Who is the glossary for?

Marketing and product teams at consumer health brands, regulatory consultants, and founders preparing for their first clinical study. Definitions are written for non-scientists but are technically accurate and reviewed by Citruslabs' clinical operations team.

How often is the glossary updated?

New terms are added monthly as the regulatory and clinical landscape shifts. Existing definitions are reviewed at least once per year to reflect updated FDA, FTC, and IRB guidance.

Can I suggest a term?

Yes. Email hello@citruslabs.com with a term you'd like added and a short note on the context where you'd like to see it defined.

Citruslabs Glossary

What is the Citruslabs Glossary? The Citruslabs Glossary is a free reference of plain-language definitions for terms used in clinical research, IRB review, regulatory marketing (FDA, FTC), and consumer health product claims. Definitions are written for marketing and product teams at consumer health brands but are technically reviewed by Citruslabs' clinical operations team. Updated monthly with new terms and reviewed annually for accuracy.

Your go-to glossary for everything from clinical trial terminology to CPG marketing lingo. Explore key terms, simplified.

Whether you are a supplement brand exploring your first clinical study, a skincare company navigating FTC compliance, or a pet health startup trying to understand biomarker endpoints, this glossary breaks down the language of clinical research and consumer health marketing into plain, practical definitions.

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Browse terms

Adverse Event: An adverse event is any unwanted occurrence that happens after a participant begins treatment in a clinical trial, regardless of whether it’s caused by the study treatment.
Advertising Standards: Advertising standards are official guidelines that ensure product claims are accurate, evidence-based, and not misleading to consumers.
Biomarker: A biomarker is a measurable indicator of a biological process, condition, or response to a treatment.
Biotech Clinical Trials: Biotech clinical trials are studies that test innovative therapies and technologies developed by biotechnology companies in human participants.
Brand Loyalty: Brand loyalty is when customers repeatedly choose a brand because of a lasting emotional connection and not just price or convenience.
Brand Perception: Brand perception is the public’s impression of a brand. It is how customers see and feel about a brand, shaped by their experiences, opinions, and what others say.
CPG Advertising: CPG advertising refers to the marketing strategies used to promote consumer packaged goods (CPGs) such as food/beverages, cosmetics and household items.
CPG Market Research: CPG market research focuses on consumer behavior, preferences, and trends related to packaged goods.
CPG Marketing: CPG marketing is the strategic approach to promote consumer packaged goods like beverages, personal care, and household products.
Causation: Causation means that one factor directly causes a change in another factor.
Clinical Researchers: Clinical researchers are professionals who design, conduct, and analyze clinical studies and trials to investigate medical interventions, devices, or outcomes.
Clinical Trials: Clinical trials are structured research studies that assess the safety and effectiveness of a product, treatment or intervention.
ClinicalTrials.gov: ClinicalTrials.gov is a public database of privately and publicly funded clinical studies conducted around the world.
Consumer Perception Study: A consumer perception study is a research method used to understand how consumers view a product, brand, or marketing claim.
Crossover Study: A crossover study is a clinical trial design where each participant receives both the test product and the comparison treatment.
Double Blind Study: A double blind study is a clinical trial in which neither participants nor researchers know who receives the treatment and who receives placebo.
Expectation Bias: Expectation bias occurs when a study team member’s expectations about the outcome, influences the results or interpretation of the study.
FDA Approval: FDA approval means the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reviewed and authorized a product for safety and effectiveness before it goes to market.
FDA Compliance: FDA compliance means following the rules set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ensure products are safe, properly labeled, and legally marketed.
FDA Nutrition Guidelines: FDA nutrition guidelines govern food labeling, nutrient content claims, and daily value percentages on packaged foods.
FTC Compliance: FTC compliance means following the Federal Trade Commission’s rules to ensure advertising and marketing claims are truthful and not misleading.
Focus Group: A focus group is a guided discussion with a small group of people to explore opinions, perceptions, and reactions to a product, service, or idea.
Health Claims: Health claims are statements that associate a food, supplement, or ingredient to a specific health benefit or reduced risk.
In Silico Testing: In silico testing uses innovative computer simulations to model how a product or compound behaves in the body or in specific environments.
Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion Criteria are the specific eligibility factors participants must meet to qualify for a clinical trial, such as age, gender, health status, or lifestyle habits.
Marketing Claims: Marketing claims are statements used to promote a product’s benefits, features, or results to influence consumer purchasing decisions.
