Professional Documents
Culture Documents
JOHN I. GALLIN
FREDERICK P. OGNIBENE
LAURA LEE JOHNSON
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v
vi CONTENTS
6. The Regulation of Drugs and Biological 10. Data and Safety Monitoring
Products by the Food and Drug PAUL G. WAKIM, PAMELA A. SHAW
Administration
MOLLY M. FLANNERY, AMY E. McKEE, Why Monitor? 127
DIANE M. MALONEY, JONATHAN P. JAROW Who Monitors? 128
What to Monitor? 130
Background 73 When and How Often to Monitor? 136
Mission and Terminology 74 Special Topics 137
Drug and Biological Product Life Cycle 76 Summary 138
Compliance 84 Summary Questions 139
Summary 84 Acknowledgments 139
Summary Questions 84 References 139
Introduction 373
III
Features of Survival Data 374 TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER,
Survival Function 375 DATA MANAGEMENT, AND
Common Mistakes 380 SOURCES OF FUNDING SUPPORT
Conclusion 380
FOR RESEARCH
Questions 381
Acknowledgments 381
Disclaimers 381 29. Intellectual Property and Technology
References 381 Transfer
BRUCE GOLDSTEIN
27. Intermediate Topics in Biostatistics
PAMELA A. SHAW, LAURA LEE JOHNSON, Introduction 448
MICHAEL A. PROSCHAN Part One: Intellectual Property Generally 448
Part Two: Patents and Technology Transfer 487
Special Topics in Trial Design 384 Part Three: Technology Transfer Agreements 503
Special Considerations in Data Analysis 392 Conclusion 518
Regression to the Mean 394 Brief Glossary of Critical Terms in Patenting 519
Diagnostic Testing 396 Review Questions 519
Special Considerations in Survival Analysis 400 References 520
x CONTENTS
Introduction 714
Organization and Features of Information
Resources 714
Origin 715
List of Contributors
Paul S. Albert National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, Maryrose Franko Health Research Alliance, Research
United States Triangle Park, NC, United States
Elizabeth A. Bartrum National Institutes of Health, Bradley D. Freeman Washington University School of
Bethesda, MD, United States Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
Karen E. Berliner National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Elaine K. Gallin QE Philanthropic Advisors, Potomac, MD,
MD, United States United States
Juliana Blome National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, John I. Gallin National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD,
United States United States
Enriqueta Bond QE Philanthropic Advisors, Warrenton, VA, Naomi L. Gerber George Mason University, Fairfax, VA,
United States United States; Inova Health System, Falls Church, VA,
Valerie H. Bonham National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
MD, United States Bruce Goldstein a National Institutes of Health, Rockville,
Craig B. Borkowf Centers for Disease Control and MD, United States
Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States Marjorie J. Good National Cancer Institute, National
John T. Burklow National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, United States
MD, United States Michael M. Gottesman National Institutes of Health,
Robert M. Califf Duke University School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, United States
Durham, NC, United States; Verily Life Sciences (Alphabet), Christine Grady National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,
South San Francisco, CA, United States; Stanford University MD, United States
Department of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States David K. Henderson National Institutes of Health,
Leighton Chan National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, Bethesda, MD, United States
United States Nicholas C. Ide National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD,
Sue Cheng Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc., United States
Whippany, NJ, United States Jonathan P. Jarow U.S. Food and Drug Administration,
James J. Cimino University of Alabama School of Medicine, Silver Spring, MD, United States
Birmingham, AL, United States Laura Lee Johnson U.S. Food and Drug Administration,
Janine Clayton National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, Silver Spring, MD, United States
United States Barbara I. Karp National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD,
Patricia S. Coffey National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
MD, United States Phyllis Klein Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United
Melissa C. Colbert National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, States
MD, United States Laura M. Lee National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD,
Josh A. Duberman National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
MD, United States Juan J.L. Lertora Duke University School of Medicine,
Michelle Feige Association for the Accreditation of Human Durham, NC, United States
Research Protection Programs, Inc., Washington, DC, Diane M. Maloney U.S. Food and Drug Administration,
United States Silver Spring, MD, United States
Cheryl A. Fisher National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Patrick McGarey National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,
MD, United States MD, United States
Molly M. Flannery U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Amy E. McKee U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver
Silver Spring, MD, United States Spring, MD, United States
a
Mr. Goldstein is a patent attorney serving as the Assistant Director for Monitoring & Enforcement Unit in the NIH Office of
Technology Transfer. This chapter reflects the personal views of Mr. Goldstein, not of his employer. No official support or endorsement
by the National Institutes of Health or the United States Government is intended or should be inferred.
xiii
xiv LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
Jon W. McKeeby National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Amy P.N. Skubitz University of Minnesota, Minneapolis,
MD, United States MN, United States
Theresa Mullin U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Jean R. Slutsky Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Spring, MD, United States Institute (PCORI), Washington, DC, United States
Charles Natanson National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Julia Slutsman National Institutes of Health, Washington,
MD, United States DC, United States
Lynnette Nieman National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Diane C. St Germain National Cancer Institute, National
MD, United States Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, United States
Robert B. Nussenblatt y National Institutes of Health, Catherine M. Stoney National Institutes of Health,
Bethesda, MD, United States Bethesda, MD, United States
Frederick P. Ognibene National Institutes of Health, Stephen E. Straus y National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,
Bethesda, MD, United States MD, United States
Christopher O. Olopade The University of Chicago, Elyse I. Summers Association for the Accreditation of
Chicago, IL, United States Human Research Protection Programs, Inc., Washington,
Olufunmilayo I. Olopade The University of Chicago, DC, United States
Chicago, IL, United States Junfeng Sun National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD,
Valerie L. Prenger National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
MD, United States Michelle Tagle The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL,
Jillian K. Price Inova Health System, Falls Church, VA, United States
United States Tony Tse National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD,
Michael A. Proschan National Institutes of Health, United States
Bethesda, MD, United States Konstantina M. Vanevski Bayer HealthCare
Jerry Sachs National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Basel, Switzerland
United States Paul G. Wakim National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD,
Joseph A. Sclafani National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
MD, United States; Medstar Georgetown University/ Gwenyth R. Wallen National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,
National Rehabilitation Network, Washington, DC, United MD, United States
States Evelyn P. Whitlock Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Joe V. Selby Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Institute (PCORI), Washington, DC, United States
(PCORI), Washington, DC, United States Rebecca J. Williams National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,
Pamela A. Shaw University of Pennsylvania Perelman MD, United States
School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States Deborah A. Zarin National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,
Kelly S. Sherman Patient-Centered Outcomes Research MD, United States
Institute (PCORI), Washington, DC, United States
Pamela C. Sieving Sieving Information Solutions, Bethesda,
MD, United States
y
Deceased.
