Due to the rise in the number of clinical trials sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry, its importance to economic, academic and public health level, an update on the development of clinical research at the level of the world, Latin America and Colombia is made, where the number of clinical trials to June 2016 according to ClinicalTrials.gov, continents and countries with greater participation, current challenges for driving the same and the main motivations of patients to accept or reject participation in clinical research is described.