If you’re considering participating in a clinical trial, it is important that you fully understand what that means. Following are answers to frequently asked questions:

• Why are clinical trials important?
• Will it help me?
• What should I know before I decide to participate?
• What happens if I’m interested in a trial?
• What is Informed Consent?

Why are clinical trials important?

Research is important for improving lives. Through research, new drugs have been discovered, effective vaccines have been found, diagnostic tests (such as ultrasound or X-rays) have been improved, and better medical procedures have been developed. Research is a vital step in advancing health care.

Will it help me?

Benefits of participating in a clinical trial include:

• gaining access to new treatments not yet available to the public
• obtaining medical care from health care facilities throughout the trial
• helping yourself and others by contributing to medical research

Choosing to participate in a clinical trial is an important personal decision. It is completely voluntary, and you may stop participating at any time. If you are interested in participating in a research study, we encourage and invite you to discuss this further with our research staff or your physician.

What should I know before I decide to participate?

You need complete information so that you feel comfortable in volunteering to participate. Ask questions of our study coordinators, such as:

• How long will the trial last?
• Where is the trial being conducted?
• What treatments will be used and how?
• What is the main purpose of the trial?
• How will my safety be monitored?
• Are there any risks involved?
• What are the possible benefits?
• What are the alternative treatments besides the one being tested?
• Who is sponsoring the trial?
• Do I have to pay for any part of the trial?
• Could the research hurt me or have unpleasant side effects?
• Can I opt to remain on this treatment, even after termination of the trial?
• What will be done to me as part of the research?
• What will you do with my information?
• Who pays if I’m unexpectedly injured in the study?
• What happens if I decide to leave the study early?

Information on clinical trials is available on the Internet, or you may also visit our Resources & Links page.

What happens if I’m interested in a trial?

Learn more about each study Beyer Research is conducting by viewing the Current Studies & Participation page. Here you can take a brief confidential quiz to see if you qualify for a study. If you do, we’ll contact you and tell you more about the particular study. You can also sign up to receive information on future studies.

If you qualify and are interested in the study, you’ll come into our office for an appointment. At that time we’ll explain everything that will occur during the study, answer all your questions, and go through the process of Informed Consent.

What is Informed Consent?

Informed consent is the process of learning the key facts about a clinical trial to help you decide whether or not to participate. Should you decide to participate in the study, you’ll need to sign a document, called the “Informed Consent Document.” It describes your rights, and includes details about the study, such as its purpose, duration, required procedures, and key contacts. Risks and potential benefits are explained in the document. Informed consent is not a contract, and you may withdraw from the trial at any time.