Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a clinical research study?
A clinical research study (also known as a clinical trial) is a medical research project conducted to find better ways to prevent, screen for, diagnose, or treat disease. To do so, the study team investigates the effectiveness of new medications and treatments by enrolling human volunteers. These studies follow strict, scientific standards which protect patients and help produce reliable clinical trial results. Therefore, all participants are under the supervision of a doctor and/or health professionals throughout the entirety of the study. Clinical trials are one of the final stages of a long and careful research and development process. As the trial goes on, more and more information is gathered about the treatment or device under investigation. The overall goal of a trial is to improve healthcare and the treatments available to the general public.
What are the benefits of participating in a clinical trial?
Clinical trials help advance medical research and improve healthcare. By participating in a clinical trial, you have the opportunity to gain access to the latest treatment options from quality health professionals. In addition, many trials offer:
No-cost study-related care from a local physician and/or specialist
No insurance required to participate
Compensation for your time and travel
Is there compensation for participating in a clinical trial?
Many trials offer some form of compensation to cover travel and time expenses. However, the exact amount varies for each study and clinic. In addition, most participants are able to receive the treatment and study-related care free of charge without insurance. Specific details can be cleared up by the study team during the initial screening visit prior to study enrollment.
What if I don’t qualify for the clinical trial I’m interested in?
Each study follows a specific set of guidelines that describes who is eligible to participate. Common eligibility criteria may include: age group, medical history, current health status, past medical treatments, and whether or not you have a particular disease. If you do not qualify for the study you are interested in, there may be another study currently enrolling in your area. You can search for additional trials on our website or sign up here to be notified when we match you to a new study.
What if I change my mind about participating after the study starts?
The study team will try their best to work with you to make accommodations so you can participate. However, we understand that circumstances change, so you are always able to stop your participation. Please reach out to the study team if this occurs.
How much time is required to participate in a study?
The time commitment required varies for every study. Some studies involve weekly office visits, while other’s require overnight stays at the clinic. Overall the study can last a few weeks to several months. When possible we try to list the time requirement on our sign up forms. However, if you still have questions the study team will go over all of the requirements with you during your screening visit before you are enrolled in the study.
Will I receive a placebo?
A placebo is a medication that does not contain the study drug which some studies use to compare against the study treatment. Not all trials use placebos. Oftentimes, the study treatment will be compared against the current standard medication or older treatments. Regardless of which medication you receive, you will still have access to the health professionals assigned to your study. Before you are enrolled in a trial, the study team will go over which options are used in each trial.
Will I be able to continue taking the study drug after completion of the study?
Whether or not you will be able to continue taking the study treatment after your participation has ended, varies for each study. You can talk to the study team about whether this is an option for your study before enrollment.
What do “phases” of a clinical trial mean?
You may have heard of clinical trials and the “phases” associated with them. There are 5 phases, which are defined by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). The three most common phases you may encounter are described below.
Phase I studies are done during the earliest part of researching a treatment. These trials are usually small and include healthy volunteers to find out the safety of the drug.
Phase II studies gather information to find out if the drug will have an impact on a certain condition. These studies typically use larger groups of volunteers to determine treatment effectiveness.
Phase III studies look further into safety and effectiveness of the drugs while comparing to existing treatments or a placebo. These studies also use larger groups of volunteers.