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Clinical Trial Participation Playing Key Role in Advancing Science
A Rochester resident joined a trial to see whether a medication can reduce brain fog and fatigue in people with long COVID.
Alexandra Mackenzie-Roberts, a Rochester resident living with long COVID and CFS, joined a clinical trial this spring testing whether a medication reduces brain fog and fatigue.
Her Mayo Clinic doctor informed her of the opportunity, and Mackenzie-Roberts decided to participate because, she said, "It's just really important to me to contribute where I can."
During the trial, Mackenzie-Roberts took two pills daily over several weeks, though she remains uncertain whether they contained medication or placebo. Clinical trials are vital for verifying new treatments and advancing medical progress.
Aisha Langford, Wayne State associate professor, identifies a major barrier: "A lot of times, people aren't invited, explicitly, to participate." This lack of explicit invitation hinders research enrollment.
Heather Pierce, senior director for science policy at the Association of American Medical Colleges, emphasizes that trials drive progress: "The continual improvement in options and in health are driven by a legacy of those who came before you.