![An abstract image suggesting medical research](https://makingofmedicine.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Screen-Shot-2016-11-14-at-2.00.23-PM-351x244.png)
We're always excited when our medical research makes it to the clinical trials phase. That's because it takes a tremendous amount of effort to get there. It may take many years of lab work -- decades, even -- before we're confident enough to proceed into human testing. This also explains,…