Medical research

Medical research (or experimental medicine) is basic research and applied research conducted to aid the body of knowledge in the field of medicine. Medical research can be divided into two general categories; new treatments that are tested in clinical trials, and all other research contributing to the development of new treatments.

New treatments
These refer to any form of previously untested treatment for a particular pathology. This can take the form of a new surgical procedure, a new drug, or a new treatment regimen. These are extensively tested in clinical trials prior to widespread use.

Other research
New treatments come about as a result of other, earlier discoveries - often unconnected to each other, and in various fields. Sometimes the research is done for non-medical purposes, and only by accident contributes to the field of medicine (see also antibiotic, penicillin). Clinicians use these discoveries to create a treatment regimen, which is then tested in clinical trials.

If these trials have been well designed and are successfully duplicated by independent laboratories or field trials, then the papers can be reviewed by an independent body such as the Cochrane Collaboration to serve as an authoritative source of clinical guidance. Regrettably the majority of research trails published today are done or sponsored by the very same companies who have developed the drug or medical device. Moreover they are frequently poorly designed and executed and exhibit bias therefore most papers should not be taken too seriously. Although each new publication of a survey is often greeted with a sycophantic fanfare of trumpet blowing, few thoughtful and clued up clinicians would change their treatment protocols solely on the bases of just a few research papers. Thus, doctors have expressed their despair when patients bring in printouts of the latest research downloaded from the internet with the high expectation that it will make a significant difference.

Funding
Research funding in many countries comes from research bodies which distribute cash for equipment and salaries. In the UK, funding bodies such as the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust derive their assets from UK tax payers, and distribute this to institutions in a competitive manner.

In the United States, the most recent data from 2003 suggest that about 94 billion dollars were provided for biomedical research in the United States. The National Institute of Health and pharmaceutical companies collectively contribute 26.4 billion dollars and 27.0 billion dollars, respectively, which constitute 28% and 29% of the total, respectively. Other significant contributers include biotechnology companies (17.9 billion dollars, 19% of total), medical device companies (9.2 billion dollars, 10% of total), other federal sources, and state and local governments. Foundations and charities, led by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, contributed about 3% of the funding.