Clinical trials are research studies involving people. They are vitally important in the development of new strategies for preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases. Many of today's standard treatments--those that are widely accepted and used by medical experts--are based on the results of previous clinical trials. Most clinical trials study new drugs or procedures, but some focus on drugs or procedures that have already received approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
All patients who participate in clinical trials are volunteers. They can choose to stop their participation in a clinical trial at any time.
This section of our website concerns treatment--or "therapeutic"--clinical trials for cancer patients. However, some of the information may be accurate for nontreatment trials and trials investigating treatments for other diseases.
- What are the types of clinical trials?
- Who are the members of the clinical trial team?
- What are the phases of clinical trials?
- How are patients protected?
- How will you know if you are eligible to participate?
- What are the potential risks and benefits of participating?
- Will you have to pay to participate in a clinical trial?
- Questions to ask about a clinical trial
- Who sponsors clinical trials?
- What happens to your personal medical information and the study results?
