ClinicalTrials.gov is a public database maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It provides detailed information about clinical studies involving human participants, conducted worldwide.
Key Features:
Registry: Researchers and sponsors (such as pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and government agencies) are required or encouraged to register their clinical trials here.
Database: Users can search for trials based on condition, drug, location, sponsor, phase, and status (e.g., recruiting, active, completed).
Purpose:
To increase transparency in medical research.
To allow patients, healthcare providers, and researchers to find relevant trials.
To help satisfy regulatory requirements from the FDA, ICMJE, and international bodies.
Contents of a Study Listing:
Study title and purpose
Eligibility criteria
Study design (e.g., randomized, double-blind)
Locations and contacts
Status and results (if available)
Sponsor and collaborators
Clinical trial identifier (e.g., NCT number)
Legal Background:
Mandated by the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act (FDAMA) of 1997
Expanded under the FDA Amendments Act (FDAAA) of 2007, which requires certain results to be reported
Example Use:
A cancer patient may use the site to find open clinical trials nearby
A scientist may check it to review trial methodologies
A journalist might use it to verify a trial’s sponsorship and endpoints
🧪 Clinical Trials on Obesity and Cancer
1. Breast Cancer WEight Loss (BWEL) Study
Objective: To determine if a structured weight loss program can reduce breast cancer recurrence in overweight and obese women.
Status: Ongoing.
Location: Multiple sites, including UC San Diego.
2. Metformin in Overweight or Obese Patients at Elevated Risk for Breast Cancer (NCT01793948)
Objective: To assess whether metformin can reduce breast cancer risk in overweight or obese individuals.
Status: Completed.
More Info: ClinicalTrials.gov
3. Alberta Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Prevention (ALPHA) Trial (NCT00522262)
Objective: To evaluate the impact of aerobic exercise on biomarkers associated with breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women.
Status: Completed.
More Info: ClinicalTrials.gov
4. Bariatric Surgery After Breast Cancer Treatment (BATS) (NCT03946423)
Objective: To investigate the effects of bariatric surgery on weight loss and cancer outcomes in breast cancer survivors.
Status: Not yet recruiting.
More Info: ClinicalTrials.gov
Resource:
Mayo Clinic -Obesity – https://www.mayo.edu/research/clinical-trials/diseases-conditions/obesity/
Audio Overview (Google NotebookLM)
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