Why Participate in a Clinical Trial?

What is research?

Clinical trials are a form of research that look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease. The goal of clinical trials is to determine if treatments work and are safe. Clinical trials can also look at other aspects of care, such as improving the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses. People participate in clinical trials for a variety of reasons. Healthy volunteers say they participate to help others and to contribute to moving science forward. Participants with an illness or disease also participate to help others, receive newer treatments, and/or to have the additional care and attention from the clinical trial staff. Clinical trials provide an opportunity to help researchers find better treatments for others in the future.

What should I know about being in a research study?

• Someone will explain this research study to you.
• You can choose not to take part.
• You can agree to take part and later change your mind.
• Your decision will not be held against you.
• You can ask all the questions you want before you decide to participate or not.

Learn more about why it is important to volunteer in research studies.