Questions people ask

Research that tests whether a treatment, a device or a way of caring for people works and is safe. Every treatment you can get today was tested in studies first.

Every study is reviewed by an ethics board before it starts, and is watched while it runs. Studies can have risks and side effects, and the study team explains them before you agree to anything. You can ask them anything.

Something that looks like the treatment but has no medicine in it, given to some people so the results can be compared. In many studies you won't know which one you get. A study's page says whether it uses a placebo, when the study has said.

No. Many studies need healthy volunteers, and you can say you'd like to hear about those when you sign up, with or without a condition.

LocalTrial is free, and studies don't charge you to take part. Ask the study team what the study covers, and about your insurance, before you agree.

Many studies pay for your time and travel. A study that pays says so on its page and on its card, and the study team can tell you how much.

It's a good idea. You keep your own doctor while you take part, and they can help you decide. Ask the study team whether the study changes any of the medicines you take.

Yes. Applying is not agreeing to take part, and you can leave a study at any time, for any reason.

We text you a confirmation. Most studies ask a few yes-or-no questions, which go only to that site. Then someone from the study team calls you to talk it through, and nothing happens unless you agree. How it works

Sites call the people whose answers fit the study. A study can fill up, or need people different from you, so not everyone is called, and that says nothing about you. The studies you applied to are listed in your account.

You choose: within 10, 25 or 50 miles of your ZIP code, or any distance. Each study shows how far its nearest location is from you.

We add studies as research sites join. Come back to see what's new, or say you'd travel further.

Yes. Choose “Someone I care for” when you start: a parent for a child, say, or someone helping a parent.

No research site sees your profile. A site sees your details when you apply to one of its studies, and only for that study, and other sites never see that you applied. We never sell your information or use it for advertising.

Studies are open to certain ages, and some only to women or only to men. We use these to suggest studies you could take part in.

It confirms you're a real person, it's how you sign in, with a code instead of a password, and it's how the site you apply to reaches you.

Reply STOP to any text from us.

Yes, at any time, from your profile once you've signed in.