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How can I benefit?

The benefits to participating in clinical trials

While there are many different types of clinical trials, with differing protocols and procedures, there are many important benefits you can receive when participating in clinical trials.

Medical and health-associated benefits

• Many trials include first-rate, extensive medical checkups and tests, free of charge.
• During the course of a clinical trial treatment, participants receive more regular and closer monitoring than they would receive during the course of a standard treatment.
• Participants have access to treatments and medication long before they are available to the public (often years).

Personal and Social benefits

• By participating in a trial, especially if you are ill, you are helping others with conditions similar to yours. In some cases you may be directly contributing to a cure.
• By participating, you are given the unique opportunity to contribute to the advancement of medical science.
• Exposure to the exciting field of medical research as a study volunteer is a unique and rewarding experience.

Financial benefits

• Some trials, typically "Phase I" trials, compensate volunteers well for the time they spend in the study.

Even though the safety of participants is given paramount priority in clinical trials, there are risks associated with participation. We suggest that you discuss these with the investigator (doctor) that is performing the trial you are considering. For more details on how a trial works, please see the short guide.

In a leaflet, published by the Medical Research Council in 2004, the importance of the volunteer in the research process is underscored:

"But most important of all are the people who volunteer to take part. They play an essential part in helping scientists to develop and test treatments for the benefit of everyone in the community."

Medical Research Council, Medical Research Leaflet, 2004