Why Participate in a Clinical Trial?
As a participant in a clinical trial, you are part of a process to evaluate investigational drugs and treatments that may help, or lead to a cure, for your condition. You will be one of the first people to reap the benefits of newly invented investigational drugs that are not yet available to the general public and you will play an active role in furthering medical knowledge.
As a participant, you will receive free medical care from expert physicians. The trial is free for you, and you may even receive compensation for your time and travel. No health insurance is required, and all study-related medical exams, laboratory tests, and procedures are provided at no charge.
In addition to free medical care, participating in clinical trials helps the millions of others with the targeted conditions. Lifesaving and life-improving drugs would not be on the market if not for clinical trials, so as a participant, you play a fundamental role in drug development.
Our team of doctors, research coordinators and other medical staff has conducted numerous trials with hundreds of participants. We are dedicated to performing clinical research with the highest ethical and scientific standards.
What is the Clinical Trial Process?
There are three phases that an investigational drug must go through successfully in order to be approved by the FDA. Following approval there is a fourth phase which drugs may enter for continued testing. At DCOL Center for Clinical Research we participate in Phase II – Phase IV clinical trials.
Phase I
These are the first trials of a medication in humans, and are usually performed in healthy volunteers in an inpatient facility to establish guidance for dosing of the medication in further trials. DCOL Center for Clinical Research currently does not participate in this phase of research.
Phase II
A drug becomes eligible for Phase II trials only when the FDA has reviewed Phase I data and has concluded that it is safe to be used in humans under the controlled conditions of an investigational trial, and that it may potentially be beneficial to patients with a particular disease. This is often the phase in which a pharmaceutical company hopes to decide whether it will be worthwhile continuing development of a particular drug, or whether it is worthwhile pursuing new indications for a drug that has already been approved for a different purpose. Typically about 50-200 patients will receive the investigational drug in this phase of testing. This number may be considerably higher if the drug is being tested for multiple possible indications. These trials usually also have a second group of patients called the "control" who receive either a standard treatment or a placebo. Patients are assigned to either the treatment group or the control group at random, and neither the physician nor the patient is aware of which group the patient is in.
Phase III
A drug enters Phase III if the pharmaceutical company is satisfied that there is a reasonable likelihood that it will be beneficial for its intended purpose and if the FDA is satisfied with the safety and efficacy data obtained in the Phase II trials. These trials involve a greater number of patients than the Phase II trials, and are usually conducted at many different research sites simultaneously. Several hundred to several thousand patients are involved in this phase of medication development, and there is a control group in these studies as in Phase II. Most drugs that enter this phase of testing will at least be considered for approval by the FDA, though not all of them will ultimately be granted approval.
Phase IV
These trials are conducted on medications that have already been approved for use by the FDA, and that are on the market. Additional safety data is obtained in this phase of testing, and these trials are often used to assess the effects of treatment on a patient’s general quality of life as well as on the specific disease being treated. These trials may also compare a drug with other drugs or treatments already on the market.
Preparing for Your Visit to Research
You should feel comfortable asking the members of our research team questions about the clinical trial. You can also refer to Frequently Asked Questions to help guide you. It is also important for you to know as much as possible about the clinical trial. The Informed Consent Process should help you learn all the key facts about the trial.
General guidelines:
You will be given specific instructions prior to each visit that apply to the protocol of your clinical trial. Generally speaking you may be asked to do one or all of the following:
- You should follow the directions of your study coordinator regarding your study medication prior to your visit.
- If fasting: You should not eat during the fasting period prior to your visit.
- If fasting: You should drink water during the fasting period prior to your visit.
- You should bring study related diaries, logs, forms, or special equipment to the visit.
- You should inform your research coordinator of any new medications you may be taking.
- You should inform your research coordinator of any illness or related events since your last visit.
- You can expect the average visit to last between 30-90 minutes, although your 1st visit to the clinic could last approximately 2+ hours.
Do I continue to work with my primary health care provider while in a trial?
Yes - If you have a primary health care provider then continue to follow your treatment regimen with your primary care physician. Your health care provider may even work with the research team to ensure that other medications or treatments will not conflict with the protocol. Most clinical trials provide short-term treatments related to an illness or condition, and do not provide extended or complete primary health care. The clinical trial does not replace your personal health care provider, but works in addition to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is medical research that determines the safety and effectiveness of a drug or treatment and discovers any side effects. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses information gathered in clinical trials to evaluate new medications.
Who conducts clinical trials?
Professional staff that may consist of physicians, registered nurses, and clinical research professionals. Our research professionals have extensive experience in evaluating investigational medications and treatment procedures.
What do I need to know before I participate?
It is your right to have complete information about the study in which you will participate. The US Government requires complete and accurate disclosure, which allows you to make an informed decision about whether or not to volunteer. Before you are evaluated as a research participant, you will go through the consent process. You will be given an Informed Consent document which you must read, understand and sign before enrolling. This form explains what happens during the trial, what kind of care you will receive, alternatives if applicable, and all the benefits and risks associated with the medication or procedure. You will also be given an opportunity to have all your questions and concerns addressed before consenting to the study.
What are the risks?
Your safety is of primary concern. All procedures are first reviewed by an independent Investigational Review Board (IRB) before they are administered. This assures that the study is ethical and the risks are as low as possible and worth any potential benefits. All details and risks of the study will be explained to you during the informed consent part of your visit.
Do I qualify to participate?
Different studies have different enrollment requirements. Some require only healthy adults, not on medications and over age 18; other studies may require people with existing medical conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, COPD or other conditions and/or taking certain medications.
Please refer to Current Trials on our website for currently enrolling trials. When you call, you will be asked several questions about your current health. If you meet the study requirements, we will schedule an appointment for you to be evaluated by our staff. If you do not qualify for a specific study at that time, with your permission, we may contact you regarding future clinical research studies.
What can I expect during the clinical trial?
After you give your consent to be in one of our clinical trials, information will be taken concerning your age, medical history, medications, and other preliminary questions to make sure you fit the study requirements. You may also receive assessments such as a physical exam, laboratory tests, study procedures as necessary, as well as study medication, all free of charge to you and your insurance. During the course of the study, medical personnel will meet with you to monitor your progress.
Can I change my mind?
Your participation in a research study is entirely voluntary, and you may withdraw from participation at anytime and for any reason.
Will my information be sold to anyone?
All information you provide as a research participant is strictly confidential. It will not be sold and will only be used for the purposes required by the research study.
Do I get paid as a clinical trial participant?
We understand your time is valuable, so some type of compensation is usually provided for time and travel depending on the study.
Current Trials
Our goal is to assist pharmaceutical and medical device industries in developing new and effective products to treat a multitude of medical conditions and illnesses. We perform this important work through the administration of clinical trials.
Click here to learn more about our studies.
More Resources
You can obtain more information about clinical trials, by visiting the websites listed below:
http://www.centerwatch.com/health-resources
http://www.ciscrp.org
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov