Article from the DLRmagazine 174: Clinical trials bridge the gap between basic medical research and practical application
Exploring what truly works
Clinical trials are important in medical research.
DLR Projektträger is supporting funding initiatives for clinical trials on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
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In medical research, clinical trials are the crucial building block for determining the efficacy of various treatments. For the past two decades, DLR Projektträger has been supporting funding initiatives for clinical trials on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Jens-Jörg Schnorr, Head of the Health Division, and Eva Müller-Fries, Head of the 'Clinical Trials' coordination group, discuss the benefits of clinical trials and share the latest developments in the field.
Why are clinical trials so important?
Jens-Jörg Schnorr
Jens-Jörg Schnorr has been supporting research funding for clinical trials for 20 years – first as a Scientific Officer, then as Head of department, and now as Head of the Health Division at DLR Projektträger. The successful transfer of theory into practice continues to inspire him.
Jens-Jörg Schnorr: The efficacy of new treatments must be scientifically proven before subjecting patients to them. Clinical trials serve as the crucial practical test, determining what truly works and whether patients benefit from the treatment. This research plays a key role in translating the results of basic research into practical applications. Research is conducted directly with patients and is therefore subject to the most rigorous scientific and ethical standards. Monitoring these standards is one of our tasks.
The BMBF funds 'Investigator Initiated Trials' – studies launched by clinician scientists. What makes these trials unique?
Eva Müller-Fries: They are closely tied to practical application, with no underlying economic interests. The results are often relevant to improving healthcare, but there is no direct economic benefit. The range of topics is broad, so our team contributes its own scientific and methodological expertise to support the projects.
The range of topics is broad, that is why we bring in a lot of scientific and methodological knowledge to adequately support the projects.
In addition to conducting studies on new treatments for common diseases such as cancer or diabetes, the focus here is also on research projects that focus on rare diseases that only affect a small number of people. Often, the focus is on drug repurposing – that is, finding new uses for medicines that have already been approved. In many cases, the aim is also to reduce or even end treatment.
What achievements are you most pleased with?
Schnorr: We can now look back on 137 clinical trials and 164 systematic reviews funded by the BMBF with an investment exceeding 250 million euros, adhering to the funding guidelines 'Clinical Trials' and 'Clinical Trials with High Relevance for Patient Care'.
A significant proportion of the research results had already been incorporated into standard care or included in medical guidelines just three years after completion of these studies.
A survey we conducted among project leaders showed that a significant proportion of the research results had already been incorporated into standard care or included in medical guidelines just three years after completion of these studies. This shows that the clinical studies funded by the BMBF have had a lasting impact on the healthcare landscape in Germany in recent years.
Eva Müller-Fries
Eva Müller-Fries is a Scientific Officer at DLR Projektträger and Head of the 'Clinical Trials' coordination group. She has been involved in various funding programmes in the field of clinical research for 15 years. Patient involvement is particularly close to her heart.
Müller-Fries: Let me give you an example: some of the successfully completed projects show that the 'less is more' approach also has a place in modern medicine. A study that looked at treatments for women with mild urinary tract infections revealed that the majority of women recovered even with herbal medicine. This reduces the need for antibiotic prescriptions and helps prevent antimicrobial resistances. I would like to mention another success in the field of rare diseases: Researchers have shown that the antihypertensive drug Ramipril can delay the progression of the so-called 'Alport syndrome' by many years. Children affected by this disease suffer from scarring of the connective tissue around the kidneys. Administering Ramipril in a timely manner offers these children a chance to live without the necessity of dialysis.
Nothing stays the same – what prospects and developments are on the horizon?
Müller-Fries: There are many challenges in this area, but also exciting prospects. The active involvement of patients, their families and other relevant target groups is one of them: Conducting research 'with' the patients rather than 'about' them can make a significant contribution to improving the quality of clinical trials and increasing the relevance of the results. We were quick to identify this need and have, for example, developed a training programme for researchers and published a freely accessible guide on the subject.
The questions were posedby Dr. Claudia von See, Communication, Health Division, DLR Projektträger
