Why It's Important
Clinical research has the potential to enhance human health and reduce the burdens of illness for many. Clinical research spans everything from the study of diseases at the molecular level in order to identify cures and vaccines to insights about how to improve the delivery of medical therapies, clinical care and population-level health. While the full spectrum of clinical research plays a critical role in ensuring a healthy society, the vast majority of public and private funding for biomedicine tends to emphasize fundamental research on the mechanisms of disease. For this reason, the Doris Duke Foundation focuses on supporting a wide variety of pathways to medical innovation—especially those that receive relatively less attention. We believe scientific excellence through diverse forms of clinical research can help deliver valuable, transformative and measurable health benefits to all.
