In clinical research, what does GCP stand for?

In clinical research, GCP stands for Good Clinical Practice. This term represents a set of internationally recognized ethical and scientific quality standards that must be followed when designing, conducting, recording, and reporting clinical trials involving human subjects. The principles of GCP are intended to ensure the integrity of the data collected in clinical trials, the safety and well-being of participants, and to facilitate the development of new therapies and medications.

Adhering to GCP guidelines helps to ensure that the results of clinical research are credible and can be trusted, thereby enhancing public confidence in the research process. GCP is critical for regulatory compliance and is often required by regulatory authorities before new medical products can be approved for public use.

In contrast, the other options—General Clinical Protocol, Global Clinical Programs, and Guaranteed Clinical Performance—do not accurately describe the established framework governing clinical trials and lack the specific implications of ethical and quality standards defined by GCP.