FAQs - Agile

If I want to volunteer for research how do I do it ?

Call our office and speak to a research coordinator.

Will I be monitored ?

Yes, with regular follow-up visits and evaluations.

What kind of medical care should I expect ?

As part of the clinical trial, research volunteers are given medical evaluations such as physical exams, monitored symptom reporting, progress evaluations, and diagnostic tests all at no cost.

Where will tests and exams be performed ?

Study testing is done mainly in our office. There are occasions when our associated physicians will use their private practice office for special tests.

Will there be any payment required on my part ?

No. You will receive all of your study-related medical care and diagnostic testing at no cost. Many studies include expensive tests such as an endoscopy, EKG, X-rays and complete blood work.

If I am given any medications, will I be told their names ?

Yes. During the study you will be informed of any medications you may be taking as well as any information pertaining to the medicine being investigated in the research study.

Is there a specific amount of time involved ?

No. Each clinical study is handled individually. Most do involve an initial exam and a few brief follow-up office visits.

Is my time compensated for ?

Yes. Financial compensation for your time and travel is provided for in most clinical studies.

Will qualified medical professionals be conducting the research study ?

Yes. All members of our research staff have advanced training and experience in the field of clinical research. All of our physicians are board certified in their respective fields.

Am I safe or am I just a "guinea pig" ?

The protection of your safety and rights are essential to conducting a clinical trial. The Institutional Review Board, (IRB) must grant approval to any doctor conducting a clinical trial. They also examine all study protocols to ensure patients rights

What are clinical trials and studies?

Clinical research is medical research involving people. There are two types, clinical studies and clinical trials.

Clinical studies (sometimes called observational studies) observe people in normal settings. Researchers gather information, group volunteers according to broad characteristics, and compare changes over time. For example, researchers may collect data through medical exams, tests, or questionnaires about a group of older adults over time to learn more about the effects of different lifestyles on cognitive health. Clinical studies may help identify new possibilities for clinical trials.

Clinical trials are research studies performed in people that are aimed at evaluating a medical, surgical, or behavioral intervention. They are the primary way that researchers find out if a new treatment, like a new drug or diet or medical device (for example, a pacemaker) is safe and effective in people. Often a clinical trial is used to learn if a new treatment is more effective and/or has less harmful side effects than the standard treatment.

Other clinical trials test ways to find a disease early, sometimes before there are symptoms. Still others test ways to prevent a health problem. A clinical trial may also look at how to make life better for people living with a life-threatening disease or a chronic health problem. Clinical trials sometimes study the role of caregivers or support groups.

Before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a clinical trial to begin, scientists perform laboratory tests and studies in animals to test a potential therapy’s safety and efficacy. If these studies show favorable results, the FDA gives approval for the intervention to be tested in humans.