FAQs

What is a clinical trial?

Clinical trials are medical research studies that involve volunteer patients to help researchers to develop new ways to detect, prevent, and treat diseases and symptoms. This may include new drugs, medical devices, or screening procedures. Clinical trials are first performed in laboratory, in animals, and then in humans in order to determine their safety and efficacy.

Why should I participate in a clinical trial?

Participating in a clinical trial gives you the opportunity to try a new treatment that may or may not be better than the existing ones. Some diseases may not have any existing treatment options and this can be life changing to the patient. Patients can get access to free medication, compensation for participating, and gain overall satisfaction that you are helping the advance of healthcare in the future.

Do I have to pay anything?

While the actual procedures pertaining to the clinical trial is generally paid by the sponsor conducting this clinical research, some clinical trials require specific medical prerequisites before being enrolled. For example, some patients must be scheduled to do a screening colonoscopy though their insurance before participating in a clinical trial for colon rectal cancer prevention. Some clinical trials will provide compensation, it may not cover the whole procedure. Please schedule a consult or contact us in order for us to determine your specific situation.

What will I have to do?

If it is determined that you are eligible to enroll in a clinical trial with us, you will be asked to come into our office, sign an informed consent form, and be screened to confirm you do qualify for the clinical trial. Most clinical trials will require us to ask questions about your medical history, social history, height and weight. Depending on the clinical trial, there will be other procedures performed such as blood draws, EKG, questionnaires, etc.

Who can participate in a clinical trial?

We currently have multiple clinical trials with different goals and purposes. All of our clinical trials are done with our PI, Alaa Abousaif M.D., who is focused on clinical trials in gastroenterology. Depending on the trial, patients will have specific inclusion and exclusion criteria that the patient needs to meet in order to participate. Subject may either be a healthy individual or an individual with a specific medical disease or condition.

Is my information being kept confidential?

The clinical research team takes extreme caution and effort to ensure that your information is kept confidential. We maintain HIPPA and your information will not be shared without your permission or except required by law. You can also revoke you permission to have access to your information at any time.

How long do visits last?

We do our best to accommodate your schedule. It is generally a least 20 minutes, but some may be up to a few hours depending on the visit and procedure. Visits may include signing an informed consent, assessing your medical and social history, collecting laboratory specimens, and conducting questionnaires. Some trials may include dispensing and administering medications and observation after which can prolong the visit length.