Misleading Claims: Misleading claims are statements that exaggerate or misrepresent a product’s benefits, potentially deceiving consumers.
Patient Recruitment: Patient recruitment is the process of identifying, engaging, and enrolling eligible participants for clinical trials and perception studies.
Peer Reviewed Journals: Peer reviewed journals are academic publications where submitted research is reviewed by independent experts before publication to ensure scientific rigor and quality.
Phases of Clinical Trials: Phases of clinical trials refer to the four-step process used to develop and test a product’s safety, effectiveness, and real-world performance in human participants.
Principal Investigator: A principal investigator is the lead researcher responsible for overseeing the study development, the research, and integrity of a clinical trial.
Product Claims: Product claims are statements a brand makes about what a product is promised to achieve, such as improving skin hydration or supporting immunity.
Product Marketing: Product marketing is the process of positioning and promoting a product to drive demand and succeed in its intended market.
Product Quality Assurance: Product quality assurance is the process of ensuring that a product meets safety, performance, and regulatory standards before it reaches consumers.
Product Testing Methods: Product testing methods are the techniques used to evaluate a product’s safety, effectiveness, and user experience before market launch.
Publishing Clinical Trials: Publishing clinical trials means sharing the results of a clinical study publicly through reports, articles, or papers.
Randomized Controlled Trial: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is a clinical study design where participants are randomly assigned to different groups to test the effectiveness of a product or treatment.
Recall Bias: Recall bias is a type of error in clinical trials that happens when participants give inaccurate information because they have trouble recalling past experiences or events.
Regulatory Compliance: Regulatory compliance means following laws, regulations and industry standards that govern how products are made, marketed, and sold.
Retail Marketing: Retail marketing refers to the strategies brands use to promote and sell products directly to consumers.
Retrospective Studies: Retrospective studies are a type of research that analyze existing data or past records to find associations, trends or patterns between factors and outcomes.
Risk Analysis: Risk analysis is a strategic and structured process of identifying and managing potential issues in a clinical research study before they affect people, data, or brand credibility.
Science-Backed Claims: Science-backed claims are product statements supported by scientific research, testing, or clinical validation to ensure accuracy and credibility.
Science-Backed Marketing: Science-backed marketing uses clinical research to support product claims, create credibility, and build consumer trust.
Single-Arm Trial: A single-arm trial is a clinical study where all participants receive the same intervention, without a separate control or comparison group.
Skin-Grading: Skin-grading is a standardized method used to evaluate skin attributes during the phases of skincare product development and clinical testing.
Skincare Clinical Trials: Skincare clinical trials are research studies that test the safety and effectiveness of skincare products.
Skincare Product Development: Skincare product development is the process of bringing a skincare product from initial concept to a safe, effective, and market-ready product.
Study Design: The Study design is a plan that determines how a clinical research study is conducted to answer a specific research question.
Study Protocol: A study protocol is a detailed plan that outlines the objectives, design, methods, and procedures of a clinical or scientific study.
Study Results: Study results are the findings generated from a clinical or scientific investigation based on predefined objectives, outcomes, or hypotheses.
Supplement Claims: Supplement claims are statements made by brands about the ingredients, benefits or effects of their supplement products.
Supplement Efficacy Studies: Supplement efficacy studies are scientific investigations that assess whether a dietary supplement delivers its intended benefits and health effects.
Supplement Formulation: Supplement formulation is the process of combining ingredients and delivery systems to create safe and effective products and supplements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Citruslabs Glossary?: The Citruslabs Glossary is a free reference of plain-language definitions for terms used in clinical research, regulatory marketing, and consumer health product claims — covering everything from IRB and biomarker to FTC substantiation and substantiation file.
Who is the glossary for?: Marketing and product teams at consumer health brands, regulatory consultants, and founders preparing for their first clinical study. Definitions are written for non-scientists but are technically accurate and reviewed by Citruslabs' clinical operations team.
How often is the glossary updated?: New terms are added monthly as the regulatory and clinical landscape shifts. Existing definitions are reviewed at least once per year to reflect updated FDA, FTC, and IRB guidance.
Can I suggest a term?: Yes. Email hello@citruslabs.com with a term you'd like added and a short note on the context where you'd like to see it defined.