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Clinical Research
Research with human subjects that is:

  1. Patient-oriented research. Research conducted with human subjects (or on material of human origin such as tissues, specimens, and cognitive phenomena) for which an investigator (or colleague) directly interacts with human subjects. Excluded from this definition are in vitro studies that utilize human tissues that cannot be linked to a living individual. It includes:
    1. mechanisms of human disease
    2. therapeutic interventions
    3. clinical trials, or
    4. development of new technologies.

  2. Epidemiological and behavioral studies.
  3. Outcomes research and health services research.

Studies falling under 45 CFR 46.101(b) (4) (Exemption 4) are not considered clinical research by this definition.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.