Research Participants | Duke Health Institutional Review Board

Doctor consults with patient at Duke Eye Center

Clinical study volunteers help advance research and improve patient care. Clinical trials test the effects and safety of new drugs, devices and therapies. If you are thinking about participating in research, there are many things to consider.

Questions to Ask Before You Agree to Participate in a Research Study

The federal government's Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) suggests some questions that you should ask before you agree to participate in a research study:

Why is the research being done?
What will be done to me as part of the research?
How will I benefit from the research?
Could the research hurt me?
What will the researcher do with my information?
Will the research cost me anything?
Who pays if I'm unexpectedly injured in the study?
How long will the study last?
What happens if I decide to leave the study early?
Who should I call if I have a question about the research?

OHRP's brochure called "Becoming a Research Volunteer" is available in both English and Spanish versions.

Bill of Rights for Research Participants

As a research participant, you have the right to:

Be free of pressure from anyone else when deciding if you wish to take part in a study
Make up your mind about taking part in a study without being rushed
Be told what question, topic, or issue is being studied
Be told what will happen and what the procedures are
Be told about the potential risks or discomforts, if any, of the research
Be told if you can expect any benefit from taking part and, if so, what the benefit might be
Be told if there will be no direct benefit to you
Ask questions about the study at any time before, during or after the study
Be told what medical care is available if you have any problems or injuries resulting from the study
Refuse to take part in the study at any time
Quit after the study starts, without any penalty
Receive a copy of your Informed Consent Form to keep.

Duke Physician Locator Web Page

Resources for Finding a Clinical Trial

You can search for active Duke Health trials by navigating to Clinical Trials at Duke.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) provides information on their web site about their clinical trial programs and initiatives. Please navigate to NCI-Supported Clinical Trials.
ClinicalTrials.gov is a national web registry of federally and privately supported research studies conducted in the US and around the world.
To learn more about pediatric studies, please navigate to the Pediatric Trials Network.
The Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to educating and informing the public and patients about clinical research. CISCRP also provides information and resources to help research and health professionals better serve their patients and study volunteers. Search for a clinical trial with the help of CISCRP.