preclinical

pre·clin·i·cal

adj \(ˈ)prē-ˈklin-i-kəl\

Definition of PRECLINICAL

1

a : of, relating to, concerned with, or being the period preceding clinical manifestations <the preclinical stage of diabetes mellitus> b : occurring prior to a clinical trial <preclinical animal testing to assess a drug's safety>

2

: of, relating to, or being the period in medical or dental education preceding the clinical study of medicine or dentistry <the preclinical years>; specifically : of or relating to the early period of prescribed medical or dental study devoted to the basic sciences (as anatomy, physiology, and pathology) <preclinical studies>

3

: of, relating to, or being a science basic to medicine <research in the preclinical sciences>