Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
preclinical phase

preclinical phase

6.0
A research stage when scientists test a new drug or device in labs and animals before testing in people
  • noun
  • /priːˈklɪnɪkəl feɪz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fase preclínica
  • The new medication showed promising results during its preclinical phase on animal models.

Examples

  • Researchers are studying the preclinical phases of treatment.

  • The drug is currently in the preclinical phase.

  • Before starting trials on humans, researchers must complete the preclinical phase of drug development.

  • Investment was secured after the preclinical phase demonstrated the device’s safety in laboratory tests.

  • During the preclinical phase, scientists conducted experiments on laboratory animals to evaluate the new drug's safety.

  • The researchers identified several important biomarkers during the preclinical phase of their study.

  • In the preclinical phase, new medical devices are tested rigorously in controlled environments to ensure their effectiveness.

How Developed

review
490 3.0
preclinical phase
  • Specialized
6.0
discovery
331 1.0

Surface Forms

preclinical phase singular
preclinical phases plural

Morphology

preclinical + phase

The meaning 'the stage before clinical trials' is directly compositional from 'preclinical' (before clinical/testing) and 'phase' (a stage), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE. The 'pre-' prefix + stage pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows regular English word-formation, making the expression transparent.

Etymology

The term preclinical phase comes from three parts: pre- meaning 'before', clinical meaning 'involving patients', and phase meaning 'a stage'. It names the time when a new drug or device is tested in the lab and on animals 'before' any tests on people, so it means the stage before human trials.