How to Enter Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are crucial to the development of treatments and drugs for cystic fibrosis and other chronic conditions. Clinical trials involve exposing human participants to new and experimental treatments and drugs to test their effectiveness. Although there are always risks associated with participation, getting involved in clinical trials can give you first access to new developments. Many offer incentives such as free medical treatments.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Complete medical history

Enter Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Trials

1. Decide why you want to enter a clinical trial. For example, you may want access to drugs that are not available to the public, or you may simply want to take a more active role in your treatment.

2. Contact a care center near you about their research opportunities. You should contact one that is accredited by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

3. Ask about the benefits and risks associated with participating in any clinical trial.

4. Ask questions or express concerns you have before deciding to participate in a clinical trial.

5. Consent to a physical exam and screening. The results will indicate whether you qualify for a particular clinical trial.

6. Give informed consent before participating. This means becoming completely informed about the clinical trial before becoming involved.

7. Remind yourself that participation is always voluntary and that you can back out of a trial even after you have started.

Tips & Warnings

• Go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to find an accredited care center near you for information on clinical trials (see Resources below).
• See a list of available clinical trials at Clinicaltrials.gov (see Resources below).
• Once you decide to enter a clinical trial, rest assured that you will not go through the process alone. The research team running the trial works with each participant through the whole study.
• You do not necessarily have to have cystic fibrosis to participate in a clinical trial. Some studies also examine the effects of treatments on healthy people. See the trial guidelines to determine whether you qualify.
• Adults must give informed consent before participating in clinical trials, while children need the informed consent of their parents.
• During a clinical trial, it is important to follow directions to the letter and to inform the supervising doctor of any concerns or changes in condition. Otherwise, you may compromise the results of the study.
• Risks of clinical trial participation may include side effects of the tested drug, receiving a drug that will not work or having to travel to the trial location.

Resources

• Accredited care centers at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
• Clinicaltrials.gov for a list of clinical trials.

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