This article was written by Cheryl Zinar, RN, BSN. Cheryl is the Director of Clinical Research at MidLantic Urology and the National Director of Clinical Research Operations for Solaris Health.

In life, when we are faced with problems, we look for solutions. In medicine, when we receive a diagnosis, we are often fortunate to have treatments available. And for those diagnoses that don’t yet have treatment options developed, we rely on clinical research.

The National Institute of Health explains that clinical trials are research studies performed in people that are aimed at evaluating a medical, surgical, or behavioral intervention. Not only are studies conducted to test the safety of new drugs, but they also are used to determine the efficacy of a potential treatment and the severity of its side effects.

But one of the most important things that results from clinical research is hope. Clinical research trials open a new door for patients and their families when treatment options may be slim or financially unattainable, and it presents the possibility of more effective and efficient treatments for future patients.

Throughout my nearly 20 years working in urology clinical research, my work has been guided by the phrase, “The research of today will hopefully become the best treatment of tomorrow.” Each research study brings renewed hope for those currently battling diseases like prostate cancer, bladder cancer, interstitial cystitis, and many more.

I’ve been lucky to see first-hand the gift that a research study can give to a patient, and more importantly, their whole family.

MidLantic Urology’s providers and Clinical Research Division staff are committed to staying at the forefront of urology treatment to give our patients access to promising therapies and expert knowledge. We’ve conducted more than 400 trials, some of which have received FDA approval.

This holiday season you can give a gift that benefits generations to come. Consider enrolling in a clinical research trial. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with any of the following conditions, we may have a research study you can participate in now:

• Bladder Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Hypogonadism
• Interstitial Cystitis
• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
• Renal Cell Carcinoma
• Kidney Stones
• Erectile Dysfunction

We encourage you to talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you. You can view all of MidLantic Urology’s current clinical research studies here.