Clinical Trials

A clinical trial is a research study of an investigational drug, device, or other medical therapy in which people can participate as volunteers. These studies (sometimes called trials or protocols) are used to help evaluate the safety and efficacy of potential new treatments for diabetes and other medical conditions. Participation in a clinical trial can provide patients with free access to cutting edge treatments they may otherwise have to wait years for. However, there's no guarantee that treatment will be effective, and because studies require a control group of patients who don't receive the therapy, some study subjects (chosen at random) will not receive the investigational treatment.

Researchers are required to provide full disclosure of all potential risks and benefits of a clinical trial to potential participants. There are strict rules for clinical trials, which are monitored by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as well as the institution (e.g. hospital, university) in which the study is being done. Some of the research studies at the Clinical Center involve promising new treatments that may directly benefit patients.

Learn more about participating in trials and find out which studies need you.