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          What is a Clinical Trial?








What is a Clinical Trial? FacebookEmailPrintFacebookEmail     
    Clinical trials are medical research studies in which people participate as volunteers. They help researchers better understand the normal biological processes, learn more about diseases and conditions, and develop new treatments and medications.
        
                  Find a Clinical Trial

There are several ways to search for clinical trials that may be right for you.

NIAMS Clinical Studies
See the full list of featured NIAMS clinical trials taking place at the NIH Clinical Center.

NIH Clinical Studies
Find clinical trials sponsored by one or more of NIH’s Institutes and Centers.

ClinicalTrials.gov
Search a database of clinical trials available across the country and around the globe. To search for studies accepting healthy volunteers, type in the keywords: 'healthy' and 'normal'.

Resource Information (ClinicalTrials.gov)
Find publications related to ClinicalTrials.gov, clinical alerts, and information on subscribing to RSS feeds for new and updated clinical studies.
      Participating in a Trial

Once you’ve decided to participate in a trial, learn more about what happens find information to help Get answers to your questions about participating in a clinical trial.

Patient Information
Get answers to all of your questions, including the admission process, the NIH campus, and your protections as a volunteer.

Healthy Volunteer Information
Find out why healthy volunteers are needed and how you can volunteer to participate in a clinical study.

Glossary of Clinical Trials Terms
Learn what all the terms mean so you can better understand clinical trials and make an informed decision about whether to participate.
      Clinical Trial Basics

Learn about clinical trials, who conducts them, where they are conducted, why you might participate, and the benefits and risks to participating.

NIH Clinical Research Trials and You
Learn what clinical trials are, who participates, questions to ask about the trials, and your protections as a volunteer.

Are Clinical Studies for You?
Learn about the risks and benefits of participating in a clinical trial and the questions to discuss with your doctor as you think about whether participating is right for you.

All About Clinical Studies: An Interview (NIAMS *IRPartners*)
See what the chief of the Patient Recruitment and Referral Center at the NIH’s Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center says about what clinical studies are and why they are so important.

Learn About Clinical Studies
Learn the basics about clinical studies, why they are important, and who can participate in a study.
      For Health Providers

Referring Physician Information
Find strategies and tips for how to refer patients to clinical trials and how to stay involved once your patient is in a trial.


Last Updated: August 2019


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