Phase 1
Early safety and dose finding.
Often 20 to 100 people.
Resources
Educational content to help you understand clinical trials and make informed decisions.
Clinical trials
A plain-English guide to joining research with confidence.
Clinical trials help researchers learn whether a new approach is safe, effective, and worth using more broadly. This guide explains the basics before you start comparing studies.
Trial phases
Each phase answers a different question.
Phase 2
Tests whether the approach appears to work for a condition.
Often 100 to 300 people.
Phase 3
Compares the treatment with standard care or another control before approval.
Often hundreds to thousands of people.
Phase 4
Tracks safety and use after a treatment is approved.
Often hundreds to thousands of people.
What trials are
A structured way to answer a medical question.
Clinical trials test ways to prevent, detect, treat, or manage disease.
Every trial follows a written plan that explains who can join, what happens, and what outcomes are measured.
Some trials test a medication or device. Others observe health over time without changing usual care.
Study types
Not every study asks participants to take a treatment.
Interventional trials assign a study treatment, procedure, device, or program.
Observational studies collect health information but do not assign a treatment.
Remote and hybrid studies may reduce travel, but many still require some in-person visits.
Safety
Oversight is built into the process.
Independent review boards evaluate the study plan before enrollment begins.
Informed consent explains risks, benefits, alternatives, and participant rights.
Safety is monitored throughout the study, and participants can leave at any time.
Costs
Ask what is covered before enrolling.
Study treatments and research-only procedures are often covered by the sponsor.
Routine care may still be billed to insurance depending on the study and your plan.
Some studies offer travel reimbursement or compensation, but policies vary.
Why participate
The right reason is personal and specific.
Some people want access to options that are not widely available yet.
Some value closer monitoring from a team focused on their condition.
Some participate to help future patients, even when direct benefit is uncertain.
FAQs
Common questions before enrollment.
Will I get a placebo instead of real treatment?
Some trials use a placebo to compare results. You should be told if a placebo is possible before you decide.
Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?
Yes. Participation is voluntary. You can stop at any time without losing access to your usual medical care.
Will it cost me anything?
Study-related costs are often covered, but routine care may be handled differently. Ask the study team what is covered.
How is my safety protected?
Trials are reviewed by independent ethics boards, use informed consent, and include safety monitoring during the study.
Glossary
Terms you will see often.
- Informed consent
- The process and document that explain the study, risks, benefits, alternatives, and rights.
- Placebo
- A comparison treatment that looks like the study option but has no active ingredient.
- Randomized
- Participants are assigned to study groups by chance rather than by choice.
- Control group
- A group used for comparison, often receiving standard care or placebo.
- Eligibility criteria
- Health, history, lab, or logistics factors that determine who can join.
Ready to explore your options?
Find clinical trials that match your health condition and preferences without sharing personal information to start.