NIH offers guide to clinical trials for children

Just days after federal regulators held hearings on how to evaluate over-the-counter cough and cold medications that have never been tested in children, the nation's largest research organization is reaching out to parents to explain how clinical trials for children work.

The National Institutes of Health is launching a web site today that invites parents to consider the importance of research to find out whether medications or treatments are safe and effective in children. Video interviews on the site spell out potential risks and benefits, address concerns of minority groups, and suggest questions to ask before participating.

The Food and Drug Administration last week took up the question of pediatric cough and cold remedies on sale for years based on data that was extrapolated from adults to children. The health officials decided against a ban while noting the lack of evidence to support use of the medicines in children.