Clinical Studies 101

Here at The Cognitive Research Center of New Jersey, we are committed to excellence in clinical research. We want to make sure that you are educated as to what clinical research studies are, how they can help you, and where to go for more information.

What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a set of procedures conducted in medical research and drug development to make sure a new drug or device is safe and effective for a particular condition. These are the steps followed before the FDA will approve the new drug or device.

Participation in clinical trials allows access to medications and medical treatments that are not yet available to the general public. If you are going through treatment for a condition and are not satisfied with the results, a clinical trial might be a good option for you. Generally, the medication and examinations are provided at no cost and you may be reimbursed for your time and travel expenses.

Each clinical trial is unique. The physician conducting the clinical trial will be able to give you more detail on how many visits will be required, what you’ll need to do at home, etc., during the initial consultation.

It is important that you know as much about the trial as you can. Plan ahead and prepare a list of questions to ask in order to feel comfortable about participating in the clinical trial. Tests, exams, and follow up are very common procedures done throughout a clinical trial to ensure the safety of participants.

Benefits:

• Gain access to advanced medical care, new medications, and treatments not yet available to the general public
• Play an active role in your own health care
• Help others by contributing to medical research
• Get reimbursed for your time and expenses (available for some clinical trials)

Risks:

• Side effects can potentially be unpleasant and in some cases serious
• The treatment or medication may not prove to be effective
• The clinical trial may require a significant amount of time

Where Can I Go to Learn More?

To learn more about clinical research, visit CISCRP (The Center for Information & Study on Clinical Research Participation).

To learn more about clinical studies going on at The Cognitive Research Center of NJ, please visit or contact us to let us know which Alzheimer’s studies you are interested in. We’ll then notify you when a study becomes available.