Bringing medical breakthroughs to you
M Health Fairview Pediatrics is the only children’s health system in Minnesota that has an extensive research, education, and training partnership with the University of Minnesota Medical School. That means in addition to providing exceptional healthcare for your children, we can offer access to the latest, leading-edge advances in treatment and care through clinical trials – breakthroughs that might not be available at other health systems.
What are clinical trials, and why are they important for patients?
Clinical trials are studies of new medicines, procedures, and other types of treatments that doctors and researchers use with people to develop new methods of treating diseases. Clinical trials help us learn whether promising new treatments, techniques, and therapies are safe and effective. They show us what works and what doesn’t and help build the future of medicine.
Our strong research program means that our patients have access to the newest and most promising treatments first—before they’re widely available. By participating in a clinical trial at our hospital, children can try leading-edge therapies that could make a difference for them.
Participating in clinical trials helps other children and families, too. Today’s best treatments for children exist because of clinical trials conducted in the past—and today’s research breakthroughs will become tomorrow’s treatments, making healthcare better for children everywhere.
Review clinical trials available at the University of Minnesota
How do clinical trials work?
Clinical trials go through stages, called phases.
Phase 0: Early Exploration
Phase 0 is a bridge from pre-clinical studies to Phase 1. It uses a small micro-dose of a drug in a very small number of people to understand whether the drug does what it’s supposed to do and to ensure there are no toxic effects.
Phase I: Is the new treatment safe?
In phase I trials, the new treatment is tested in full to see if it's safe and to find out what dose works the best without causing severe side effects.
Phase II: Does the treatment work?
Phase II trials test the effectiveness and side effects of the treatment.
Phase III: Is it better than what's already available?
Phase III trials compare the safety and effectiveness of the new treatment against the current standard treatment. In this phase, researchers focus on how side effects for each type of treatment (the new treatment and the current standard) might be different.
Phase IV: What else do we need to know?
New treatments are often watched over a long period of time in phase IV trials. That's to ensure researchers understand all of a treatment’s effects.
Training the next generation of physicians
Did you know? The University of Minnesota Medical School – one of the largest in the country – trains 70 percent of all Minnesota’s doctors. That means we’re shaping the future of pediatric care across the state in partnership with the medical school, right here at M Health Fairview Pediatrics. Medical school faculty, who practice in our hospitals and clinics, also set the standard for care in Minnesota while conducting research to accelerate the next life-changing medical breakthroughs.
The University of Minnesota Medical School:
- Provides world-class healthcare for children through its partnership with M Health Fairview and M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital
- Improves the practice of medicine through research and discovery
- Trains the next generation of outstanding pediatric physicians
In addition to attending physicians, your child’s care team may include:
- Residents – physicians who have completed medical school and are continuing their medical training
- Fellows – physicians who have completed medical school as well as residency training and are engaged in advanced training in a medical or surgical specialty
- Other healthcare providers in training, including medical and nursing students