Managing placebo responses in clinical trials
Why placebo responses occur, how they can obscure genuine effects, and practical strategies that improve signal detection.
Read article →Insights & resources
Clear thinking for better clinical research.
Practical guidance on designing, conducting and interpreting human research in nutraceuticals, natural medicines and health interventions.
Featured insight
Managing placebo responses in clinical trials
Placebo responses can make promising interventions appear ineffective and inflate apparent treatment effects when they are poorly understood. Strong trials anticipate these influences through careful eligibility criteria, outcome selection, participant communication and statistical planning.
Read the article →Established resources
Insights grounded in clinical-trial experience.
Selected CRA articles have been retained and reframed around the practical decisions faced by research sponsors.
Beyond statistical significance
How effect sizes, responder analyses and clinically meaningful change help determine whether an intervention has value beyond a p-value.
Read article →The problem of borrowed science
Why evidence from one branded extract or formulation cannot automatically substantiate another—and what ingredient-specific evidence should demonstrate.
Read article →Measuring the body’s stress response
A practical overview of validated questionnaires, cortisol, autonomic measures, laboratory markers and wearable-derived assessments.
Read article →For sponsors
Questions worth answering before a study begins.
These guides focus on the decisions that most influence study feasibility, scientific credibility, cost and the usefulness of the final evidence.
Ask us about your study01What does a high-quality nutraceutical clinical trial involve?
02How much does a clinical trial cost—and what determines the budget?
03Pilot or confirmatory trial: which does your product need?
04Choosing outcomes that produce meaningful, defensible evidence
05How sample size affects the reliability of clinical trial results
06From study concept to publication: the clinical trial process
For study participants
Thinking about taking part?
Learn what participation involves, how eligibility and consent work, and what you can expect from the CRA research team.
Planning a clinical study?
Turn your research question into credible evidence.
Speak directly with an experienced researcher about the most appropriate next step for your product and evidence programme.
Discuss your study