conducted at UAMS.
UAMS conducts medical research across multiple areas, testing a range of new therapies including drugs and medical devices. Clinical trials at UAMS offer Arkansans access to experimental cutting-edge treatments before they become widely available.
“This really is a critical step and why we are at UAMS and not somewhere else,” Patterson said.