Guides
Clinical trial guides
Short, sourced explainers to help you read study listings and talk with a study team. They are educational and are not medical advice.
- How clinical trials workWhat a clinical trial is, how studies are designed and overseen, what informed consent means and what to ask the study team before you join.Updated October 15, 2026
- Clinical trial phases explainedWhat Phase 1, 2, 3 and 4 trials are for, how many people they usually enroll and what 'Early Phase 1' and 'Not applicable' mean on ClinicalTrials.gov.Updated October 15, 2026
- Compensation in clinical trials: what to knowHow payment for research participation works, how FDA guidance shapes it, what research says about typical amounts and what costs insurance may cover.Updated October 15, 2026
- Informed consent: what the form must tell youWhat US regulations require a clinical trial consent form to cover, how consent is documented, and the questions to ask before you sign.Updated October 26, 2026
- How to find clinical trials near youHow to search ClinicalTrials.gov by condition and location, read eligibility criteria, contact study sites and use registries like ResearchMatch.Updated October 26, 2026
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, data processed . Recruiting US sites filtered by distance and site status; summaries shortened.