What are Clinical Trials? A Guide to Participation, Safety, and Benefits

Clinical trials help us find new and better ways to make people healthier. Trials test new ways to prevent, treat, or diagnose diseases and ensure new drugs, vaccines, and medical devices are safe and effective.

Millions of people around the globe make medical advances possible by participating in clinical trials, but is participation right for you? Below we answer some common questions about clinical trials.

Are Clinical Trials Safe?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees all clinical trials to protect participants' rights, safety, and welfare. The FDA requires that:

• You will be fully informed about a trial before enrolling.
• An independent committee, called an Institutional Review Board (IRB), must monitor all clinical trials. IRBs have scientists, community representatives, and other experts who ensure the trial is safe.
• Researchers must report findings regularly, but your identity is protected and never included in reports.
• If at any point a doctor or researcher feels a clinical trial is no longer in your best interest, they will withdraw you from the trial. You also have the power to leave the trial at any point, for any reason.

These regulations go a long way to ensure clinical trials are safe, but there may still be risks. If you are thinking about participating in a trial, talk to your doctor and the researchers involved in the trial about any concerns you may have.

Should You Participate in a Clinical Trial?

The decision to participate in a clinical trial is very personal. You should talk to your doctor and the researchers involved in the trial about participating, but the decision is ultimately yours.

Participants have many different reasons for joining clinical trials. Some participate for the chance to access new therapies that may improve or prevent a health issue. And some say they participate to help others. Learn why some of our recent clinical trial participants decided to enroll.

Do Clinical Trials Pay Participants?

Some clinical trials reimburse participants for their time and out-of-pocket expenses, like transportation. The amount and method of payment varies from study to study.

How Long Do Clinical Trials Take?

The length and amount of time you devote to participating in a clinical trial varies from trial to trial. Some clinical trials require very little time. Others may require multiple clinic visits over months or years. Before you enroll in a trial, the research team will discuss trial details with you, including how much of your time is required.

Clinical Trials near Rochester: How to Get Involved

University of Rochester researchers conduct hundreds of clinical trials each year seeking better treatments and prevention methods for a variety of diseases and conditions. Find clinical trials in Rochester. You can also search for cancer clinical trials, specifically.

Don’t see a trial you want to join now? Join local and national research registries. They will alert you about new clinical trial opportunities that match your interests.