Choosing whether to participate in a clinical trial is a big decision that requires a lot of research to ensure you’re comfortable with the entire process. Our team at Wake Research understands, and we are here to ensure you’re completely comfortable with your decision to participate in a clinical trial.
Below you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions about clinical trials, research studies, observational studies, and more. If you aren’t able to find the answer to your question, please contact us directly so that we may be of further assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a clinical trial?
- What clinical trials are available right now?
- Are clinical trials safe?
- How is M3 Wake Research focused on supporting their participants in clinical trials?
- What is meant by informed consent?
- Why are clinical trials important?
- How can I qualify to participate in a clinical trial?
- Is health insurance required to participate in a clinical study?
- What are my rights as a clinical research study participant?
- What is a study protocol in a clinical trial?
- What is your privacy policy?
What is a clinical trial?
Clinical trials are designed to test and study the safety and effectiveness of investigational medications or treatments. Medications and treatments can include a drug or device that may prevent disease, become a new treatment, review existing treatments, test different dosages, other interventions, and more.
What clinical trials are available right now?
If you’re interested in learning more about the available clinical trials, head over to our trial finder. Alternatively, you can search by location or indication to find the right clinical trial for your condition.
Are clinical trials safe?
Our top priority is the safety of all our trial participants, and as such, we maintain close supervision by medical professionals throughout the entirety of the study. However, some participants may experience an adverse reaction to the drug or therapy being examined, potentially requiring hospitalization or other medical intervention. There is also the risk of experiencing side effects, which can range from mild to severe.
Alternatively, there are many benefits to participating in clinical trials, such as:
- Improvement of your medical condition through access to new treatments
- No-cost medical care and attention by highly trained research staff and medical professionals
- Potential compensation for participation in the study
How is M3 Wake Research focused on supporting their participants in clinical trials?
M3 Wake Research is dedicated to supporting our research teams throughout the course of every clinical trial with a focus on improving patient outcomes. As a clinical trial participant with M3 Wake Research, we provide you with a number of benefits, including:
- A dedicated team of health care professionals focused on assessing and reviewing the risks and benefits of the study.
- Expedient responses to negative or adverse effects during the study.
- Access to investigational medications and treatments that are currently unavailable to the general population.
- No cost medical exams and testing related to your condition.
- Potential compensation for your time and travel associated with the trial.
Clinical trials involve participants and researchers focused on following the outlined protocol to maintain the integrity of the research. Our clinical trials follow ethical and legal codes that govern medical practice to ensure the desired outcomes and maintain patient safety.
What is meant by informed consent?
Informed consent is a process by which clinical trial participants are given information about the research study they’re interested in to help them determine if it is the right study. Informed consent information may include criteria regarding the potential risks and benefits of the drug or device, any required medical or surgical procedures, genetic testing, medical product, study protocol, and more.
Why are clinical trials important?
Clinical trials are an essential part of making sure the drugs and medical treatments we all use are safe and effective when compared to placebo or existing therapies. We conduct trials with different populations and groups to predict how well a medication or therapy will perform in the general population when used to treat a certain condition.
Drugs and therapeutic treatments cannot be released for public consumption without FDA approval. Trial results from our research studies help to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of new drugs and devices to the FDA.
How can I qualify to participate in a clinical trial?
Not everyone who wants to participate in each clinical trial will qualify, so it’s important to closely review the qualifications. There are often extremely specific criteria for meeting the qualifications of a clinical trial.
Our research staff will ask a series of questions in a pre-screening interview, and sometimes a second screening will be required to ensure you meet all the qualifications for the trial.
If you aren’t accepted into one clinical trial, we encourage you to apply again. We consistently have a wide variety of clinical research studies at any given time.
Is health insurance required to participate in a clinical study?
No, health insurance isn’t a requirement to participate in a clinical trial. Our clinical trials have nothing to do with insurance, either private or government-provided. As a study participant, you’ll receive study-related medical examinations and investigational medication at no cost to you. Eligible participants may also receive compensation for their time and travel related to the clinical trial.
What are my rights as a clinical research study participant?
As a research participant, you have the right to accurate and timely information about the study, including the inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria, the protocol, and processes. As a research participant in a clinical trial, you also have the right to ask questions at any time and have those questions promptly answered. Additionally, if you are concerned about your clinical trial participation, you have the right to withdraw at any time.
What is a study protocol in a clinical trial?
A study protocol for a clinical trial is a document that outlines how the trial will conduct research throughout the study. This document typically includes the clinical trial process, the objectives of the clinical trial, its design, methodology, and organization. The research team clearly outlines the protocol for the trial to ensure the integrity of the study and safety of the clinical trial participants. Typically, the protocol will also outline any possible risks, inclusion and exclusion criteria, details for the informed consent document, and other details pertinent to the study.
What is your privacy policy?
Wake Research will never share or sell your personally identifiable information (PII) with any company or organization. From the time of your entrance into a clinical trial, you will only be identified by initials and a unique number to parties outside of Wake Research that are participating in the conduct of the study. To learn more about the lengths we take to protect the privacy of our volunteers, visit our Privacy Policy page.
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Find a Clinical Trial Today
Our clinics at M3 Wake Research are dedicated to providing national institutes with the highest quality research studies to help make informed decisions about the future of medicine. We conduct studies to gather preliminary data around a variety of healthcare protocols, including experimental drug studies and cancer research.
Whether you are a patient, a caregiver, or a provider, we can pair you with a clinical trial or study that makes sense for your condition. Review the available clinical trials by using our Find a Trial tool, by clinic location, or by indication and see if you qualify to be a volunteer today.
Do you know anyone who would be a good applicant for our studies?