Acknowledgments
The editors extend special thanks to Ms. Jennifer Simmons for her energetic administrative support in coor-
dinating the many activities associated with the development of the fourth edition of this textbook, Ms. Rona
Buchbinder for her dedicated and excellent editorial assistance, and Ms. Kristine Jones, Ms. Molly McLaughlin, and
Mr. Fenton Coulthurst at Elsevier for their patience and perseverance in bringing this huge undertaking to fruition.
Very special thanks to all of the authors who contributed outstanding, up-to-date chapters to this fourth edition and
the numerous patients, study participants, and course participants over the years who inspired them.
xv
Preface
The positive reactions and feedback to the first three editions of Principles and Practice of Clinical Research have been
appreciated and reinforced the importance of this textbook to the discipline of clinical research. In each edition the
content of the textbook has been updated and new information added. The textbook nearly doubled in size from the
second to the third editions as an expanded and comprehensive section on biostatistics was included. The critical
importance of study design and biostatistics, coupled with enhanced research regulatory requirements prompted the
addition of a new editor, Laura Lee Johnson, PhD. Dr. Johnson has been a colleague for years, having been a faculty
member and currently codirector of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center’s “Introduction to the
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research” (IPPCR) course. After many years at the NIH, she is now Acting Director
of the Division of Biometrics III in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). She is an extremely welcome addition as the third editor of this textbook.
IPPCR started at the NIH Clinical Center in 1995 and was the impetus for the first edition of this textbook. Currently
IPPCR is a web-based course using recorded lectures by many of the textbook’s authors, online bulletin boards for
each lecture, and local study groups hosted by volunteer institutions around the world. In the 2016e17 academic year
we had over 8,800 registrants at 270 sites around the world. Since its inception the course has had nearly 38,000
participants formally enroll and an even wider audience informally taking the course or watching lectures via YouTube.
In addition, the textbook has been translated into Chinese, Japanese, and Russian and has been used for live intensive
IPPCR courses taught in China, Nigeria, Russia, India, Brazil, and South Africa.
Based on broad international needs and interest in enhancing clinical research infrastructure around the world, this
fourth edition includes an expanded chapter on clinical research in international settings as well as a new chapter
focusing on international regulation of drugs and biologics. It also includes updated content on large clinical trials and
registries as well as a new chapter focusing on the emergence of the important role of comparative effectiveness
research. Since clinical research has become more complex and thus, potentially, more risky, there is a new chapter
devoted to identifying clinical risks and managing patient safety in a clinical research setting. There also is new content
on the use of electronic health records in clinical research and a very detailed presentation of the broad utility and
application of informational resources in clinical research. With the growth of the clinical research enterprise and the
need to ensure that the highest standards are maintained, chapters about accreditation of human research protection
programs, regulatory sciences, and research integrity have been enhanced.
We hope that this book provides its audience with a deeper understanding of the broadening scope of the global
clinical research enterprise. The textbook provides not only details about clinical research mechanics and practical
information but also introduces the reader to the complexities and intricacies of ensuring safe, ethically sound, and
scientifically rigorous clinical research. All clinical investigators must consider the safety of research subjects enrolled
in their investigational protocols while navigating the research pathways from the bedside to the bench and back. We
are proud of this book on so many levels and hope that the passion, expertise, and dynamic quality of our contributors
and their content are appreciated by you, the readers.
John I. Gallin, MD
Frederick P. Ognibene, MD
Laura Lee Johnson, PhD
xvii
C H A P T E R
1
A Historical Perspective on Clinical Research
John I. Gallin
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
O U T L I N E
If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders health services research; epidemiology; and community-based
of giants. Sir Isaac Newton (1676). and managed care-based research.
contain no fluid, give rise to no liquid discharge, yet medicine. In addition, as graduating physicians are
they feel protuberant to your touch you say concerning reminded when they take the Hippocratic oath, he pro-
him: ‘This is a case of bulging masses I have to contend vided physicians with high moral standards. Hippocrates’
with.’ Bulging tumors of the breast mean the existence meticulous clinical records were maintained in 42 case re-
of swellings on the breast, large, spreading, and cords.8 These case studies describe, among other maladies,
hard; touching them is like touching a ball of wrap- malarial fevers, diarrhea, dysentery, melancholia, mania,
pings, or they may be compared with unripe hemat and pulmonary edema with remarkable clinical acumen.
