Dose escalation is a research methodology used in clinical trials to determine the highest dose of a drug or treatment that can be safely tolerated by patients. This process involves starting with a low dose of the treatment and gradually increasing the dosage until toxic side effects are observed in patients. Dose escalation studies are crucial in determining the maximum tolerated dose and informing future clinical trials or treatment protocols. The goal of dose escalation is to find the highest dose that can be given safely and effectively to patients.