For Patients and Families
The ClinicalTrials.gov Web site provides current information about clinical research studies to patients, their families and caregivers, health care professionals, and the public. Each study record includes a summary of the study protocol, including the purpose, recruitment status, and eligibility criteria. Study locations and specific contact information are listed to assist with enrollment. (See How to Read a Study Record to learn more about the information found in a study record.) Information on ClinicalTrials.gov is provided and updated by the sponsor or principal investigator of the clinical study. Clinicaltrials.gov is a free service of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is maintained by the National Library of Medicine (NLM).
Contents
Find Studies on ClinicalTrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov is updated daily. Please check the site frequently for new information.
The Find Studies section of the site includes different options for finding studies, along with instructions on how to find the studies you are looking for and how to read study records. In this section, you can:
- Learn How to Use Search and How to Use Advanced Search to find studies you are interested in
- Learn How to Read a Study Record
- See Studies by Topic for studies grouped by categories such as medical condition or drug intervention
Learn About Studies
Clinical research studies aim to answer scientific questions and find the best ways to prevent, diagnose, or treat diseases and medical conditions. The Learn About Studies page has more information about:
- What happens during a study
- The different types of studies
- Who is responsible for conducting a study
The Learn About Studies page also explains what participating in a study means and discusses things to consider when deciding whether to participate in a study. You can learn about informed consent and the questions that a potential participant should ask before volunteering for a clinical study.
The ClinicalTrials.gov Glossary of Common Site Terms has definitions for terms used on this Web site that may be unfamiliar to you.
More information about clinical studies is available on NLM's MedlinePlus® Web site. MedlinePlus has information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues for patients and their families. Each of the health topics on MedlinePlus provides information from NIH and other trusted sources.
- MedlinePlus: Clinical Trials Health Topic
- MedlinePlus: Understanding Medical Research
The NIH Clinical Research Trials and You Web site provides general information about participating in clinical research with a focus on NIH-funded research.
Learn More
For More Information About a Study
Choosing to participate in a clinical study is an important personal decision. Review the Learn About Studies page and talk with your doctor, family members, or friends about deciding to join a study. After you find one or more studies that you are interested in, the next step is for you or your doctor to contact the study research staff and ask questions about the specific study.
You can find contact information for study research staff in the Contacts and Locations section of the study record if that study is active or recruiting participants.
For Questions or Comments About ClinicalTrials.gov
To send NLM questions or comments about the ClinicalTrials.gov site, use the Customer Support link at the bottom of any page.
Please note that NLM cannot answer questions about individual medical cases or make recommendations about therapy. Ask your health care provider for help with these questions.
Please also note that the information in the study records on ClinicalTrials.gov is provided by the organizations and people that sponsor and carry out the studies. For questions about a specific study, please contact the study research staff listed in the Contacts and Locations section of the study record.