The case for including more babies and young children in medical research
Medical experts are advocating for the inclusion of babies and young children in clinical trials to improve the safety and efficacy of pediatric treatments. Current data gaps often leave doctors without sufficient evidence to treat serious illnesses in this age group.
Why it matters
Addressing the lack of pediatric clinical data is critical for improving global health outcomes and ensuring safe medication for children.
Facebook 0 Tweet 0 Email 0 All medicines and treatments have to go through lengthy safety and efficacy testing, but this is particularly tricky – and often delayed – for one important age group. Spotlight explores the complexities of conducting clinical trials involving babies, and why those complexities are worth grappling with.
Babies are at risk of developing illness and severe disease yet they are often not included in clinical trials. Because of this, when babies do get seriously ill, doctors sometimes have comparatively little scientific evidence to draw on when making decisions about their care.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in