Your guide to clinical trials

Clinical trials are the reason we have safe, effective treatments today, and the reason we’ll have better ones tomorrow. Explore our clinical trial education hub to learn how clinical trials work and what to consider before getting involved.

Learn how clinical trials work

If you’ve heard about clinical trials but aren’t sure what’s involved, read our easy-to-understand guides to how trials work and what to expect.

What can we help you learn?

What is a clinical trial, exactly?

We explain clinical trials in terms that are easy to learn. You can also use our clinical trial glossary to look up other words you might not know.

Learn the basics

Asking your doctor about clinical trials

It’s important to talk to your doctor about clinical trials. But it can be hard to know what to ask. We made a list of questions you can bring to your next visit.

Get the questions

How to find (and join) a clinical trial

Learn how to find a clinical trial and take the first steps in the screening process. We cover how to ask useful questions and enroll if you are a good match.

Learn how to join

Take a closer look at clinical trial safety

Planning and monitoring for safety

Before a clinical trial can start, it goes through several layers of expert and ethics review to help make sure it’s safe to move forward.

Learn more

Who is responsible for safety?

Safety in a clinical trial is a responsibility shared by people who make sure trials are conducted safely, ethically, and according to strict rules.

Learn more

Real stories from people who volunteered

Hear firsthand from people about their experiences with clinical trials.

Browse patient stories

Why inclusive participation in clinical trials is important

Learn how clinical trial participation that represents the diversity of people in our population leads to safer and more effective medical treatments.