Klin Farmakol Farm. 2026;40(2):108-111 | DOI: 10.36290/far.2026.021

Environmental sustainability in clinical research

Michaela Beníšková¹, Jitka Rychlíčková^{1, 2}

¹ Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno

² St. Anne's University Hospital Brno

Greenhouse gases have a significant impact on the global climate. The healthcare sector is one of the main sources of CO₂ emissions. Globally, it represents the fifth largest source. Clinical research is an integral part of this sector; it drives innovation, but also places an additional burden on the environment. Therefore, efforts to minimize the carbon footprint are also permeating the methodology and design of clinical trials as well as clinical research in general. 

Digitization and decentralization of clinical trials can help to reduce the environmental burden. However, these benefits remain largely hypothetical now due to limited supporting data. In order to develop more sustainable clinical trial methodologies, it is necessary to quantify emissions in clinical research more precisely and identify key areas for reducing emissions in clinical research. 

This article aims to raise awareness of sustainable clinical research and present relevant initiatives and activities.

Klíčová slova: sustainability, clinical trials, healthcare, clinical research, education.

Vloženo: 30. březen 2026; Revidováno: 1. červen 2026; Přijato: 1. červen 2026; Zveřejněno: 1. červenec 2026  Zobrazit citaci