Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to our FAQ section, where you can find answers to common questions about clinical trials. Learn about the purpose and benefits of clinical trials, safety measures, and the participant experience. Understand the eligibility criteria, the process of enrolling in a study, and what to expect during your participation. We also address concerns about risks, side effects, and what to do if you feel unwell. Additionally, we explain the different phases of clinical trials and what they mean. Whether you’re considering joining a trial or looking for more information, our FAQ section is here to help.
A clinical trial (also known as a clinical study) is a research project in which interventions are measured in human subjects to evaluate the effects on health-related outcomes. They are the primary way that researchers find out if a new treatment, like a new drug or diet or medical device is safe and effective in people. Often a clinical trial is used to learn if a new treatment is more effective and/or has less harmful side effects than the standard treatment.
Before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a clinical trial to begin, scientists perform laboratory tests and studies in animals to test a potential therapy’s safety and efficacy. If these studies show favorable results, the FDA gives approval for the intervention to be tested in humans.
There are many reasons why people choose to join a clinical trial. By being part of a clinical trial, participants may find out about new treatments before they are widely available. Some studies are designed for, or include, people who are healthy but want to help find ways to prevent a disease, such as one that may be common in their family.
Many people say participating in a clinical trial is a way to play a more active role in their own health care. Other people say they want to help researchers learn more about certain health problems. Whatever the motivation, when you choose to participate in a clinical trial, you become a partner in scientific discovery. And, your contribution can help future generations lead healthier lives. Major medical breakthroughs could not happen without the generosity of clinical trial participants—young and old.
Researchers and the FDA have determined that the vaccine is safe enough to be tested in human patients. Protecting the safety and human rights of clinical trial patients is universally recognized as the critical requirement to the ethical conduct of research involving human subjects. Researchers are required to follow strict rules to make sure that participants are safe. At Century Research , we have a dedicated and compassionate medical staff including doctors, nurses, and dieticians who closely monitor and respond to the health and well-being of trial participants.
Although efforts are made to control risks to clinical trial participants, some risk may be unavoidable because of the uncertainty inherent in clinical research involving new medical products. It’s important that people make their decision to participate only after they have a full understanding of the entire process and the risks that may be involved.
1. If you participate in a vaccine trial, trial staff will meet with you often to make sure you are doing okay. They will ask about symptoms or changes in your health. This type of support may not be available if you get the vaccine outside of a trial.
2. We don’t know if the vaccine works well in all age groups. We still need to know if the vaccine is effective in children.
3. Some vaccines may work better with different groups of people. We need to continue to conduct vaccine trials to identify which one may work best for you.
4. One manufacturer alone will not be able to meet global vaccine needs. Having other vaccines will help to insure everyone has access to the vaccine.
5. It will be important to continue developing new versions of the vaccine as the virus changes over time.
6. Some vaccines may work better in certain situations. For instance, some vaccines may need special freezers to keep them cold. Others may work just fine in a regular refrigerator. This means we need to have as many of these different types of vaccines as possible. We need more people to participate in trials to test these different vaccines. This will all help to make sure everyone has the same chance to get a vaccine.
You can sign up for any of our current studies here. You will need to enter personal details, including whether or not you have participated in a trial before and any medications that you are currently taking.
Anyone who is at least 18-years-old, generally healthy, and well-managed on medications may be eligible to participate in a study, although sometimes there are additional exclusionary criteria.