A randomized control trial (RCT) is a scientific procedure most commonly used in testing medicines or medical procedures. It is a trial that uses randomized control. This is considered the most reliable form of scientific evidence because it eliminates all forms of cognitive bias. The basic idea is that treatments are allocated to subjects at random. This ensures that the different treatment groups are 'statistically equivalent'. Sellers of medicines throughout the ages have had to convince their consumers that the medicine works. As science has progressed, public expectations have risen, and government health budgets have become ever tighter, pressure has grown for a reliable system to do this. Moreover, the public's concern for the dangers of medical interventions has spurred both legislators and administrators to provide an evidential basis for licensing or paying for new procedures and medications. In the United States, new medicines must undergo trials to earn FDA approval. Such trials are typically sponsored by the manufacturer and progress from smaller phase I and II studies designed to establish side effects and optimal dose to larger phase III studies designed to establish efficacy against placebo or against an existing drug. In contrast, RCTs in Hopkins GIM focus not on industry-sponsored tests of new drugs, but rather on NIH-funded tests of (a) behavioral interventions, (b) health care interventions, (c) dietary modifications, (d) low-cost minerals or food supplements, or (e) comparative efficacy between drugs already on the market.
Lawrence J. Appel, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology; Director, Johns Hopkins ProHealth; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research
Research Interests: Primary prevention of hypertension, renal, and cardiovascular disease; randomized, controlled trials of dietary modification, exercise, and weight loss
To see publication abstracts (PUBMED) click here.
Frederick L. Brancati, MD, MHS
Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology; Director, Division of General Internal Medicine; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research
Research Interests: Prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus and related conditions
To see publication abstracts (PUBMED) click here.
Jeanne M. Clark, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research
Research Interests: Weight reduction; Fatty liver disease; prevention of obesity-related complications
To see publication abstracts (PUBMED), click here.
Lisa Cooper, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Behavior and Society; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clincal Research
Research Interests: Health disparities in depression care; spirituality; physician-patient relationship and communication
To see publication abstracts (PUBMED) click here.
Gail Daumit, MD, MHS
Associate Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Policy and Management; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research
Research Interests: CVD prevention in adults with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia
To see publication abstracts (PUBMED) click here.
Daniel Ford, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Policy and Management; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research
Research Interests: Optimal care of adults with depression
To see publication abstracts (PUBMED) click here.
Edgar (Pete) Miller, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research
Research Interests: Hypertension; CVD prevention; weight reduction
To see publication abstracts (PUBMED) click here.
H.C. (Jessica) Yeh, PhD
Assistant Scientist, Epidemiology; Core Faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research
Research Interests: Methods in epidemiology and controlled trials; clinical research mentorship; diabetes and novel complications; obesity
Click to see publication abstracts (PUBMED)
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