What is a Clinical Trial?

A clinical trial is a research study to test the effects of a drug, medical device, or other medical treatment on a group of human volunteers. Most clinical trials are done to find out if treatments are safe and effective.

Other types of clinical research are done at UW. For example, studies are done to find out the best dose of a drug, or to find out what effects a drug has in the body.

How Is Clinical Research Conducted?

If you are in a clinical study at UW, you will work closely with the research team. First, you will be given a consent form, which explains what is involved in the study. Members of the research team will review this form with you and will answer any questions you have about the study. If you decide to be in the study, you will sign the consent form. Being in studies is voluntary, and you can change your mind even if you have signed the consent form. 

The consent form information is based on a carefully controlled protocol, which is a detailed plan of what will be done in the study.

All studies have guidelines about who can participate. The guidelines are called inclusion and exclusion criteria. The guidelines or criteria are not used to reject interested participants personally, but to help produce reliable study results. Your health and medical records may be checked to make sure you qualify for the study.

You will be monitored carefully during the study, and you will likely be contacted by the research team after study procedures are completed. Some studies require more tests and doctor/clinic visits than you would normally have for an illness or condition.