fruit, which is hard and cool to the touch.”3 On pulmonary edema, he wrote the following:
Evidence also shows that ancient Chinese medicine
included clinical studies. For example, in 2737 BC, Water accumulates; the patient has fever and cough; the
Shen Nung, the putative father of Chinese medicine, respiration is fast; the feet become edematous; the nails appear
curved and the patient suffers as if he has pus inside, only less
experimented with poisons and classified medical severe and more protracted. One can recognize that it is not pus
plants,4 and I. Yin (1176e1123 BC), a famous prime min- but water.if you put your ear against the chest you can hear it
ister of the Shang dynasty, described the extraction of seethe inside like sour wine.9
medicines from boiling plants.5
Documents from early Judeo-Christian and Eastern Hippocrates also described the importance of cleanli-
civilizations provide examples of a scientific approach ness in the management of wounds. He wrote, “If water
to medicine and the origin of clinical research. In the was used for irrigation, it had to be very pure or boiled,
Old Testament, written from the 15th century BC to and the hands and nails of the operator were to be
approximately the 4th century BC,6 a passage in the first cleansed.”10
chapter of the Book of Daniel describes a comparative Hippocrates used the Greek word for “crab,” karkinos,
“protocol” of diet and health. In the setting of Babylon to describe cancer. The tumor, with its clutch of swollen
where Israelites defiled the sin of eating rich food, blood vessels around it, reminded Hippocrates of a crab
Daniel described the preferred diet of legumes and dug in the sand with its legs spread in a circle.11
water made for healthier youths compared with the Hippocrates’ teachings remained dominant and
king’s rich food and wine: unchallenged until the time of Claudius Galen of Perga-
mum (c.130e200 AD), the physician to the Roman
Then Daniel said to the steward. Emperor Marcus Aurelius.12 Galen was one of the first in-
“Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to dividuals to utilize animal studies to understand human
eat and water to drink. Then let your appearance and the
appearance of the youths who eat the king’s rich food be disease. By experimenting on animals, he was able to
observed by you, and according to what you see deal with describe the effects of transection of the spinal cord at
your servants. different levels. According to Galen, health and disease
So he harkened to them in this matter; and tested them for reflected the balance of four humors (blood, phlegm,
ten days. black bile, and yellow bile), and veins contained blood
At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in
appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the and the humors, together with some spirit.12 Inflamma-
king’s rich food. So the steward took away their rich food and tion, described by Galen as a red, hot, and painful
the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.” Daniel distention, was attributed to excessive blood. Tubercles,
1:11e16 pustules, catarrh, and nodules of lymph, all cool, boggy
and white, were attributed to excesses of lymph. Jaundice
The ancient Hindus excelled in early medicine, espe- was an overflow of yellow bile. Cancer was attributed to
cially in surgery. Sushruta, the father of Indian surgery, black bile as was melancholia, the medieval term for
resided in the court of the Gupta kings in about 600 depression. Thus cancer and depression were closely
BC and wrote medical texts about surgery, the most intertwined.13
famous being Sushruta Samhita, an encyclopedia of med-
ical learning. In addition, there is evidence of Indian
hospitals in Ceylon in 437 BC and 137 BC.7 MIDDLE AGES AND RENAISSANCE
0*0
PHILOSOPHICAL
TRANSACTIONS.
The CONTENTS.
llxnfatictl Qtftrtfttutt firna «#r. Leeuwcnboeck, «fotf
Blood, Milk, Bones, tkt Brain, Spitle, Coticula, Sweat,
Fact, Teares 5 ummtmutei t» t** Letttrs to the PaUfitr.
An AtuHit tf* ntttkU Ctfe if* Dropfy, mfoktn fir Grt-
vibtk* at+yt**g W*mt* ^ imftrttAh* Lttnttd Ptyfoi*
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CRET IQKE JN-IM.ALI Ctgtutt, 4»tb. Gall.
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GEO eX£ fR \CA. III. LOG ICJ, fat An
CritoUi; f * Gtllit* i» iMnnu* Strmutem vtrfc SUM
A*t*u&o*rfait *p* tke Latin Verfon, mult by C. S. of the
Pbil.TranUflions*/' J. 1665.1666.1667.
FIGURE 1.4 Antony van Leeuwenhoek. From Dobell C. Antony FIGURE 1.5 Title page from Leeuwenhoek’s paper, “Microscopical
van leeuwenhoek and his little animals. New York, Dover: A Collection of Observations.” From Dobell C. Antony van leeuwenhoek and his little
Writings by the Father of Protozoology and Bacteriology; 1960 [Original work animals. New York, Dover: A Collection of Writings by the Father of
published in 1932]. Protozoology and Bacteriology; 1960 [Original work published in 1932].
comparing three therapies for scurvy (Table 1.1).32 diseases of the vascular system.33 Hunter’s student
Twelve sailors with classic scurvy were divided into Edward Jenner (1749e1823)33 introduced vaccination
six groups of two each, all given identical diets; the as a tool to prevent infectious diseases (Fig. 1.7).34 Jenner
various groups were supplemented with vinegar, dilute was aware that dairymaids who had contracted cowpox
sulfuric acid, cider, seawater, and a nutmeg, garlic, and through milking did not get smallpox. In 1798, Jenner
horseradish mixture, along with two oranges and one conceived of applying this observation on a grand scale
lemon daily. to prevent smallpox.35
Sulfuric acid, vinegar, seawater, cider, and the physi- Jenner was not the first to conceive of the idea of inoc-
cian’s remedy had no benefit. Two sailors receiving ulation for smallpox. The Chinese had thought of this
citrus fruit avoided scurvy. Although not significant earlier, and Sir Hans Sloane had done small studies in
because of sample size, this early clinical study formed 1717 using variolation (inoculating healthy people
the basis for successful avoidance of scurvy with citrus with pus from blisters obtained from patients with
fruit. Studies with sulfuric acid, vinegar, and cider smallpox).36 In 1718, after providing variolation vaccina-
excluded acid as a likely explanation for the beneficial tion of her 3-year-old son in Turkey and, 3 years later,
effect of citrus fruit. her 5-year-old daughter in England, Lady Mary Worley
The 18th century saw great progress in the area of Montagu introduced the Ottoman practice of variolation
surgery. A remarkable succession of teachers and their to the West.36 In addition, James Jurin published several
students led these studies. Percival Pott of St. Bartholo- articles between 1723 and 1727 comparing death from
mew’s Hospital described tuberculosis of the spine, or natural smallpox in people who had not been inoculated
Pott’s disease.33 John Hunter, Pott’s pupil, was the versus those who had been inoculated. Jurin showed
founder of experimental and surgical pathology and that death occurred in 5 of 6 subjects in the first group
was a pioneer in comparative physiology and experi- compared with 1 in 60 in the latter,37 providing one of
mental morphology. Hunter described shock, phlebitis, the first studies using mortality as a critical clinical
pyremia, and intussusception and reported major find- end point. In 1734, Voltaire wrote, “The Cirassians [a
ings of inflammation, gunshot wounds, and surgical Middle Eastern people] perceived that of a thousand
FIGURE 1.6 James Lind. FIGURE 1.7 Edward Jenner (painting by Sir Thomas Lawrence).
