Researchers are constantly developing new, ground-breaking treatments for many illnesses. These must receive FDA approval before they’re available to the public, and physician investigators test their efficacy and safety in clinical trials. These are composed of people living with an illness seeking new treatment. The following guide sheds some light on candidacy if you’re considering joining.

How Are Participants Selected?

Each study has its own criteria based on the condition treated and the treatment type. To qualify, you must first prove that you have the relevant condition—Alzheimer’s disease or arthritis, for example. Inclusion criteria may also be gender, race, age, the stage of disease progression, previous treatment side effects experienced, and previous treatments you’ve taken. It’s also important to know if the new drug or treatment has the potential to benefit you, which is something you and your physician can determine. You can then submit your application to the board of research doctors conducting the trial.

Benefits of Participating

The primary benefit is that you get to try a new treatment before it’s available to the public. Because research investigators are meticulously monitoring your body’s reaction to the drug or treatment, that also means you’re receiving constant health checkups. This provides valuable insights into your condition and how it’s advancing, regressing, or changing. You may see drastic improvements in your health over the course of the trial. These often run for one year or longer.

Know, however, that there are risks. Because these drugs are new, there may be unexpected side effects. Luckily, you’ll have the research investigators to ensure you receive the proper treatment for them. However, you may also be part of the control group that gets a placebo drug, though it isn’t disclosed. This lets researchers compare the results of the new drug versus a non-treatment group.

If you want to learn more about participating in clinical trials, contact Chattanooga Medical Research in Tennessee. Since 2006, they’ve welcomed patients to their facility to conduct various research. You can visit the website to learn more about their medical care and research facility, or call (423) 648-7794 to discuss clinical trial candidacy.