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Biomedical Research
What is Biomedical Research
Biomedical research is the area of science devoted to the study of the processes of life; prevention and treatment of disease; and the genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors related to disease and health.
Scientific Method
Science is a “continuous stream of ideas that are constantly being reshaped.” It is discovery-based and/or inquiry based.
Involves critical thinking, encourages creativity and seeking solutions to problems
Observation Hypothesis Experiment Conclusion Science is a way of making predictions
and making decisions for the future
Basic Biomedical Research
Conducted to increase fundamental knowledge and understanding of life processes and diseases
It is NOT directed toward solving any particular problem
Provides the building blocks for other types of research
Applied Research
Directed toward specific objectives such as developing new medications
Involves the application of existing knowledge to a problem
Can be conducted with animals, computer models and tissue cultures
Clinical Research
Takes place after the other 2 Clinical research tests a particular
medication or treatments in humans Takes place in a hospital or other health
care facility May lead to the need for further research
Biomedical Research Methods
Researchers use a combination of highly interdependent, state of the art methods to understand life processes.
Chemical, mechanical, mathematical and computer simulations Used to simulate living organisms Helpful in understanding complicated
biological processes Helpful in the preliminary stages of
research Provide ideas about new research
directions
Limitations and Strengths
Models increase the speed and efficiency with which data can be studied and processed.
If the model is simple, it can be very accurate
Reduces the number of animals needed for research
They cannot replace laboratory testing The reliability is a function of how well the
organism being researched is defined Expensive Cannot replace living systems
In vitro tests
Experiments performed in laboratory containers using tissues or cells.
Literally means “in glass” Scientists use cell cultures, isolated
tissues, in the early and intermediate phases of research
Strengths and Limitations
Allow scientist to study a single effect in isolation without interference
Less expensive, less time consuming and more accurate
Able to control more readily Critical to the study of viruses
Toxic effects are complex therefore it cannot be duplicated
Cells grown in culture are not exposed to other living organism processes
Cells do not metabolize toxins in culture the same
Difficult to maintain differentiated cells
Nonhuman Animal Models
Animals provide the best surrogate for humans
Results from animal studies can be applied to humans
Animals provide a complex living system
Strengths and Limitations
Ethical alternative to using humans Whole integrated biological system Animals share the same structures and
function as humans
Animals are not identical to humans Research animals are expensive Animal research is regulated by extensive
federal regulations
Human Clinical Trials
Important component 3 major phases of clinical trials
Phase I- Phase IIPhase III
Strengths and Limitations
Actual human data on the efficacy and safety of new medications
Ethical and moral limitations Requires extensive pre-clinical testing Numerous variables affect test data
Epidemiological Studies
Epidemiology is the study of disease incidence and its distribution in a population
To prevent disease, need to know what causes it
Three general types of epidemiological studies
Strengths and Limitations
Epidemiological studies offer direct opportunity to study diseases
Identify patterns and distribution of disease Considerable human exposure can take place
before a toxic effect is detected Difficult to demonstrate a cause and effect
relationship Difficulty in determining the control group