Question 1

What is a clinical trial?

Accepted Answer

Clinical trials are research studies with volunteer participants, they allow us to determine if an investigational product is safe and effective to use in humans and a necessary step in the process of making new medications widely available. Clinical trials are reviewed by independent committees (IRB), to ensure patient safety.

Question 2

Why would I participate in a clinical trial?

Accepted Answer

As a volunteer in a clinical trial, you bring hope for patients afflicted with different medical conditions and play a more active role in your health care because you may get access to a new treatment that is only available as part of the trial.

Question 3

Are clinical trials important?

Accepted Answer

Clinical trials are important for discovering new drugs, treatments and devices for many diseases. All medications must go trough this process to know if they can be safely used to treat several medical conditions in humans. They help physicians to treat and prevent a wide variety of conditions.

Question 4

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Patients do not have to pay anything. All research related costs are covered by sponsors.

Question 5

What happens if I change my mind?

Accepted Answer

Your participation in the study is voluntary, you can leave a clinical trial at any moment and for any reason.

Question 6

What should I expect during the duration of the trial?

Accepted Answer

If you decide to volunteer for a clinical trial, you will receive an informed consent document and will be provided with a full explanation of the study, potential risks and benefits, purposes of the study, investigational product, time study visits and procedures and you may be compensated for your time and travel.

Participants at a clinical trial are often treated in the same way as other patients who aren’t in a clinical trial but are more carefully monitored and may have more tests done. The main goal is to collect accurate data from everything that is done, in order to help the researchers to reach a conclusion about the investigational product.