About Research
If you’re interested in helping contribute to scientific advancement or want to try new treatments for your condition, clinical trials may be right for you. Clinical trials offer an opportunity to participate in research on new treatments to help prevent, detect, or treat diseases.

At Clinical Research Partners we’re always looking for new participants for clinical trials and research. Please read the information below to see if participating in a clinical trial may be right for you.

What is clinical research?

Clinical research refers to studies in which people participate as patients or healthy volunteers. Different terms are used to describe clinical research, including:
  • clinical studies
  • clinical trials
  • studies
  • research
  • trials
  • protocols
What are the goals?
  • developing new treatments or medications
  • identifying causes of illness
  • studying trends
  • evaluating ways in which genetics may be related to an illness
Different types of clinical research are used depending on what the researchers are studying. Below are descriptions of some different kinds of clinical research.

Treatment Research generally involves an intervention such as medication, psychotherapy, new devices, or new approaches to surgery or radiation therapy. 

Prevention Research looks for better ways to prevent disorders from developing or returning. Different kinds of prevention research may study medicines, vitamins, vaccines, minerals, or lifestyle changes. 

Diagnostic Research refers to the practice of looking for better ways to identify a particular disorder or condition. 

Screening Research aims to find the best ways to detect certain disorders or health conditions. 

Quality of Life Research explores ways to improve comfort and the quality of life for individuals with a chronic illness. 

Genetic studies aim to improve the prediction of disorders by identifying and understanding how genes and illnesses may be related. Research in this area may explore ways in which a person’s genes make him or her more or less likely to develop a disorder. This may lead to development of tailor-made treatments based on a patient’s genetic make-up. 

Epidemiological studies seek to identify the patterns, causes, and control of disorders in groups of people. 

An important note: some clinical research is “outpatient,” meaning that participants do not stay overnight at the hospital. Some is “inpatient,” meaning that participants will need to stay for at least one night in the hospital or research center. Be sure to ask the researchers what their study requires. 

Phases of clinical trials: 
Clinical trials are a kind of clinical research designed to evaluate and test new interventions such as psychotherapy or medications. Clinical trials are often conducted in four phases. The trials at each phase have a different purpose and help scientists answer different questions. 

  • Phase I trials :  
Researchers test an experimental drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time. The researchers evaluate the treatment’s safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects. 

  • Phase II trials :  
The experimental drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.

  • Phase III trials : 
 The experimental study drug or treatment is given to large groups of people. Researchers confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the experimental drug or treatment to be used safely. 

  • Phase IV trials : 
 Post-marketing studies, which are conducted after a treatment is approved for use by the FDA, provide additional information including the treatment or drug’s risks, benefits, and best use.
See Our Current Enrolling Studies

Why Participate in a clinical study?

Without research volunteers medicine cannot advance and develop. As a research volunteer you are critical to the future of medicine, and the health of future generations. Most studies involve compensation for your time and travel. 

Here are 10 questions to consider as you determine if a clinical trial is right for you:
  • 1. Will I be compensated for my study participation?

    Many studies offer monetary compensation to volunteers in return for time and travel during their participation. Pay is commonly provided following every completed study visit. Money can serve as supplemental income and may be especially beneficial for families, college students, stay-at-home parents, or retirees. 

  • 2. Is my participation at-will even after I signed Informed Consent?

    Participation is completely voluntary and consent to participate can be withdrawn at any time the volunteer is no longer comfortable with continuing, or is no longer able to participate. This can give volunteers ease of mind if there are other constraints in their lives, such as caring for small children or aging parents, or employment with long hours that coincide with study visits.



  • 3. Do I need insurance to receive the treatment or medication offered during the study?

    Many people suffer terribly due to lack of medical insurance to help cover the costs of diagnosis and treatment of their condition. In a clinical trial, insurance is NOT required to participate. In fact, in most clinical trials study volunteers are compensated for their time and participation while in the study.



  • 4. Will I receive testing and lab working during the clinical trial?

