Quick answers about clinical trials

A research study that tests ways to prevent, detect, treat, or improve quality of life for a health condition.

Trials may study new medicines, combinations of treatments, devices, procedures, behavior changes, screening tests, or supportive care. They help researchers learn whether an approach is safe and works.

No. Trials may be relevant at different points, depending on the condition and study.

Beyond treatment trials, there are prevention, screening, diagnostic, behavioral, and quality-of-life trials. Some are designed for people who are newly diagnosed or just starting treatment — not only for advanced disease.

The study plan that explains who can join, what happens, how long it lasts, and what information is collected.

Every trial follows a written protocol. It describes the study goal, eligibility, required tests and procedures, the schedule, and the safety protections in place.

A sponsor funds and oversees the trial; a principal investigator leads it at each location.

The sponsor may be a company, university, nonprofit, or government agency. The principal investigator is responsible for running the study at a site, and a research coordinator often handles day-to-day logistics.

No. A trial may look relevant, but final eligibility must be confirmed by the study team.

Search tools surface studies that may fit based on public information. Trials use inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria to decide who can take part — and only the study team makes the final call.

The rules a study uses to decide who may be able to join.

Eligibility criteria help researchers answer the study question and keep participants safe. They may involve age, disease type and stage, treatment history, and other conditions. They are not a personal judgment.

Inclusion criteria are things you must have to join; exclusion criteria are things that may keep you out.

Inclusion criteria define the group a trial is built to study. Exclusion criteria exist to protect participants and keep the results clear — for example, certain other conditions or medications.

The study team, after reviewing your details and any required testing.

A tool can show a potential match, but the research team confirms eligibility. Sometimes more testing — labs, imaging, pathology, or biomarkers — is needed before they can decide.

Participants are assigned to study groups by chance, not by choice.

Randomization reduces bias by keeping participants and researchers from choosing who gets which treatment, so the groups stay comparable and the results are fairer.

Not always. Some trials use a placebo, but many do not.

A placebo is an inactive product that looks like the treatment being tested. Placebos are generally not used if going without effective therapy would put someone at risk, and you should be told before joining if one is used.

A blinded study hides which treatment someone receives, to reduce bias.

In a single-blind study, the participant doesn't know which treatment they get. In a double-blind study, neither the participant nor the team knows. The treatment can still be identified if it's medically necessary.

The group that receives standard treatment or a placebo, used for comparison.

Comparing the study treatment against a control group helps researchers tell whether a new approach truly makes a difference.

Phases describe the stage and purpose of a trial — Phase I through IV.

Phase I focuses on safety and side effects in a small group; Phase II looks at early effectiveness and more safety; Phase III compares effectiveness in larger groups; Phase IV follows an approved treatment over time.

No. Informed consent is a conversation and an ongoing process.

Informed consent means the team shares information, helps you understand it, and supports a voluntary choice. Even when a signed form is required, the signature alone does not make the consent process adequate.

Yes. Participation is voluntary, and you can leave at any time.

Before joining, it's fair to ask what happens if you stop and whether stopping affects your regular care. Taking part is always your choice.

Research teams, the protocol, informed consent, safety monitoring, and usually an IRB.

Most U.S. trials are reviewed and monitored by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to help protect participants' rights and safety. It's reasonable to ask whether a study was reviewed by an IRB.

Ask about side effects, extra tests or procedures, and any serious risks — they vary by study.

Risks should be described in the consent document and discussed by the team before you decide. Some trials involve only minor discomfort or extra time; others carry more significant risks or side effects.

Possibly closer monitoring or early access to a research approach — but benefit is not guaranteed.

A clinical trial may or may not help the person who joins. Some people value contributing to research that could help future patients. Always weigh possible benefits against the risks and your other options.

Ask what the study covers, what insurance may cover, and whether travel or childcare costs matter.

Useful questions: Do I pay for any part of the trial or the study drug? What is insurance likely to cover? Who can answer insurance questions? Should I budget for travel, parking, lodging, or childcare?

Often yes — but it depends on the study.

Ask who will be in charge of your care, where care will happen, and whether you can keep taking your regular medications.

Sometimes. Some studies allow virtual or local visits for part of the trial.

These are sometimes called decentralized trials, and may use telehealth, local labs, or home visits. Ask which visits must be in person at the study site and which can happen remotely.

Usually the study team, research coordinator, principal investigator, or your treating clinician.

Ask who your main contact would be, and specifically who to call if you have symptoms or side effects during the study.

No. ClinicalMatchMate helps you find and organize trials; only the study team confirms eligibility.

ClinicalMatchMate compares public trial information with the details you provide to surface studies that may be relevant. It does not determine eligibility and does not recommend treatment.

A trial may be relevant based on public information and your details — it does not confirm your eligibility.

A potential match is a starting point for a conversation. The study team must confirm whether the trial actually fits your situation.

No. ClinicalMatchMate organizes information and questions; it does not give medical advice.

It is an educational and organizing tool. Decisions about treatment and trial participation belong to you, your clinician, and the research team.

Start simple: "Are there any clinical trials that may be relevant to my condition or treatment plan?"

Our first-conversation guide walks through scripts, what to bring, questions to ask, and how to read the answers — and lets you build a question list to take with you.