What is it like to participate in a clinical trial?

Clinical trials test new treatments and compare them to available treatments (the usual way doctors treat certain health conditions or diseases). The Food and Drug Administration requires clinical trials before a new medication can be approved.

Clinical Trials are the engine of the medical process. The benefits of taking part in a clinical trial depend on the study you join. Although personal benefit cannot be guaranteed as it is investigational medication, you may:

  1. Receive free health exams.
  2. Access to new treatments that could be more effective for you.
  3. Be a more active participant in your healthcare.
  4. Receive some medications at no cost to you.
  5. Help answer research questions that may mean better health for people in the future.

The study doctors and coordinators will watch you carefully for any changes in your health. You are always free to leave the study. The risks will vary depending on the kind of trial you join. Here are some of the possible risks:

  1. You may have side effects (health problems) from taking a new medication or getting a new procedure that is being tested.
  2. The visits for the clinical trial may be frequent and time consuming.
  3. The therapy you receive may not be effective or you may be assigned to a placebo group.

When beginning any study the doctor, or investigator, must get approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB is a committee of doctors and other medical personnel that have no ties to the study. The IRB makes sure the clinical trial is as safe as possible and that the "informed consent" explains all of the important information to the patient. Before people join a clinical trial, they go through something called the "informed consent process." This process ensures that as a potential study participant you are given written information about the purpose of the study, the risks and benefits of being in the study; and what you may expect to occur during the course of the study. Once you have carefully read these documents, you should ask questions about words or procedures that you don't understand.

You can change your mind and leave a study at any time. Remember that being a part of a clinical trial is always your choice. Your relationship with your doctor will not change because you decide to leave a study and your care will not be affected in any way.

If you are interested in learning more about enrolling studies, please call DJL Clinical Research at (704) 247-9179, or complete our online contact form. The research staff will determine your eligibility for any ongoing studies and, with your permission, may contact you regarding eligibility for future studies. The decision to take part in a clinical trial is always yours to make.