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Volunteering
for A Clinical Trail: Common Questions & Answers
What are the benefits of participating
in a clinical study?
Each study is different, but the benefits of participating
may include any of the following:
- Access to medication and medical care from
specialists who know your condition at no cost.
- An opportunity to receive a medical treatment
that is not widely available.
- Laboratory or radiology tests at no cost.
What is a clinical research study?
The U.S. National Institutes of Health defines a clinical
trial as a research study to answer specific questions about
vaccines, new therapies or new ways of using known treatments.
Also referred to as medical research and research studies,
clinical trials are used to determine whether new drugs or
treatments are both safeand effective.
Are studies safe?
Yes, all studies done in our research program are
carefully reviewed by a group of physicians for safety. No
high risk studies are done in our program.
Why are clinical studies important?
Almost all medications available today have gone
through a clinical study. Because of clinical study research,
we now have treatments for hundreds of diseases. Survival
rates for breast cancer, HIV, and prostate cancer have all
increased in the last decade due, in large part, to the research
advances made by doctors and the participation of thousands
of clinical study volunteers. Clinical study participants
help researchers further the development of new treatments
and new cures.
What can participants expect in a clinical
study?
In a clinical study, some participants may take medication;
others may take a placebo (sugar pill). If you decide to volunteer
for a clinical study, you will learn about the potential risks
and benefits of participating in a specific study when you
review the study with the research nurse. Participants are
carefully monitored by doctors and nurses and can stop participation
freely at any time.
If you qualify to participate in a clinical study,
you would go to one of our area clinics to receive treatment
and answer a few questions every two to six weeks. A clinical
study lasts from six weeks to four years.
Questions you should ask.
Choosing to participate in a clinical research study is an
important decision. Here are some questions you may want
to discuss with your doctor and your clinical study team:
- What is the purpose of this study?
- What are the potential benefits, and are there any foreseeable
risks or discomforts?
- What tests will I need?
- Have other people been treated with this drug before in
clinical studies? What were the results?
- Will I continue to see my own personal doctor?
- Will there be any costs to me?
Patient Confidentiality
Patient confidentiality is maintained throughout
clinical studies.
> Current Clinical Study
Opportunities
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