preclinical

[pree-klin-i-kuhl]

adjective

Medicine/Medical.

1. of or relating to the period prior to the appearance of the symptoms.

preclinical

/ priːˈklɪnɪkəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or occurring during the early phases of a disease before accurate diagnosis is possible

2. of, relating to, or designating an early period of scientific study by a medical student before practical experience with patients

Other Word Forms

• preclinically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of preclinical¹

First recorded in 1930–35; pre- + clinical

Example Sentences

A preclinical candidate, ORX489, is in development for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.

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They pinpointed a particular population of cells that may provide protection against brain injury and a drug that can activate these cells, which they tested in preclinical models.

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In preclinical in vivo studies, the material showed remarkable results: it fully repaired bone defects within 3-6 months and even triggered the formation of a new layer of strong, healthy cortical bone in 4 weeks.

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Smith Charitable Trust Distinguished Professor in Cancer Research -- and his lab have successfully tested a new immune therapy that, in preclinical lab testing, reliably improves survival and reduces tumor burden in glioblastoma.

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"Cell therapy has encountered substantial barriers in both preclinical studies and clinical trials, but the field continues to progress and evolve through lessons learned from such research."

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