Find answers to frequently asked questions. If you can’t find an answer to your question, feel free to contact us so we can help. But scroll through first — there’s some good stuff here!
A clinical trial is a research study involving people that evaluates a medical interventios, such as a medication, medical device, or procedure. Clinical trials help researchers determine whether a new treatment is safe, effective, and how it compares to current standard treatments (including potential benefits and side effects).
Each clinical trial has specific requirements, called eligibility criteria, that outline who can or cannot participate. Your clinical research coordinator will review these critieria with you to determine whether the study is a good fit for you.
Generally, no. Participants are not paid for enrolling in a clinical trial. However, some studies may reimburse reasonable travel and meal expenses.Your study coordinator will review this with you if it applies.
If you have a disease, participating in a trial gives you access to new and promising treatments. This is helpful if you’re not seeing results with standard solutions currently in the market. For those without insurance coverage, a trial gives participants free access to treatments that would normally cost thousands of dollars per year. And when you take part in a clinical trial, you help others by advancing medical research.
No. Clinical trials are designed to determine whether a treatment works, how well it works compared to other options, and what side effects may occur. While many studies provide access to study-related care or interventions, participation does not guarantee improvement and does not replace comprehensive or ongoing healthcare.
Study length varies depending on what is being evaluated. Before you enroll, the research team will explain the expected time commitment, including the number of visits and overall study duration.
Contact our team for more information. We’ll review your questions, confirm whether there is an appropriate study option, and outline next steps.
Before you join a study, you will go through an informed consent process. This is a detailed review of the study purpose, procedures, potential risks, possible benefits and alternative options. You’ll have time to ask questions and decide whether you want to participate, and you can continue asking questions at any time during the study.
Participating in a clinical trial does require time and commitment. It will depend on the phase of the trial and the type of investigation. Some trials last years and others may require months. This is an essential topic to discuss with the research team. Participants can expect regularly scheduled visits and adherence to scheduled treatments.
You have the right to quit a clinical trial at any time. If you quit, the trial’s medical staff will make sure you are taken off the medication safely. But in general, clinical trials are monitored rigorously and if participants follow exact instructions from the medical staff, there shouldn’t be any issues that can’t be addressed quickly and professionally.
It’s difficult to know — this must be discussed with the research team. Your medical history and your current medication may impact your participation in a trial. Most medications for chronic disease can continue without issue, and some other medications may need to be stopped prior to your trial start date.
Go to our CLINICAL TRIALS section to see which trials are currently running. You can access full details about each trial, which includes an overview of eligibility and exclusions for participants.
