Clinical trials

Did you know that it takes an average of 12 years for a prescription drug to make it from the beginning – an experiment in a laboratory – to its final destination, your pharmacy shelf? Learn more.

Learn about the different types of clinical trials like treatment trials, prevention trials, genetic trials, and more.

There are usually four phases of a clinical trial. Each phase helps move the study along, step by step. The purpose of a clinical trial could be to study a medicine, a therapy, or a method of preventing or detecting a disease.

During the clinical trial, your treatment team may include doctors, nurses, social workers and other health providers who will provide your healthcare. They will do the tests and exams related to the study.

Learn about the safeguards that are in place for those signing up for clinical trials.

Anyone interested in joining in a clinical study should know as much as possible about the study and feel comfortable asking the treatment team questions about the study.

Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of participating in clinical trials.

Clinical trials for kidney disease should include participants who represent the people who have kidney disease all around the world. This helps make sure that new treatments are safe and work well for the people most likely to use them.

Learn how your age, gender, and whether you are a healthy or patient volunteer can determine whether you can join a clinical trial.

Clinical trials are not always free. Learn about the different ways you can get expenses covered.

Download a clinical trials myths and facts sheet.

Learn about some important terms related to clinical trials.