Implementation and Usage of Data Monitoring Committees.

The article focuses on data monitoring committees (DMCs) which are created to advise a clinical research organization during the conduct of clinical trials. It reports that DMCs work to preserve the integrity of the trial and protect the safety of study participants. Further discussed are models for implementation of DMCs which include Do It Yourself models in which sponsors have full control over the data and full outsourcing models which are handled by contract research organizations (CROs).