About the Clinical Research Department at Alexian Brothers Neurosciences Institute

What is a clinical trial?

A clinical research study, also called a clinical trial, tests the safety, effectiveness, and side effects of an investigational medicine(s) or an investigational device on a group of human volunteers. Each trial follows a pre-defined plan, or protocol, which describes what types of patients may enter the study, schedules of tests and procedures, drugs, dosages, and length of study, as well as outcomes that are measured. When carefully conducted, clinical trials are the safest and fastest way to find new and improved treatments that may treat the condition being studied.

Why participate in a clinical trial?

Participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own healthcare, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research. Additionally, since investigators are often specialists in the disease being studied, participants also receive expert medical care for the specific condition.

Who can participate in a clinical trial?

Since people respond differently to medicines and other treatments, it is important to include all kinds of people in a clinical research study. All clinical trials have guidelines about who can participate. Using inclusion/exclusion criteria is an important principle of medical research that helps to produce reliable results.

These criteria are based on such factors as:

• Age
• Gender
• The type and stage of a disease
• Previous and current treatment history
• Other medical conditions

A participant must qualify for the study before being consented for a clinical trial.

If you are interested in participating in a Clinical Trial, please call 847-593-8553 or email us.

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