MD Consult - Print Previewer

The historical development of neurology has hinged largely on keen observation and the ability of skilled clinicians to draw inferences from experience. Incremental additions to our understanding of the nervous system traditionally have emanated from two sources: the bench and the bedside. Just as technologic sophistication in basic research has evolved over the past 200 years, so too have there been major advances in clinical research methodology. If a stable bridge is to be built between new insights gained in the laboratory and new interventions applied at the bedside, this bridge must be designed according to sound research principles. These principles form the basis of the emerging science of experimental therapeutics. Application of these principles in the context of clinical research in neurology forms the basis of this review.