Curious About Clinical Trials? Get the Answers You Can Trust
Thinking about joining a clinical trial? This clinical research FAQ answers the most common questions patients ask—so you can feel informed and supported.
Thinking about joining a clinical trial? This clinical research FAQ answers the most common questions patients ask—so you can feel informed and supported.
A clinical trial, also known as clinical research, is a study involving human volunteers to test medical treatments or therapies. These studies help researchers learn if new treatments are safe and effective.
Clinical trials are the foundation for most medical advances. Without them, many of today’s medications, devices, and treatment methods wouldn’t exist.
It’s easy to get started. Call our office or fill out the form below. You can also visit our Join a Study page to view open clinical trials. A staff member will reach out to confirm your interest and check your eligibility. You’ll then be scheduled for an appointment to review the consent and begin a study that fits your needs.
Our clinical trial team includes doctors, nurses, and trained research staff. They evaluate your health, provide instructions, monitor you closely during the study, and follow up afterward.
Participants may:
Play an active role in their own care
Access new treatments before they’re widely available
Help advance medical science and care for others
As with any medical procedure, there can be risks. Possible side effects or unknown reactions may occur. Our team will explain these during the informed consent process.
Informed consent is a legal and ethical requirement. It ensures you receive all information about a study—including risks and benefits—before you agree to participate.
Yes. Participation in any clinical trial is completely voluntary. You may leave a study at any time, for any reason.
A sponsor is an organization, company, or individual that funds and oversees a clinical trial. They may design the study, but they don’t typically run it on-site.
A placebo looks like a treatment but has no active ingredients. Placebos are used in some trials to help researchers compare results. Not all studies use placebos.
A research site is the physical location where clinical trials take place—like our Port Charlotte office. It’s where patients are seen, monitored, and treated under medical supervision.
A subject is someone who volunteers for a clinical trial. They may have the condition being studied or meet other criteria. Their participation helps researchers learn more about treatments.
Independent Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) monitor most U.S. clinical trials. Their job is to protect the rights, safety, and privacy of all participants.
At the end of a trial, researchers analyze results. You’ll be told whether you received the active treatment or a placebo. Your regular doctor will continue your care.