What are the benefits and risks of participating in a trial?

Participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments at no cost before they are widely available, receive extensive medical care associated with the trial and help others by contributing to medical research.

There are risks to clinical trials; there may be unpleasant, serious or even life threatening side effects to experimental treatments. The treatment may not be effective for the participant. The protocol or plan may require more of their time and attention, including trips to the study site, more treatments, hospital stays or complex dosage requirements.