Main ContentHow to Participate in Clinical Trials and Research
Researchers at UMMC are committed to discovering new and innovative ways to prevent and treat the diseases that affect our daily lives, with the ultimate goal to improve the well-being of our families, friends, communities and future generations. However, we cannot do it alone. Your participation is vital to the advancement of medicine and our vision to create “a healthier Mississippi.”
By volunteering to become a study participant, you can learn more about your health and participate in opportunities that may improve the health of our communities and future generations.
Complete basic information using the form above, and a research professional may contact you to provide more information about available studies at UMMC. Whether to participate is always your choice.
Benefits of becoming a clinical trials participant
Partnering with UMMC’s researchers may have many advantages, including:
- Gaining access to investigational treatments
- Increasing knowledge about your own health
- Giving the gift of improved health to our communities and future generations
- Contributing to the advancement of science by helping researchers learn more about how the human body and mind work or by helping find a cure or better treatments for diseases
Deciding to volunteer
There are different ways to participate in UMMC’s clinical research programs. You may be asked to participate in a survey or questionnaire or you may need to visit the hospital, doctor’s office or participate via our telehealth network.
Types of participation can include:
- Completing a questionnaire about health or behaviors, or answering questions in an interview with researchers
- Donating blood or a tissue sample
- Enrolling in a clinical trial to find out if new therapies are safe and effective
- Helping researchers understand how the healthy body works
Understanding the risks
Clinical research can have risks, just like routine medical care and the activities of daily living. While some of the risks are minor, other risks are more serious. Some clinical research participants may experience complications that require medical attention. It is rare for people to be seriously injured or die from complications related to clinical trial participation. When considering whether to participate in a clinical trial, it’s important to understand:
- The possible risks of being in the study
- The level of risk or harm
- The chance of that risk or harm happening
The risks of a specific research study are described in detail in the informed consent form and will be explained to you by the study team. The study team will also explain the purpose of the study and what will happen while you are in it and will answer any questions you have.