AIDS research, also known as AIDS clinical trials, is done to determine how medications and treatments work. Research is what helps health care providers make decisions on how to treat people living with HIV disease.
Medical treatment differs from research.
The primary goal of medical treatment is to improve your health. Research is also concerned with improving your health, but the primary goal is to determine if medications are safe and effective for many people . There are risks and benefits associated with research. One risk is that researchers are uncertain whether the medication will help. One benefit is that you will help answer a scientific question that will improve medical care for others.