From Garrison FH. History of medicine. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1917.
Reprinted 1963.
TABLE 1.1 Treatment of Scurvy by James Lind
Continental Armydthe first massive immunization of
Treatment Arm Cured p-valuea a military group.40 In 1774 Benjamin Jesty, a cattle
Sulfuric acid 0/2 >0.05 breeder in Dorset, England, inoculated his wife and
two sons with cowpox to protect them during an
Vinegar 0/2 >0.05
outbreak of smallpox. Jenner, based on his clinical obser-
Seawater 0/2 >0.05 vation that persons who had cowpox were protected
Cider 0/2 >0.05 from smallpox and his subsequent work showing that
people inoculated with cowpox were protected when
Physicians 0/2 >0.05
challenged with smallpox, was the first to try vaccina-
Citrus fruit 2/2 >0.05 tion on a large scale using scabs from cowpox to protect
a
against human smallpox. Jenner was the first to use
Compared to patients in the five areas of the trial; no placebo group.
experimental approaches to establish the scientific basis
for vaccination and he transformed a local country tradi-
persons hardly one was attacked twice by full blown tion into a viable prophylactic principle. Jenner’s
smallpox; that in truth one sees three or four mild cases vaccine was adopted quickly in Germany and then in
but never two that are serious and dangerous; that in a Holland, Denmark, the rest of Europe, and the United
word one never truly has that illness twice in life.”38 States.
Thus, Voltaire recognized natural immunity to small- The 1700s were also the time when the first known
pox, which was an important concept for future vacci- blinded clinical studies were performed. In 1784 a
nology. In 1721, Cotton Mather demonstrated that commission of inquiry was appointed by King Louis
variolation protected citizens of the American colonies XVI of France to investigate medical claims of “animal
in Massachusetts,39 and, in 1777, George Washington magnetism” or “mesmerism.” The commission, headed
used variolation against smallpox to inoculate the by Benjamin Franklin and consisting of such
NINETEENTH CENTURY
The court, in one of the early cases demonstrating the importance of cellular components of host defense
importance of informed consent in clinical research, against infection.53 Paul Ehrlich (1854e1915) discovered
removed Hansen from his position as director of Lepro- the complement system and asserted the importance of
sarium No. 1, where the experiments had taken place. the humoral components of host defense. In 1908,
However, Hansen retained his position as chief medical Metchnikoff and Ehrlich shared the Nobel Prize
officer for leprosy52 and later in his life received world- (Figs. 1.13 and 1.14).
wide recognition for his life’s work on leprosy. At the end of the 19th century, studies of yellow fever
In the same era, Emil von Behring (1854e1917) increased awareness of the importance of the informed
demonstrated in 1890 that inoculation with attenuated consent process in clinical research. In 1897, Italian
diphtheria toxins in one animal resulted in production bacteriologist Giuseppe Sanarelli announced that he
of a therapeutic serum factor (antitoxin) that could be had discovered the bacillus for yellow fever by injecting
delivered to another, thus discovering antibodies the organism into five people. William Osler was present
and establishing a role for passive immunization. On at an 1898 meeting at which the work by Sanarelli was
Christmas Eve of 1891, the first successful clinical use discussed, and Osler said, “To deliberately inject a
of diphtheria antitoxin occurred.51 By 1894, diphtheria poison of known high degree of virulency into a human
antiserum became commercially available as a result of being, unless you obtain that man’s sanction.is crim-
Paul Ehrlich’s work establishing methods of producing inal.”54 This commentary by Osler had substantial influ-
high-titer antisera. Behring’s discovery of antitoxin ence on Walter Reed, who demonstrated in human
was the beginning of humoral immunity, and in 1901 volunteers that the mosquito is the vector for yellow
Behring received the first Nobel Prize. Koch received fever. Reed adopted written agreements (contracts)
the Prize in 1905 (Fig. 1.12). with all his yellow fever subjects. In addition to obtain-
The Russian scientist Elie Metchnikoff (1845e1916) ing signed permission from all his volunteers, Reed
discovered the importance of phagocytosis in host-
defense against infection and emphasized the
FIGURE 1.12 Emil von Behring. From Hirsch JG. Host resistance to
infectious diseases: a centennial. In: Gallin JI, Fauci AS, editors. Advances FIGURE 1.13 Elie Metchnikoff in his 40s. From Tauber AI, Chernyak
in host defense mechanisms: vol. 1. Phagocytic cells. New York: Raven L. Metchnikoff and the origins of immunology. New York: Oxford
Press; 1982. p. 7. University Press; 1991, Fig. 5 [Wikipedia].
FIGURE 1.15 (A) Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen. (B) Print of Wilhelm Röntgen’s first X-ray of his wife’s hand.
FIGURE 1.16 Marie Curie (1867e1934). FIGURE 1.17 Florence Nightingale (1820e1910).