    Diagnostic tests are performed during preliminary study screening, and some may receive a full physical. This can be a great way to check up on one’s own health, but it may also alert the volunteer to health conditions that may require further testing or treatment to prevent or control, such as high blood pressure or type II diabetes.

  • 5. Is there a certified physician that overseas my treatment during the study?

    Many doctors, particularly doctors specializing in fields such as dermatology or psychiatry, are booked for months and are not immediately available to see new or even existing patients. Many people cannot afford to wait months to receive a diagnosis or treatment. During a clinical trial, the study volunteer will meet with a board-certified physician and receive one on one medical care. Volunteers also interact with highly-trained and skilled research staff throughout the course of the clinical trial.

  • 6. Are the treatments and medications I take during the trial free?

    Research participants oftentimes struggle to afford expensive medications even if they have insurance. In clinical trials, volunteers may have access to new and innovative medicines and treatments. Study medications are provided to research volunteers at no cost.

  • 7. Do I have access to approved medications and testing supplies?

    In certain studies, volunteers are provided with medications which are already FDA approved; this may be to compare an available medication to an investigational medication or to compare it to another approved medication. Volunteers may also receive other medical supplies that greatly benefit them. For instance, diabetics receive test strips and a glucose monitor in many studies, while women’s health studies may provide some form of contraception. Some psychiatric studies – such as a study for depression — may also provide an approved antidepressant.

  • 8. Will I have an opportunity to learn more about my illness or condition and options for treatment?

    Trial volunteers will learn about their condition, its symptoms and options to treat it. In some instances, participants can receive a diagnosis of their symptoms by having diagnostic testing and/or through an evaluation by a physician. This can provide relief to someone who has been struggling with the difficulties of an unknown illness, and can open avenues for them to pursue help and treatment. Diabetes studies often provide education regarding diet, exercise and blood sugar control.

  • 9. Is it possible that my quality of health may improve from the medication?

    By participating in a clinical trial, you can play an active role in educating yourself about your health. This can result in an improvement in the quality of your life. Research volunteers gain a sense of gratification from their contributions to society, and hope that the future will be brighter due to a wider range of options in medicine. The patient also has the privilege of assuming an active role in their health care, and taking responsibility for their health is empowering!

  • 10. Is my participating really going to improve the well-being of society, and the advancement of medical research?

    When study volunteers participate in research, society benefits, bringing new hope for patients afflicted with different conditions/diseases. Future generations, potentially even the volunteers’ children or grandchildren, may benefit from the volunteers’ choice to further medical research. Additional knowledge is also gained about the way the human body functions and processes medications, as well as how our bodies can heal more efficiently.

Volunteer

What is Informed Consent? 

As new medical products are being developed, no one knows for sure how well they will work, or what risks they will find.   Clinical trials are used to answer questions such as: 
  • Are new medical products safe enough to outweigh the risks related to the underlying condition?
  • How should the product be used (for example, the best dose, frequency, or any special precautions necessary to avoid problems)?
  • How effective is the medical product at relieving symptoms, treating or curing a condition?
The main purpose of clinical trials is to “study” new medical products in people.  It is important for people who are considering participation in a clinical trial to understand their role, as a “subject of research” and not as a patient. 

While research subjects may get personal treatment benefit from participating in a clinical trial, they must understand that they:
  • may not benefit from the clinical trial,
  • may be exposed to unknown risks,
  • are entering into a study that may be very different from the standard medical practices that they currently know.
To make an informed decision about whether to participate or not in a clinical trial, people need to be informed about:
  • what will be done to them,
  • how the protocol (plan of research) works,
  • what risks or discomforts they may experience,
  • participation being a voluntary decision on their part.
This information is provided to potential participants through the informed consent process.  Informed consent means that the purpose of the research is explained to them, including what their role would be and how the trial will work. 

A central part of the informed consent process is the informed consent document. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not dictate the specific language required for the informed consent document, but does require certain basic elements of consent be included.
Volunteer
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