Research

Research at FIGHT

The following examples illustrate common types of human subjects research that are performed at Philadelphia FIGHT. These are examples only, and are not exhaustive of all human subjects research.

•  Biomedical Research: Biomedical research involves research (1) to increase scientific understanding about normal or abnormal physiology, disease states, or development; and (2) to evaluate the safety, effectiveness or usefulness of a medical product, procedure, or intervention. Vaccine trials, medical device research, and AIDS/HIV research are all types of biomedical research.
  
• Clinical Research: Clinical research involves the evaluation of biomedical or behavioral interventions related to disease processes or normal physiological functioning. Clinical research often, but not always, includes drugs, devices, or biological products regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
  
• Social and Behavioral Research: The goal of social and behavioral research is similar to that of biomedical research-to establish a body of knowledge and to evaluate interventions-but the content and procedures often differ. Social and behavioral research involving human subjects focuses on individual and group behavior, mental processes, or social constructs and usually generates data by means of surveys, interviews, observations, studies of existing records, and experimental designs involving exposure to some type of stimulus or environmental intervention.
  
•  Epidemiology Research and Retrospective Chart Reviews: Epidemiology research targets specific health outcomes, interventions, or disease states and attempts to reach conclusions about cost-effectiveness, efficacy, interventions, or delivery of services to affected populations. Some epidemiology research is conducted through surveillance, monitoring, and reporting programs-such as those employed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-whereas other epidemiology research may employ retrospective review of medical, public health, and/or other records. Because epidemiology research often involves aggregate examination of data, it may not always be necessary to obtain individually identifiable information. When this is the case, the research may qualify for exemption or expedited IRB review. In all cases, the IRB, not the individual investigator, will determine when IRB review of the activity is required.
  
• Quality Assurance Activities: Quality Assurance activities attempt to measure the effectiveness of programs or services. Quality assurance activities constitute human subject research when involving participants and require IRB review, when they are designed or intended, at least in part, to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.

What is a clinical trial?

A clinical trial is a controlled experiment in which people take medication for a specified time to determine its effectiveness and safety. Information gathered from clinical trials help create future treatments. Clinical trials are currently the most effective way to help people who have exhausted all proven therapies and to develop new and better treatments for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Who can enroll in a trial?

Each clinical trial has specific requirements; anyone meeting those requirements may be eligible to enroll in a trial. FIGHT clinical trials are free and participation is voluntary. Before participating in a study, patients go through a consenting process, which explains all the risks and benefits of that particular study. Participants may withdraw from clinical trials at any time without affecting access to their health care.

Click the link to view ongoing trials conducted at Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Centers.

If you are interested in participating in clinical trials, please contact the research staff of Philadelphia FIGHT at 215-344-1631

Thinking of conducting research at FIGHT?

If you would like to collaborate with a  FIGHT investigator or conduct a research trial at FIGHT, please fill out the Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Centers Research Conduct Proposal Form and return it to research@fight.org. If you would like to recruit for an ongoing research trial from the FIGHT client-base, please forward your IRB approved advertisements to Linden along with a brief description of your research.

Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Centers Research Conduct Proposal   Research and Regulatory Standard Fees

Resources for Collaborating Investigators

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What’s new in FIGHT Research?

FIGHT Research is proud to announce open recruitment for a study testing and investigational, twice-per-year, injectable PrEP medication! If you are over 18 years old, haven’t been tested for HIV in 3 months or more, and have anal receptive sex and don’t always use a condom, you may qualify! Call 215-344-1631 or visit the Investigational Injectable PrEP Study Prescreening Survey.