Clinical research is medical research that involves people like you. When you volunteer to take part in clinical research, you help doctors and researchers learn more about disease and improve health care for people in the future. Clinical research includes all research that involves people. (National Institutes of Health)
The Federal Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) offers information about research participation that provides basic information about human research, including clinical trials, medical research, and other kinds of research. They help potential research volunteers understand how research works, what questions they should ask, and things to think about when deciding whether to participate in a study.
Click here to view the OHRP videos about becoming a human research volunteer.
The NIH Clinical Trials and You website is a resource for people who want to learn more about clinical trials. Visit their Basics page and expand the questions listed on the page to read answers to common questions about taking part in a clinical trial.