Non-responder

A 'non-responder' refers to a person, animal, or system that does not exhibit a significant or desired response to a particular treatment, stimulus, intervention, or challenge. This lack of reaction can stem from various factors including biological differences, incorrect dosage, an ineffective therapy, pre-existing conditions, or simple insensitivity to the stimulus. The term is commonly used in medical contexts, such as in evaluating the effectiveness of medications or therapies, but can also apply to areas like engineering, psychology, and even economics. Assessing non-response is crucial in these fields to understand the limitations of various approaches and potentially find alternative strategies.

Non-responder meaning with examples

• The clinical trial showed a high rate of non-responders to the new antidepressant, suggesting it may not be suitable for a wide range of patients. Further investigation is needed to identify factors that predict non-response and develop alternative treatment plans for these individuals. The researchers are now looking for biomarkers to see if they can identify these patients before treatment begins.
• After trying several different rehabilitation programs, the patient was identified as a non-responder to physical therapy for chronic back pain. The medical team then explored alternative treatments like acupuncture and massage therapy, aiming to offer more options. Further investigation into the underlying cause was also needed to manage and help improve the patient's condition.
• In the experiment, several plants were non-responders to the increased fertilizer. The scientists hypothesized that soil pH and other external factors were interfering with nutrient uptake, and this limited the fertilizer's efficiency. Researchers were left to look at other environmental changes and factors to see if a change could encourage the plants to use the added fertilizer.
• The marketing campaign was deemed largely unsuccessful due to a substantial number of non-responders to the promotional offers. The advertising team realized that its method of customer outreach was not effective and thus sought out alternative ways to get its audience to be engaged. They shifted strategies to better suit and meet the specific needs of the customer base.
• Due to repeated system failures, the engineering team identified a component as a non-responder to the diagnostic tests. This malfunctioning component was then replaced with a new one to resolve the issue, ensuring the system's overall functionality. This highlighted a weakness in the production model and revealed that the non-response was caused by a manufacturing defect.