Clinical trials are research studies that look at new ways to prevent, detect or treat diseases. They rely on human volunteers, known as participants, and aim to find out if a new medical approach is safe and effective.

Clinical trials often test new drugs or new combinations of drugs, new surgical procedures or devices, or different ways to use existing treatments. Clinical trials can also test other aspects of care, such as ways to improve the quality of life for people with chronic conditions.

People of all ages, genders, races and ethnic groups can volunteer to participate, and all participants must qualify for a study before joining a clinical trial. Each clinical trial has specific eligibility criteria, which help identify appropriate participants and ensure their safety. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (required for participation) and exclusion criteria (which prevent participation). These criteria are based on factors such as age, gender, disease type and stage, treatment history and other medical conditions.

Some studies look for patient volunteers who have a known health condition and can help improve understanding, diagnosis or treatment, while others need healthy volunteers who don’t have significant health problems and may be needed to help test new treatments.

Each clinical trial has a unique set of requirements and screening process. Before joining a trial, you’ll receive an informed consent form detailing the study’s purpose, duration, compensation, contact information, and required tests or procedures. The form also explains the study’s known benefits and risks and can help participants make an informed decision about whether to join a study.

Study participation is a personal decision. The research team will be prepared to answer questions to help you fully understand what to expect before, during and after the study

Many clinical trials for new drugs or medical devices are conducted in a series of steps called phases. Each phase has a different purpose and helps researchers answer different questions.

• Phase 1 – Testing begins with a small group of people (typically 20–80) to help evaluate safety and identify side effects.
• Phase 2 – More people are included (typically 100–300) to determine effectiveness and continue evaluating safety.
• Phase 3 – The new drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people (typically 1,000–3,000) to help confirm effectiveness, monitor side effects and compare it with current treatments.
• Phase 4 – After a drug or device is approved by the FDA and made available to the public, researchers continue monitoring its safety and effectiveness in the general population.

A clinical trial sponsor is the person, institution, company or organization responsible for initiating, managing or financing the clinical trial. A study’s principal investigator (PI), often a medical doctor, works closely with the clinical research coordinator (CRC) to lead the trial and help ensure compliance and safety. The PI and CRC typically work for the sponsor and leads a team of research staff that could include doctors, nurses, technicians and other healthcare professionals. Members of the research team regularly monitor participants’ health to determine the study’s safety and effectiveness.

Walgreens has partnered with trial sponsors and researchers to help make clinical trials more accessible. Browse our active clinical trials and select “Learn more” to see how you can get involved.

Insurance is generally not required to participate in a clinical trial.

Participants may be paid, but the amount varies based on the study. Some clinical trials will provide compensation for the time and effort involved with participation, and reimbursement for costs associated with research-related travel, such as parking fees or meals.  

Yes. You can decide to end your participation and withdraw at any time. Just tell the study researcher if you wish to stop being in the study. You don’t need to give a reason why you want to stop participating.

Clinical trials involve some level of risk to participants, but there are numerous safeguards and regulations in place to ensure studies are as safe as possible.

Before joining a trial, you’ll receive information about potential risks and benefits, which can help you make an informed decision about whether to participate.

Each trial follows a strict study plan called a protocol, which describes how the research will be performed. Researchers also use a group of experts, known as an Institutional Review Board (IRB), in most clinical trials to make sure participant risk is acceptable and as low as possible. Some studies that take place in the United States or are government-funded must follow rules set by other U.S. agencies to help manage risk and protect research participants. These agencies include the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals may monitor your health during the trial. They will carefully document any side effects and closely monitor for adverse events, which are unfavorable changes in health. All outcomes are investigated to determine if they’re related to the trial or treatment.

There are different types of clinical trials; they don’t always test medicine or include a placebo, which is a pill or substance that has no therapeutic effect.

Placebos aren’t used in research if an effective treatment is already available or if the lack of effective therapy would put a person at risk. Participants will always be notified if a trial uses a placebo during the informed consent process.

Clinical trial participant privacy and confidentiality are protected by law. For example, trials that use or disclose a participant’s protected health information (PHI) for research purposes must be conducted in accordance with the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

During the informed consent process, participants will receive information on personal information collected during the trial, how it will be used, who will have access to the information, and rights regarding personal information.

Factors like age, race and gender influence the risk and likelihood of developing a disease and responses to treatment. By including more diverse groups of people in clinical trials, we can better understand the therapy effectiveness and safety for the broader population.