NIH’s new website, NIH Clinical Research Trials and You, helps patients to learn more about clinical trials, why they matter, and how to participate. From the first cure of a solid tumor with chemotherapy to the use of nitroglycerin in response to heart attacks, clinical research studies have played a vital role in improving health and quality of life for people around the globe.
Research has shown that among the greatest challenges to recruitment of volunteers is the lack of general knowledge about what trials involve, where they are carried out, and who may participate.
"This new, centralized resource will make it much easier for the public and health professionals to learn about clinical trials and how people can participate in them" states Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., NIH Director.
Clinicians can read about evidence-based strategies for talking with patients about trials, print audience-tested posters to help promote trials in clinics and offices, and find other educational materials.
Visitors to the website will find information about:
- The basics of clinical trial participation
- First hand experiences from actual clinical trial volunteers
- Explanations from researchers
- Links on how to search for a trial or enroll in a research matching program