2
Ethical Principles in Clinical Research
Christine Grady
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
O U T L I N E
Clinical research has resulted in significant benefits hypotheses and permits generalizable conclusions use-
for society, yet continues to pose profound ethical ques- ful in understanding human health and illness,
tions. This chapter briefly describes: five overlapping improving medical care or the public health, and devel-
but distinct eras reflecting the history of clinical research oping safe and effective interventions to prevent, diag-
ethics; codes of research ethics; and seven ethical nose, and treat disease. As such, research serves the
principles that guide clinical research ethics and partic- common or collective good; the individual subject
ular ethical challenges in randomized controlled trials participating in clinical research may or may not benefit
(RCTs). from participation.
Clinical research is distinct from clinical practice in
that each has different, yet not mutually exclusive, pur-
DISTINGUISHING CLINICAL RESEARCH poses, goals, and methods.1 Clinical practice involves
FROM CLINICAL PRACTICE diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and care for a partic-
ular individual or group of individuals with the goal
Clinical research involves the study of human beings of meeting the health needs of and benefiting that indi-
in a systematic investigation of health and illness, vidual(s). Clinical practice is based on evidence or expe-
designed to develop or contribute to generalizable rience, is designed to enhance the patient’s well-being,
knowledge. The goal of clinical research is to gather and has a reasonable expectation of success. Usual
knowledge through a set of activities that tests methods in clinical practice are evidence-based and
guided by standard practice and experience. The risks of others, including future persons and society. Ethical re-
interventions or procedures employed in clinical prac- quirements aim to minimize the possibility of exploit-
tice are justified by the prospect of therapeutic benefit ing research participants by ensuring that they are
to the individual. In contrast, clinical research aims to treated with respect while contributing to the genera-
generate useful knowledge and is not designed to tion of knowledge, and their rights and welfare are
meet the health needs of, nor necessarily to benefit, indi- protected throughout the process of research.
vidual patient participants. Although an individual may
receive quality patient care and treatment when partici-
pating in research, this is not the goal of research, and HISTORY OF ETHICAL ATTENTION TO
much research does not directly benefit individual par- CLINICAL RESEARCH
ticipants. Further, frequently used research methodolo-
gies, such as randomization, blinding, dose escalation, Throughout history, perception and acceptance of the
placebo controls, and others are rarely found and might methods, goals, and scope of clinical research have
be considered unacceptable, in clinical practice. In clin- evolved significantly, as have attention to and apprecia-
ical research, some risk is justified by the importance tion of what respecting and protecting research partici-
of the knowledge to be gained rather than benefit to pants entails. A brief detour through the history of
the individual participant. clinical research illustrates these changing perspectives.5
CODES OF RESEARCH ETHICS AND and is considered a living document. Certain provi-
REGULATIONS sions of the Helsinki Declaration, such as posttrial
obligations and the use of placebo controls, have
Throughout this history, several influential docu- been topics of continued debate among international
ments have helped to shape our sense of the contours researchers.
of ethical research (Table 2.1). Most were written in The Belmont Report, published by the US National
response to specific crises or historical events, yet all Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of
have accepted an underlying assumption that research Biomedical and Behavioral Research, describes three
as a means to progress in medical care or health is a so- broad ethical principles that guide the conduct of
cial good. The Nuremberg Code, a 10-point code on the research and form the “basis on which specific rules
ethics of human experimentation, was written as the could be formulated, criticized, and interpreted.”11
concluding part of the judgment at the Nuremberg Trials These three principles are respect for persons, benefi-
(1949).19 Established in response to Nazi experimenta- cence, and justice. Respect for persons requires respect
tion, the Nuremberg Code recognized the potential value for the autonomous decision-making of capable individ-
of research knowledge to society but emphasized the ab- uals as applied in the process of informed consent and
solute necessity of voluntary consent of the subject. The also calls for protection of those with diminished auton-
Nuremberg Code established that ethical research must omy. Beneficence requires protecting individuals from
prioritize the rights and welfare of the subject. Most sub- deliberate and unnecessary harm, as well as maximizing
sequent codes and guidelines for the ethical conduct of benefits and minimizing harms, and is applied to clin-
research have maintained this emphasis and all have ical research through careful risk/benefit evaluation.
incorporated requirements for informed consent. The Justice demands a fair distribution of the benefits and
Declaration of Helsinki was developed by the World Med- burdens of research and is applied in the Belmont Report
ical Assembly (WMA) in 1964 as a guide to the world’s to fairness in the processes and outcomes of selecting
physicians involved in human subject research.20 The research subjects.
