Each year on May 20, the anniversary of the first clinical trial by James Lind to find a cure for scurvy in 1747, health care professionals around the world celebrate Clinical Trials Day. Today, clinical trials are more important than ever, especially considering what we have been through in the last year with the pandemic. Each new drug, vaccine and device must be studied through clinical trials to evaluate safety and effectiveness prior to being reviewed and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for general use.

Did You Know?

• Oncology clinical trials began at Aultman in 1987 as an affiliate of the Ohio State University. Today, we have more than 90 open clinical trials and manage more than 395 clinical trial patients. Our trials cover most major disease sites. Each year, we far exceed the Commission on Cancer’s goal of enrolling 4% of all new cancer cases in a clinical trial – our 2020 rate was 9%.
• The cardiology clinical trials program began in 2005. Over the past 17 years, the program has been involved in more than 100 clinical trials, helping to bring to market such medications as Entresto for heart failure, Repatha for high cholesterol and Xarelto for blood clot prevention. Today, we have 11 physician investigators and a wide variety of drug and device trials. The program has been a top enroller in several studies and has a strong patient base, including some who have been in multiple trials. Year to date, the program has enrolled 35 new patients.
• The Aultman resident, fellowship and pharmacy programs also have a strong commitment to advancing medicine through inquiry, investigation and dissemination of results.
• Many Aultman teammates have helped shape exceptional patient care and workforce collegiality through quality improvement, evidence-based practice and research projects. The Magnet Research Council hosts Spirit of Inquiry celebrations to inform others about projects conducted at Aultman.
• Aultman has its own Institutional Review Board that oversees research quality – including an unwavering adherence to the highest ethical and legal standards for research with human subjects.

We would like to take this opportunity to recognize Aultman researchers, colleagues and patients for their dedication, hard work and desire to be on the leading edge of health and wellness.