Clinical trials save lives.

Every treatment available today was approved through a clinical trial.

Clinical trials provide hope for today’s patients by giving them early access to cutting-edge treatments. Important discoveries that come from successfully completed trials will benefit future patients. If you are making a treatment decision, consider a clinical trial. It could save your life and you could help save the lives of others.

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Find a Trial.

View clinical trials that are currently enrolling. You can find more information on clinical trials at clinicaltrials.gov.

Should I participate?

Participating in a clinical trial is a personal decision. You have no obligation to participate so you should decide if it’s a good option for you. It’s important to note that by the time a treatment reaches the stage of recruiting patients, it’s undergone years of research and rigorous pre-clinical testing.

Common reasons people choose to participate in a clinical trial
  • Contribute to medical advancements
  • Help improve the lives of others
  • Receive additional care from clinical trial staff
  • Gain access to promising treatments
  • Learn more about their disease or condition
  • Receive compensation

Things to consider

Participating in a clinical trial may have both benefits and risks. If you’re interested in taking part in a trial, consider these factors.

Potential benefits of participation
  • You may receive an investigational treatment that is not available to people outside of the trial.
  • Your health will be monitored closely.
  • If the investigational treatment is better than the standard treatment, you may be first to benefit.
  • The trial may help scientists learn more about your condition and help people in the future.
Potential risks of participation
  • The investigational treatment may not be better than the standard treatment.
  • The investigational treatment may have unexpected side effects.
  • You may have to visit the doctor more frequently than if you were receiving standard treatment.
  • You may have additional costs such as travel or child care.
  • You may need tests, which could be uncomfortable or take a lot of time.
  • If an investigational treatment works for some patients, it may not work for you.
  • Your health insurance may not cover all patient care costs.

What to ask

Here are some questions you should ask the trial team to help you make an informed decision about participating in a clinical trial.

About the trial

  • What is the purpose of the trial?
  • How long will the trial last?
  • What tests and procedures are involved?
  • Who will monitor my medical care during the trial?
  • What treatment(s) will I receive during the trial?

Benefits and risks

  • What are the possible side effects or risks of the investigational treatment?
  • What are the potential benefits?
  • How do the possible risks and benefits of the investigational treatment compare to standard of care?

Support and compensation

  • Will transportation support be provided?
  • Will I be paid for participating?
  • Will I have to pay for any trial related tests or procedures?
  • Will I be reimbursed for other expenses such as travel and childcare?

Daily life

  • How might this trial affect my daily activities?
  • How often will I have to visit the trial center?
  • Will I have to travel far to take part in the trial?
  • Will I have to stay in a hospital or clinic?

Other options

  • What are my other treatment options, including standard of care?
  • What are the potential benefits?
  • Can I quit the trial after it starts? How will this impact my medical care?

For Caregivers

Friends and family play a vital role in supporting clinical trial participants when they are too sick, too young, or too elderly to take care of their own health and care needs. The support and sacrifice caregivers provide during clinical trials is invaluable to understanding and potentially treating all types of diseases. Some responsibilities of a caregiver during a clinical trial include:

  • Making sure your loved one complies with trial requirements
  • Administering the investigational treatment as instructed
  • Keeping notes of any changes in your loved one’s health
  • Accompanying your loved one to visits with the trial doctor
  • Talking to your loved one about his or her feelings throughout the study

Answers to FAQs

A clinical trial is documented and carefully monitored research conducted in humans before an investigational drug is made available to the public. Clinical trials help to determine if medications, medical devices, and procedures are safe and effective for the treatment or prevention of diseases and conditions.
Clinical trials follow a specific set of standards and are closely regulated to help protect participants. An independent Ethics Committee or Institutional Review Board reviews and monitors each trial closely to safeguard the rights and welfare of participants. Nevertheless, all clinical trials and investigational products have risks, including the potential to make participants sick or uncomfortable. Although safety precautions are put in place to protect people who participate in clinical trials, your condition or health could remain the same, improve, or get worse. Any known risks and side effects will be discussed with the trail team, but there may be unknown risks.
Clinical trials are conducted in phases.
  • Phase 1 trials are conducted to evaluate safety of an investigational drug and collect information about side effects.
  • Phase 2 trials evaluate effectiveness of the investigational drug and collect additional information about safety and side effects.
  • Phase 3 trials evaluate the investigational drug in large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow it to be used safely.
  • Phase 4 trials take place after a drug is approved for use. These trials provide additional information including the drug’s risks, benefits, and best use.
Every trial has an informed consent document that the trial team will review with you. You should ask as many questions as needed to make sure you understand what will happen during your participation in the trial. Throughout your participation, you should talk to the team when you have questions or concerns about any aspects of the trial.
Each clinical trial has specific requirements for who may or may not participate. The trial team, made up of doctors, nurses, and other specialized health care professionals, must determine if a trial is right for you. Generally, you are asked about your medical history, treatments and medications, and other issues that may affect your ability to participate in the trial. Additionally, you may also need to undergo health assessments.
Clinical trials rely on the cooperation of volunteer participants. While you are taking part in a trial, you will need to:
  • Follow instructions from the trial team
  • Ask questions if you have concerns or need clarification
  • Attend trial-related visits and complete all required activities
  • Inform the trial team about any changes to your health
  • Follow all other trial-specific requirement indicated in the informed consent document
The process of taking part in a clinical trial depends on the type of research being conducted. Generally, the trial team will:
  • Administer trial treatment
  • Check your health at the beginning of the clinical trial
  • Provide specific instructions and guidance for what to do during the trial
  • Monitor your health throughout the trial
  • Ensure that the guidelines for the clinical trial are followed
Clinical trials activities include physical exams, medical assessments, blood draws and visits to the trial site. The tests and visits help the trial team ensure that your health and safety are monitored carefully.
If you choose to participate in a clinical trial, you should feel free to communicate with the trial team. If you have questions or concerns about any aspect of the trial, you should feel comfortable discussing them with the team at any time.
Taking part in a clinical trial is voluntary. If the trial doctor determines that you qualify for participation based on a screening process, you may choose to participate or not participate. You will be given time and opportunity to ask questions before deciding what you want to do. Your decision will in no way affect current or future treatment you receive outside the trial. If you choose to participate, you will need to follow instructions and complete trial related activities but you may leave the trial at any time for any reason without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
You can visit any doctor to meet your health needs during a clinical trial. You should tell other medical professionals you see that you are participating in a clinical trial and always communicate openly with the trial team regarding other care you receive.