Declaration of Helsinki recognizes that some, but not all, In 1982, the Council of International Organizations of
medical research is combined with clinical care and em- Medical Sciences (CIOMS), in conjunction with the
phasizes that patients’ participation in research should World Health Organization (WHO), issued International
not put them at a disadvantage with respect to medical Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human
care. The Declaration of Helsinki also recognizes legiti- Subjects, which were revised in 1993, 2002, and 2015.21
mate research with people who cannot give their own The CIOMS guidelines acknowledge that background
informed consent, such as children and the cognitively circumstances sometimes differ between low- and
impaired, but for whom informed permission could be middle-income and high-income countries, and there
obtained from a legal guardian. The Declaration of Hel- may be differences in the primacy of focus on the indi-
sinki has had considerable influence on the formulation vidual and individual rights. CIOMS set out to apply
of international, regional, and national legislation and the Helsinki principles to the “special circumstances of
regulations governing clinical research. The Declaration many technologically developing countries.” CIOMS
of Helsinki has been revised multiple times by the adopted the three ethical principles spelled out in the
WMA (1975, 1983, 1989, 1996, 2000, 2008, and 2013) US National Commission’s Belmont Report and main-
tains most of the tenets of Nuremberg and Helsinki
but has provided additional and valuable guidance
TABLE 2.1 Selected Codes and US Regulations Guiding Clinical and commentary on externally sponsored research and
Research
research with vulnerable populations. The 2015 revision
• The Nuremberg Code (1949) restructures and expands many previously existing
guidelines and adds new guidelines on compensation
• The World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki (1964, 1975,
1983, 1989, 1996, 2000, 2008, and 2013) for research-related injury, research with stored bio-
specimens and data, and implementation science,
• The National Commission’s Belmont Report (1979)
among others.21
• CIOMS International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Federal regulations found in Title 45, USCFR, Part 46
Involving Human Subjects (1982, 2002, 2015) (45CFR46),12 were promulgated in 1981 for research
• International Conference on Harmonization Guidelines for Good funded by DHHS (formerly the Department of Health,
Clinical Practice (1996) Education, and Welfare), and at Title 21 USCFR, Part
• Title 45, USCFR, Part 46, “The Common Rule” 50 and 56 for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA).22 FDA regulations are similar, but not identical,
• Title 21, USCFR, Part 50 (“Protection of Human subjects”) and 56
to those found in the Common Rule.23 Compliance
(“Institutional Review Boards”)
with these and other FDA regulations is required for
TABLE 2.2 Ethical Framework for Clinical Research procedures means that investigators should identify
groups or individuals who would be appropriate for sci-
Principles of Ethical Clinical
entific reasonsdthat is, for reasons related to the prob-
Research Description
lem being studied and justified by the design and the
Value Research poses a clinically, particular questions being askeddnot because of their
scientifically, or socially valuable easy availability or manipulability, or because subjects
question that will contribute to
generalizable knowledge about
are favored or disfavored.11 Extra care should be taken
health or will be useful in to justify the inclusion of vulnerable subjects, as well
improving health. Research is as to justify excluding those who stand to benefit from
responsive to health needs and participation. Exclusion without adequate justification
priorities. can be unfair; therefore, eligibility criteria should be as
Validity The study has an appropriate and broad as possible, consistent with the scientific objec-
feasible design and end points, tives and the anticipated risks of the research. Distribu-
rigorous methods, and a feasible tive justice is concerned with a fair distribution of
strategy to ensure valid and
interpretable data.
benefits and burdens, thus expected benefit and burden
in a particular study is an important consideration for
Fair subject selection The process and outcomes of subject selection. Scientifically appropriate individuals
subject and site selection are fair
and are based on scientific
or groups may be fairly selected consistent with atten-
appropriateness, minimization of tion to equitably distributing benefits and burdens, as
vulnerability and risk, and well as minimizing risks and maximizing benefits.
maximization of benefit. Persons are considered vulnerable when their ability
Favorable risk/benefit ratio Study risks are justified by to protect or promote their own interests is compro-
potential benefits and the value of mised, often because of an impaired capacity to provide
the knowledge. Risks are informed consent. Although disagreement remains
minimized and benefits are about the meaning of vulnerability in research and
enhanced to the extent possible.
who is actually vulnerable,32 there is support for the
Independent review Independent evaluation of idea that among scientifically appropriate subjects, the
adherence to ethical guidelines in less vulnerable should be selected first. For example,
the design, conduct, and analysis
of research.
an early drug safety study should be conducted with
adults before children, and with consenting adults
Informed consent Clear processes for providing before including those who cannot consent.
adequate information to and
promoting the voluntary
Certain groups, such as pregnant women, fetuses,
enrollment of subjects. prisoners, and children, are further protected by specific
regulations requiring additional safeguards in research.
Respect for enrolled participants Study shows respects for the
rights and welfare of participants
According to US regulations, determination of the
both during and at the conclusion permissibility of research with children depends on the
of research. level of research risk and the anticipated benefits.
Accordingly, (1) research that poses minimal risk to
children is acceptable, (2) research with more than mini-
example, with an inappropriate design, inadequate po- mal risk must be counterbalanced by a prospect of direct
wer, insufficient or sloppy data, or inappropriate or un- therapeutic benefit for the children in the study, (3) for
feasible methodsdis harmful because human and research with small amounts of additional risk (minor
material resources are wasted and individuals are increment over minimal), but without the prospect of
exposed to risk for no benefit.30 direct therapeutic benefit for the children can sometimes
be justified by the importance of the question for children
with the disorder under study, or (4) research without a
Fair Subject Selection prospect of benefit that poses greater than minimal risk
Fair subject selection requires that subjects be chosen to participating children can only be conducted if
for participation in clinical research based first on the approved by a special panel convened by the US Secre-
scientific question, balanced by considerations of risk, tary of the DHHS.33 Enrolling children in research also
benefit, and vulnerability. As described in the Belmont requires permission from their parents or legal guard-
Report, fairness in both the processes and the outcomes ians, along with the child’s assent whenever possible.
of subject selection prevents exploitation of vulnerable Fair subject selection also requires considering the
individuals and populations and promotes equitable outcomes of subject selection. For example, if women,
distribution of research burdens and benefits. Fair minorities, or children are not included in studies of a
information, or to disapprove a study as unacceptable TABLE 2.3 The Process of Informed Consent
(See also Chapter 4).
Informed Consent Considerations and
Independent review of the risks of proposed research
Elements Description Challenges
by someone other than the investigator has been described
as a “central protection for research participants.”37 None- Disclosure of Information about There is a need to
theless, there is concern that the current IRB system in the information the study based on a balance the goal of being
“reasonable” person comprehensive with
United States is outdated given the current profile of clin- standard is disclosed attention to the amount
ical research, and also is bureaucratic, beset with con- to prospective and complexity of
flicts, and in need of reform.38 Both the 2017 revisions participants. information, to give
to the Common Rule and recent NIH policy require sin- Disclosure takes into participants the
gle IRB review for domestic multisite studies.24,39 account subjects’ information they need
language, education, and facilitate
familiarity with understanding.
research, and cultural
values. Both written
Informed Consent information
and discussion are
Once a proposal is deemed valuable, valid, with
usually provided.
