Research Information for Patients, Participants and the Public
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial (also clinical research) is a research study in human volunteers to answer specific health questions. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest ways to find treatments that work in people and ways to improve health. Interventional trials determine whether experimental treatments or new ways of using known therapies are safe and effective under controlled environments. Observational trials address health issues in large groups of people and populations in natural settings.
Why participate in a clinical trial?
Participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research.
How do I find clinical trials being conducted at Duke?
- View a local listing of Clinical Trials at Duke University
- View a listing of clinical trials on ClinicalTrials.gov in which Duke is participating
Where can I learn more about what to consider before volunteering to be in a clinical trial?
- Understanding Clinical Trials: a Guide for Participants
- Becoming a Research Volunteer: It's Your Decision - OHRP
- Folleto: Ser Voluntario en Estudios Clinicos: Es Su Decisión
- Basic Questions and Answers about Clinical Trials - FDA (En Español)
- Why Volunteer? Clinical Trials of Medical Treatments - FDA
- Educational Materials About Clinical Trials - National Cancer Institute
- Children and Clinical Studies - NIH
Where can I learn more about the use of animals in research?
Additional Information About Clinical Trials
- Maintained by the National Institutes of Health and the National Library of Medicine
- Provides a nation-wide listing of information about federally and privately supported clinical research in human volunteers
- Contains introductory information about clinical trials; and information on the role of the participants in clinical trials
- Maintained by the National Cancer Institute
- Contains general information about participating in clinical trials, including information on access to investigational drugs, a resource guide on clinical trials, information on insurance coverage and clinical trials, and specific information related to clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute
- Maintained by the National Library of Medicine
- Provides a link to PubMed, the National Library of Medicine database of citations and abstracts from world wide journals
- Contains resources such as a discussion of various health topics, current medial news, drug dictionary and medical encyclopedia to help interpret medical and research information
- Maintained by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Contains safety information on drugs and other products regulated by the FDA
- Maintained by CenterWatch, a Boston-based publishing and information services company
- Provides a nation-wide listing of industry-sponsored clinical trials that are actively recruiting patients
- Contains general background information on clinical trials
- Maintained by the Association for Clinical Research Professionals, a professional society of individuals involved in all aspects of clinical trials
- Contains general information on participating in clinical trials
- Affiliated with the Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization of researchers, health care professionals, consumers, and others interested in specific health care issues
- Provides links to other web sites with listings of clinical trials
