A trial is a process where evidence of a criminal or civil case is presented to a fact finder (such as the judge or jury) for review and consideration. It is a fundamental and essential cornerstone of our society, a crucible where truth is sought, rights are protected, and the fabric of justice is woven anew with each case.
The prosecution must convince the fact finder that every element of each charge against a defendant has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt. The defense tells their side of the story through witness testimony and physical evidence, and they may ask witnesses questions (called cross-examination). Once both sides have rested their cases, the attorneys for each party then make closing arguments to present their interpretation of the case, based on the evidence that has been presented.
Clinical trials are complex, time-consuming, and expensive. They require a multidisciplinary team of research personnel to perform well. These researchers include principal investigators, biostatisticians, epidemiologists, laboratory technicians, and administrative support staff. They must work closely with institutional review boards and the Food and Drug Administration to get their studies through the approval process.
Despite the efforts of researchers and their teams, it can take years to assemble all of the necessary resources and complete a clinical trial. The reasons for this delay are numerous and complicated, but a significant contributor is the one-off nature of trial organization. Because the core activities of a clinical trial are largely supplemental responsibilities for research personnel, they are often not treated as a high priority by the research community and other stakeholders.
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