acceptable risks in relation to benefits and fair subject se-
lection, individuals are recruited and are asked to give Understanding Knowledge of study Empirical data show
purpose, risks, that participants often
their informed consent. The process of informed consent
benefits, alternatives, do not have a good
shows respect for persons and their autonomy, giving and requirements. understanding of the
prospective subjects the opportunity to make autono- details of the research.
mous decisions about participating and remaining in
Voluntary decision- Free from coercion Many possible
research, and respecting their choices about participa- making and undue influence. influences affect
tion. We show lack of respect when we do not provide Subject is free to participants’ decisions
the necessary information to make a considered judg- choose not to enroll. about enrolling in
ment, pressure an individual to make a particular judg- research. Avoid
controlling influences.
ment or deny him or her the freedom to act on
judgments. The process of informed consent involves: Authorization Usually given by a For some individuals or
disclosure of study information, comprehension of the signature on a written communities, requiring
consent document. a signature reflects lack
information, voluntariness with respect to the decision,
of appreciation for their
and authorization40 (Table 2.3). Information provided culture or literacy level.
to subjects about a research study should be adequate,
according to a “reasonable volunteer” standard,
balanced, and presented in an understandable manner. and complex, and large amounts of information may
Information should be provided in the language of the actually hinder subject understanding. Scientific infor-
subject, at an appropriate level of complexity given the mation is often complex; research methods are unfamil-
subject’s age, educational level, and culture. US federal iar to many people; and subjects have varying levels of
regulations detail the types of information that should education, understanding of science, and knowledge
be included in informed consent12,22; this is essentially about their diseases and treatments, and are dissimilar
information that a reasonable person needs to know to in their willingness to enter into dialogue. Besides the
make an informed decision about initial or ongoing amount and detail of information, understanding may
research participation. Ideally, individuals receive the be influenced by who presents the information and the
necessary information, understand it, process it in the setting. In some cases, information may be more acces-
context of their own situation and life experiences, and sible to potential subjects if presented in group sessions
make a “voluntary” choice free from coercion or undue or through print, video, or other media presentations.
influence. The process of initial research informed con- Determining whether a subject has the capacity to
sent usually culminates with the signing of a consent consent and understands the particular study informa-
form. However, respect for persons requires that sub- tion is challenging. Capacity to provide consent is study
jects continue to be informed throughout a study and specific. Individuals who are challenged in some areas of
are free to modify or withdraw their consent at any time. decision-making may still be capable of consenting to a
Although widely accepted as central to the ethical particular research study. Similarly, individuals may
conduct of research, achieving informed consent is chal- not have the capacity to consent to a particular study,
lenging. Determining the appropriate amount and even if generally able to function in other areas of their
complexity of information for disclosure is not straight- lives. Assessing capacity might take into account an indi-
forward. Written consent documents have become long vidual’s educational level and familiarity with science
TABLE 2.4 Selected Ethical Considerations in Randomized Another important scientific and ethical consider-
Controlled Trials (RCTs) ation in RCTs is the selection of outcome variables by
which the relative merits of an intervention will be
Features
of RCTs Description Considerations determined. Different conclusions may be reached
depending on whether the efficacy of an intervention
Equipoise No convincing How to factor in early is a measure of survival or of tumor shrinkage, symp-
evidence that one evidence? Does a
intervention is better requirement for
toms, surrogate end points, quality of life, or some com-
(i.e., more effective or equipoise conflate posite measure. The choice of end points in a clinical
less toxic) than research and therapy? trial is never simply a scientific decision.
another. In an RCT, subjects are assigned to treatment through
Choice of control Appropriate choice Choice of control is not a process of randomization, rather than on the basis of
of control is necessary simply a scientific individual needs and characteristics. The goal of
for scientific validity decision. Placebos as random assignment is to control for confounding vari-
and generalizability. controls require ethical ables by keeping two or more treatment arms similar
justification.
in relevant and otherwise uncontrollable aspects. Also,
Randomization Random assignment Random assignment RCTs are often single blind (subject does not know
decreases bias and does not allow for which intervention he or she is receiving) or double
controls for many autonomous
factors. preferences.
blind (both subject and investigator are blinded to the
intervention). Random assignment and blinding are
Blinding Single or double Research participants methods used in clinical trials to reduce bias and
blinding is often consent to temporarily
used to decreases suspend knowledge of
enhance study validity. Although compatible with the
bias. which intervention goals of an RCT, random assignment to treatment and
they are receiving. In blinding to treatment assignment may seem incompat-
rare cases, a blind may ible with the best interests or autonomy interests of the
need to be broken to patient-subject. In some placebo-controlled blinded
manage certain clinical
problems.
studies, both subjects and investigators can guess (often
because of side effects) whether they are receiving active
Sharing preliminary As evidence Study monitors, drug or placebo, potentially thwarting the goal of
information accumulates independent data and
information about safety monitoring
reducing bias.49 The necessity and adequacy of blinding
risks and benefits committees monitor and randomization should be assessed in the design and
may change, and data to help determine review of each proposed research protocol. When
equipoise may be when the study should randomization and blinding are deemed useful and
disturbed. be stopped or altered, appropriate for a particular protocol, two ethical con-
or information should
be shared with
cerns remain: (1) preferences for an intervention and in-
participants. formation about which intervention a subject is
receiving may be relevant to autonomous decisions
and (2) information about which intervention the subject
is receiving may be important in managing an adverse
event or a medical emergency. With respect to the first
tell you the probability that results are true or due to concern, subjects should be informed about the purpose
random chance, but only the probability of seeing re- of the research and should be asked to consent to
sults given a particular hypothetical explanation.47 Peo- random assignment and a temporary suspension of
ple also disagree about the extent to which preliminary knowledge about which intervention they are receiving.
