At any given time, more than 40 clinical trials are underway at the College of Veterinary Medicine, each with the potential to advance patient health and transform the future of care. 

These studies are testing treatments, procedures, and more for medical conditions ranging from cancer to osteoarthritis to skin conditions and are facilitated by the Veterinary Clinical Investigation Center (CIC).

“We want to be the leaders in caring for our veterinary patients, and that starts with doing clinical research,” says Caitlin Feiock, veterinarian and research manager for CIC. “Our mission in the CIC is to be the premier veterinary research center for clinical trials in the United States. We truly believe that clinical research is inseparable from providing state-of-the-art healthcare.”

The research conducted within the center crosses a variety of specialties and disciplines and may lead to new drugs, devices, procedures, and treatments for the benefit of animals and humans. But that work can come with misconceptions, according to Feiock. Educating pet owners, fellow veterinary professionals, and the general public about what clinical trials are—and what they are not—often comes down to dispelling inaccurate perceptions of the clinical research process like these: 

Clinical trials are not miracle cures. 

Clinical trials hold the potential for medical breakthroughs, but not every patient outcome is guaranteed to be a happy ending. 

“Oftentimes, clients find themselves in the situation where they are enrolling their pet in a clinical trial because they feel like they have no other option, and they are hoping for a miracle,” Feiock says. “And so, we really talk through that's not what we should expect—it’s what we hope for— but not what we should expect.”

Having these discussions is key for trying to avoid therapeutic misconception, a phenomenon in which patients (or in this case, pet owners) believe that the study protocols are designed to benefit them directly rather than to test or compare treatment methods. Optimism is welcome in trials but should be paired with realistic expectations. 

Clinical trials are not unregulated experimental treatments.

No, scientists aren’t free to do as they please to patients when it comes to conducting clinical research. 

“You’ve likely heard the phrase ‘using patients as guinea pigs,’ and that couldn't be further from the truth,” Feiock says. “Veterinary clinical trials are highly regulated and have multiple levels of oversight. Patient care is provided as would be considered standard, and oftentimes in clinical trials, the treatment options offered may be more extensive.”

Animals participating in clinical trials often receive what is known as the standard of care for their diagnosed condition plus additional care that researchers feel could have an added benefit. In all cases, clients (pet owners) are informed of risks and benefits before their pet can participate. 

Clinical trials are not inherently dangerous.

There are many safety measures in place for patients enrolled in a clinical trial. These measures start before a trial even begins, with CIC staff reviewing study designs to ensure they meet certain standards. 

“One of my major roles as a veterinarian in the CIC is anytime anyone approaches us with a potential clinical trial, my first job is to look at their protocol and make sure that it not only seems feasible for our patients and our clients, but also that it is something that we should expect to be, at the very least, safe,” Feiock says. 

Another layer of oversight comes at the University level. Two governing bodies, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and the Institutional Biosafety Committee, both work with the CIC to review protocols and ensure safety standards for all involved are met during the trial. 

Clinical trials are not free veterinary care for anyone. 

While medical care is often offered at no or minimal cost for participants of a clinical trial, it isn’t possible for just anyone to receive it. 

Each clinical trial has specific enrollment criteria, and this guides which patients are eligible for participation. These criteria can include things such as age, health status, and medications that are taken by that patient before their enrollment in the clinical trial. The criteria may seem strict, but they protect patients and help researchers understand if any effects seen in patients are the result of the trial’s interventions or potentially something else. 

Clinical trials do not include only placebo treatments.

Placebos, a substance with no therapeutic effect, can be used in clinical trials, but that may look different than what is often portrayed in television or film. 

“They may be used, but they're not used as the only treatment for serious diseases where there’s already a known effective therapy,” Feiock says, meaning a patient would still receive standard care with a placebo as part of a control test—not no treatment at all. 

Clients also are informed about the use of placebos as part of the consent process prior to enrolling their pet. According to Feiock, many clinical trials are comparing promising new treatments to a standard-of-care treatment. 

In this case, the trial provides a novel treatment, which could include giving two known medications together versus giving each separately to see if there is an additional effect when they're combined. Importantly, the client reserves the right to discontinue participation and return to standard of care, or discontinue any treatment at any time and for any reason during the clinical trial.

Clinical trials are not only available by referral.

While veterinarians can refer patients to the CIC for potential enrollment in clinical trials, pet owners are welcome to contact the center directly to inquire about studies. 

“We love speaking to clients who contact us to seek more information for care for their pets,” Feiock says. “I would say I get multiple emails and voicemails every week contacting me directly to seek more information about care options for their pets.”

The CIC will contact the client or primary care veterinarian to request medical records as part of its process to determine if a clinical trial is a suitable option for the pet. 

Visit the CIC website for more information about its mission and current clinical trials or watch Caitlin Feiock’s Animal Health Education Series webinar on clinical trials below.