What is a clinical trial and why should I participate?

A clinical trial is a research study in which human volunteers are used to answer a specific question. A carefully conducted clinical trial is the most effective method of determining which new treatments truly lead to improved outcomes when used properly in patients.

Participants in a clinical trial are sometimes also called subjects. These human volunteers who participate in research studies tend to play a more active role in their health care. They can gain access to new treatments before they are available to the general public and can help others by contributing to medical research. In some cases, the follow up for a certain study may be more than if you did not participate in a research study.

Prior to participating in a research study, your records are reviewed and the study is discussed with your provider and a member of the research team. You must meet the guidelines to participate. These guidelines are usually based on such factors as age, gender, type and stage of disease, previous treatments and other history.

Many laws and rules are in place to protect participants in research studies. Every trial is reviewed by the FDA and approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB). The Institutional Review Board's sole function is to protect patient rights and safety. The staff in our research department are trained to conduct trials safely and to protect research participants.