Clinical Trial Information

About Clinical Trials

A clinical trial is a carefully constructed and monitored research study that compares the safety and effectiveness of a new treatment to an existing one. All new medications, for example, must be supported by successful clinical trials in people before they can be made widely available by prescription. People with any disease, including cancer, may want to or may be asked to consider participating in a clinical trial.

Some of the issues to understand before deciding about participating include:

• What are the potential benefits to me and to future patients?
• How is my privacy protected?
• Are there any medical risks?
• What are my responsibilities if I join the study, and what if I change my mind?
• How will participating change my treatment plan?

Clinical Trial Resources

Many resources are available to help you consider, talk with your doctor, and decide about clinical trials.

• The Clinical Trials Tutorial from the National Library of Medicine offers both a narrated slideshow presentation and a printable summary.
• At the National Cancer Institute, you will find numerous articles focusing on specific questions about trials.
• The FDA’s Basic Questions & Answers About Clinical Trials includes a link to a Spanish translation.
• You may search for open clinical trials at the ClinicalTrials.gov registry.

The information presented is for general education and does not represent medical advice. Please discuss all questions and concerns with your medical care team. Links to other websites are provided for convenience and do not represent an endorsement of those sites by NeoGenomics.