Research Participants

Research is an organized way of finding out about something, including research development, testing, and evaluation that are designed to develop or contribute to general knowledge.

Clinical study. Clinical trial. Clinical protocol. They all mean the same thing - a scientific study of how a new medicine or treatment works in people. Through clinical studies, doctors find new and better ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, control, and treat illnesses.

An IRB - Institutional Review Board - is charged with assisting in the protection of the rights and welfare of people involved in research. There are 4 committees at UTHSC (Memphis) that review research involving human subjects. Before any research-related procedures may begin, the IRB must review and approve the study protocol, the informed consent document(s), as well as any other study-related materials.

What exactly will happen to me in the research?
Will there be any unpleasant side effects?
Will the research help me personally?
What other options do I have?
Can I leave the study at any time?
Will it cost me anything personally?

ClinicalTrials.gov: The government's Clinical Trials site provides patients, family members, and members of the public easy and free access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions.

Clinical Trials and Insurance Coverage from NCI: a resource guide to help you understand how to cover the costs of care.

Department of Health & Human Services About Research Participation: contains videos and other resources about participating in research studies.

Department of Health & Human Services Pamphlet

• Becoming a Research Volunteer: It's Your Decision - Print Version
• Ser Voluntario en Estudios Clínicos: Es Su Decisión - Imprima la versión

National Cancer Institute: provides a list of NCI's clinical trials.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Trials: Search the collection of research studies that are being conducted at the NIH Clinical Center.

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: links to information about children in clinical studies.

The Center for Information & Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP):  nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public, research community, media, and policy makers about clinical research participation and the role that each of them play.

Informed Consent: The National Cancer Institute explains informed consent and the consent process.

Children's Assent to Clinical Trial Participation: The National Cancer Institute explains assent, a child's agreement to participate in a clinical trial, and the assent process.

Glossary of medical terms: list of terms you may hear during your conversations with the researchers about participating in a research study.

NIH Health Information: links to information about specific diseases and conditions.

MedlinePlus:  information from the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations to help answer health questions.