Participant Journey
in Clinical Trials

Clinical trials play a vital role in advancing medical research and uncovering new treatment options. However, the idea of participating in a clinical trial—whether as a diagnosed patient or a healthy volunteer—can feel overwhelming at first. That’s why we’ve created this guide to help you navigate your journey with confidence. Whether you’re searching for hope in new therapies or want to contribute to the future of medicine, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Through transparent, easy-to-understand information, personal stories, and clear guidance, we aim to demystify the clinical trial process. We believe that the more informed and prepared you are, the more empowered you’ll feel to make decisions that are right for you.

Patient Journey in Clinical Trials for Diagnosed Patients

Finding Hope and Exploring New Options

Being diagnosed with a chronic or serious illness often brings a sense of urgency to explore every available avenue for care. Clinical trials offer more than just hope—they provide access to potential breakthrough treatments not yet available to the public. By participating, you can also help researchers unlock new possibilities for future patients with similar conditions. Below is an overview of what you can expect along your clinical trial journey:

Where it all begins: Together with your healthcare provider, you’ll explore clinical trials that align with your unique medical needs. This conversation will help you:

Understand the purpose of each trial and whether it offers an experimental therapy or compares existing treatments.
Identify eligibility criteria (e.g., specific diagnosis, age, prior treatments).
Consider the risks and benefits—including potential side effects, treatment timelines, access to medications and therapies, possible monetary compensation, and long-term impact.

It’s important to ask questions. What is the trial’s goal? How might this treatment improve my quality of life? How will it fit into my daily routine?

Tip: Don’t hesitate to bring a family member or caregiver with you to these discussions—they can offer valuable support and help you weigh your options.

Once you’ve identified a trial that fits your goals, the next step is a screening process to determine if you meet the study’s eligibility criteria. This phase may involve:

Medical assessments such as blood work, x-rays and other imaging, or physical exams.
Review of your medical history to ensure the treatment is safe and appropriate for you.

If you meet the criteria, you’ll proceed with enrollment, which involves reviewing and signing an informed consent document. This form ensures you fully understand the trial’s procedures, risks, and benefits—and gives you the option to ask additional questions before deciding to move forward.

Reminder: Clinical trial participation is entirely voluntary. Even after enrolling, you have the right to withdraw from the study at any time if you change your mind.

Once enrolled, you’ll begin receiving the study treatment, which could be:

The investigational drug or therapy being tested, or
A standard treatment that serves as a comparison (called a control or placebo in some studies).

Throughout the trial, your health will be closely monitored by the clinical care team to ensure your safety and track your response to the treatment. This monitoring may include:

Regular check-ins, lab tests, and exams to assess your progress.
Tools like patient diaries to track your symptoms, side effects, or quality of life.

The care team is committed to making sure you’re comfortable and informed. If adjustments to your treatment plan are needed, the team will work with you to make those changes.

Support matters: Many trials offer access to resources such as counseling, travel support, or financial assistance, so be sure to ask what’s available to you.

Even after the treatment phase is complete, the clinical trial journey doesn’t end. Depending on the study design, you may continue with follow-up care to monitor any long-term effects or improvements in your health. This phase ensures that your health remains a priority while also helping researchers gather valuable data on the effectiveness of the treatment over time.

In some cases, participants may have the opportunity to continue receiving the trial treatment if it proves beneficial, through programs like extended access or compassionate use. The clinical team will provide clear guidance on what to expect after the trial concludes.

Your Impact: Your participation not only opens doors to potential new treatments for you but also helps shape the future of care for others with similar conditions.

Patient Journey in Clinical Trials for Healthy Volunteers

Contributing to Future Health Breakthroughs

Participating in a clinical trial as a healthy volunteer offers a unique way to advance medical science. Your involvement helps researchers better understand the effects of new therapies, drugs, or devices on the body—and often serves as the foundation for future studies involving diagnosed patients. Here’s what you can expect during your journey as a healthy volunteer:

Healthy volunteers are essential for establishing baseline safety and effectiveness for new treatments or devices. Your participation allows researchers to compare results from people without medical conditions to those with specific diagnoses, ensuring comprehensive research.

Healthy volunteers may take part in:

Trials that assess the safety and tolerability of a new drug or treatment.
Studies that collect biological data (such as blood samples) to inform future research.

Impact: Your involvement helps researchers build a complete picture of how treatments work, ensuring that future therapies are safe and effective.

As a healthy volunteer, you’ll need to complete questionnaires, health assessments, and medical exams to confirm that you meet the study’s eligibility criteria. This helps ensure that only individuals without pre-existing conditions participate, so the trial can accurately measure how the treatment affects healthy individuals.

During this phase, you’ll also receive detailed information about the trial’s design, phases, schedule, and your role. Your informed consent ensures that you fully understand the procedures, risks, and expectations before enrolling.

Once enrolled, you may receive:

The investigational product (such as a new drug or device), or
A placebo (an inactive substance) as part of a controlled trial.

Throughout the study, your health and safety will be closely monitored by a dedicated clinical team. Regular check-ins, health evaluations, and lab tests ensure that you remain in good health while contributing to the study.

Safety First: Your well-being is the top priority. If at any point you feel uncomfortable or experience unexpected side effects, the clinical team will provide immediate support and guidance.

After the study ends, you’ll receive any relevant information about the findings, giving you insight into the impact of your participation. While healthy volunteers may not directly benefit from the study results, your involvement plays a critical role in shaping the future of healthcare by helping researchers develop safer, more effective treatments.

The Bigger Picture: Your participation helps bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world solutions, paving the way for innovations that could change lives.

Our Commitment to You

Whether you are participating in a clinical trial as a patient seeking new therapies or a healthy volunteer contributing to science, our goal is to ensure that you feel informed, supported, and empowered throughout the process. Clinical trials are more than research—they’re about people, progress, and the potential to change lives.

We’re honored to walk this journey with you and provide the resources you need every step of the way. Together, we can shape the future of healthcare, making treatments safer, more effective, and more inclusive for all.

Participant Journey in Clinical Trials

Patient Journey in Clinical Trials for Diagnosed Patients

Patient Journey in Clinical Trials for Healthy Volunteers

Participant Journey
in Clinical Trials