data, data from previous studies, data from uncontrolled To balance the need for scientific objectivity with respect
studies and pilot studies, and historical data do or for a research subject’s need for information to make
should influence the balance of evidence. In some cases, autonomous decisions, investigators should provide
the existence of these other types of data may make equi- subjects with adequate information about the purpose
poise impossible. However, data from small, uncon- and methods of randomization and blinding. Subjects
trolled, or observational studies can lead to false or are asked to consent to a suspension of knowledge about
inconclusive impressions about safety or efficacy. RCTs their treatment assignment until completion of the pro-
are usually monitored by data and safety monitoring tocol or some other predetermined point, at which
committees who see data at specified time points during time they should be informed about which intervention
the trial and can recommend altering or stopping a trial they received in the clinical trial.
based on prespecified boundaries for safety, efficacy, or In some cases, knowledge of which medications a
futility.48 subject is receiving may be important in the treatment
"His Excellency.—I do not see how the old burghers can have it
both ways. They cannot have a very large population streaming
in to develop the resources of the country, and giving it a
much higher position in the world than it would otherwise
have, and at the same time exclude these people from
participation in the Government of the country.
{484}
"I. Every person who fixes his residence in the South African
Republic has to get himself registered on the Field-cornets'
books within fourteen days after his arrival according to the
existing law; will be able after complying with the conditions
mentioned under 'A.,' and after the lapse of two years to get
himself naturalised; and will five years after naturalisation,
on complying with the conditions mentioned under 'B.,' obtain
the full franchise.
"A.—
1. Six months' notice of intention to apply for naturalisation;
2. Two years' continued registration;
3. Residence in the South African Republic during that period;
4. No dishonouring sentence;
5. Proof of obedience to the laws; no act against Government
or independence;
6. Proof of full State citizenship and franchise or title
thereto in former country;
7. Possession of unmortgaged fixed property to the value of
£150 approximately, or occupation of house to the rental of
£50 per annum, or yearly income of at least £200. Nothing,
however, shall prevent the Government from granting
naturalisation to persons who have not satisfied this
condition;
8. Taking of an oath similar to that of the Orange
Free State.
"B.—
1. Continuous registration five years after naturalisation;
2. Continuous residence during that period;
3. No dishonouring sentence;
4. Proof of obedience to the laws, &c.;
5. Proof that applicant still complies with the condition A(7).
Great Britain,
Papers by Command: 1899, C. 9404.
{487}
On the 31st of July, the Justice wrote still more urgently and
impatiently to a Mr. Fischer, who was in close relations with
the Transvaal President: "I do not think that President Kruger
and his friends realize the gravity of the situation. Even now
the State Secretary is doing things which would be almost
farcical if the times were not so serious. Some time ago I
begged of him to drop the censorship of telegrams because it
serves no useful purpose and only delays the publication of
lies by a few days. His answer was that the Government should
not disseminate lies by its own wires. He might as well have
said Government should not disseminate lies by its own
post-office. To crown all, I see that he has now gone so far
as to stop a private telegram (which had been paid for)
because it contained a lie. I really do not know where he is
going to stop or whether he intends to guarantee that all
telegrams allowed to pass contain the truth and nothing but
the truth. Could you not induce him to stop such childish
nonsense? The Transvaal will soon not have a single friend
left among the cultivated classes. Then there is the Franchise
Bill, which is so obscure that the State Attorney had to issue an
explanatory memorandum to remove the obscurities. But surely a
law should be clear enough to speak for itself, and no
Government or Court of Law will be bound by the State
Attorney's explanations. I do not know what those explanations
are, but the very fact that they are required condemns the
Bill. That Bill certainly does not seem quite to carry out the
promises made to you, Mr. Hofmeyr, and Mr. Herholdt. The time
really has come when the friends of the Transvaal must induce
President Kruger to become perfectly frank and take the
newcomers into his confidence. It may be a bitter pill to have
to swallow in yielding to further demands, but it is quite
clear to the world that he would not have done as much as he
has done if pressure had not been applied. What one fears is
that he will do things in such a way as to take away all grace
from his concessions. Try to induce him to meet Mr.
Chamberlain in a friendly manner and at once remove all the
causes of unrest which have disturbed this unhappy country for
so many years. As one who signed the Convention in 1881, I can
assure you that my fellow Commissioners would not have signed
it if they had not been led to believe that President Kruger's
policy towards the Uitlanders would have been very different
from what it has been."
"In the first despatch, which is dated May 13, 1899, the
Minister states that news received from different capitals
leads him to believe in the imminence of the danger of a
violent solution of the problem in South Africa. As a faithful
friend he counsels Mr. Kruger in the true interests of the
Republic to show himself as conciliatory and moderate as
possible, and adds that he learns from a trustworthy source
that the German Government fully shares that opinion. Mr.
Kruger replied that he had always been conciliatory and did
not desire war, but that he could not sacrifice the
independence of the Republic. He was willing enough to grant
the suffrage, but he could not tolerate Englishmen remaining
subjects of the Queen while receiving at the same time the
right to vote in the Republic. In the second despatch, dated
August 4, 1899, the Netherlands Minister for Foreign Affairs
advised President Kruger, in the interests of the country, not
to refuse peremptorily the British proposal for an
international commission. Mr. Kruger replied that the
commission would not be international, but an Anglo-Transvaal
commission. He intended to ask for further information from
Great Britain as to the scope and composition of the
commission, and did not mean to give a decided refusal.
Finally, the Netherlands Minister, in a telegram dated August
15, 1899, stated that the German Government entirely shared
his opinion as to the inadvisability of declining the English
proposal, adding that the German Government, like himself, was
convinced that any request to one of the Great Powers at such
a critical moment would be barren of result and highly
dangerous to the Republic. To this Mr. Kruger replied that the
British proposal would result in very direct interference by
the English in the internal affairs of the Republic. He added
that he had no intention of appealing to a Great Power."
(3.) The new Burghers shall equally with the old Burghers be
entitled to vote at the election for State President and
Commandant-General.
{489}