Clinical Trials - Frequently Asked Questions
Clinical research is a way doctors and scientists learn how to better prevent, diagnose, and treat illnesses. It helps improve care for children now and in the future.
A clinical trial or study is a type of clinical research that involves people. It helps doctors answer important questions—usually about whether a treatment is safe or how well it works.
All clinical trials have guidelines about who can and can’t participate. For example, some studies may be open only to children of a certain age or those with a specific medical condition. The study’s research team will tell you if your child is eligible to participate.
Children are not just small adults. Their bodies grow and change, and they respond to illness and treatment differently than adults do. A medicine that works well for a grown-up may not work the same way—or at the same dose—for a child or teenager. Research focused on kids helps doctors know the safest and most effective ways to care for patients at every age.
There are possible risks to joining a clinical trial. Because every trial is different, the research team is required to explain all known risks before you decide whether your child should join the study.
No. Joining a research study is always voluntary. Your child's regular medical care won’t change if you decide not to participate, and you’ll never be treated differently for saying no.
Yes. Regular medical care uses treatments that are already well-tested and proven, while a clinical trial tests new approaches that researchers are still studying, so the possible benefits and side effects may be less predictable.
Some studies provide payment or compensation for your time and effort. Others do not. The research team will go over this information with you before you decide to join a trial.
Coverage varies depending on the study and your insurance plan. The research team can explain what your insurance will cover.
You may want to consider:
- The possible risks and benefits
- Time commitments
- Travel requirements
- Any extra costs, like insurance deductibles, parking, or travel expenses
- Your child’s comfort level
- Your family’s goals and values
Before any study begins, the research team must explain everything to you in plain language—what the study involves, how long it lasts, what the possible risks and benefits are, and what your other options are. You may be asked to confirm—either verbally or in writing—that you understand the information provided and agree for your child to participate. This process is called “informed consent.”
Every clinical trial in the United States must be reviewed by an Institutional Review Board (IRB). This is an independent group of experts—doctors, researchers, and community members—who review the study plan to make sure it is ethical and that the potential benefits outweigh the risks.
Sometimes, but not always. Researchers will review whether joining multiple studies is safe and appropriate.
You will receive contact information for study staff and can ask them questions at any time—before, during and after the study.