Historical Perspective and Fundamentals of Clinical Research in Nigeria

Abstract

Research may be defined as any activity that generates new knowledge and a better understanding of natural phenomena, while ‘scientific research’ uses scientific methods to explore and discover new facts and uses the new knowledge to solve practical problems and explain natural phenomena. Scientific research dates back to many centuries. The earliest reports of research are found in the Egyptian papyrus dating back to 17th century BC. The beginning of documented medical research in the West African sub-region and indeed Nigeria in the 19th century and much of 20th century (pre-independence Nigeria) is traceable to the writings of the Nigerian pioneers of modern medicine. The research process is an iterative cyclical procedure that includes a set of activities undertaken to test a hypothesis - a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables. In clinical research, the principles of good research practice are expected to be maintained throughout the research process. These principles include the pursuit of research excellence with integrity, respect for ethics and rigorous maintenance of professional standards, honesty and transparence, openness and accountability, supporting training and acquisition of skills, multidisciplinary collaboration and public engagement