Why Participate in Clinical Trials?
People join clinical trials for all kinds of reasons. Some are searching for a treatment option they haven't found anywhere else. Others want to help build a better future for people facing the same diagnosis. Many simply want to give back.
Here are the stories we hear most often from our clinical trial participants. We hope they help you think about what joining a clinical trial could mean for you.
What Draws People to Join Clinical Research Studies?
Access to Novel, Cutting-Edge Treatments
For many patients, a clinical trial opens a door that standard treatment hasn't. Maybe a standard therapy hasn't worked, or it has been hard to access in the first place. Clinical trials give patients with health conditions a chance to try new treatments that aren't available to the public yet, often years before they hit the market. For someone who has run out of options, that chance can mean everything.
Advancing Medical Knowledge for Future Generations
Many people think of a family member or friend when they consider a clinical trial. They picture what that person went through and want to spare someone else the same struggle. When these people volunteer, they help move medical research forward for the next patient, and the one after that. It's a way to honor what a loved one experienced and turn it into something that helps others.
Giving Back to the Community
Many participants join a trial simply because they want to contribute. They see it as a meaningful way to spend their time and energy and think about the broader impact: a treatment that could one day help thousands of people or a vaccine that could protect a whole community. This kind of generosity shapes so many of the trials we run.
The Numerous Benefits Clinical Study Participants Appreciate Along the Way
Opportunities To Learn More About Your Health
Clinical trial participation comes with a level of attention most people don't get in a typical doctor's visit. Whether you're managing a condition or joining as a healthy volunteer, you'll receive closer monitoring and more frequent check-ins as part of the study procedures. That extra attention can add up to a more complete picture of your health and education around what you can do to improve your daily life.
A Sense of Community
Trials bring people together in ways that surprise a lot of participants. As part of patient care, our research team gets to know you. We've had participants describe our site as a second family, and that means a lot to us. That connection often becomes one of the most memorable parts of the experience.
Compensation for Your Time & Investment
Participating in a clinical trial takes time, and we recognize that. Most studies offer compensation to help cover the time, travel, and effort involved. It's a benefit many research participants appreciate alongside everything else the experience offers.
Hear the ‘Why’ From Some of Our Trial Participants
The reasons above capture what draws people to clinical research. These three trial participants share their why.
Meet Ari Altman
After joining a COVID vaccine study, Ari found himself asking what he could do next to give back. That question led him to a trial with the potential to treat chronic heartburn he'd managed for years. Hear Ari describe how clinical research became his way of contributing to a healthier future for others.
Meet Sylvester Thompson
Sylvester came to Remington-Davis as a participant living with diabetes and left with more than care. He gained knowledge, confidence, and a stronger sense of control over his own health. He's since taken part in several studies and calls RDI the best research site in the city.
Meet Faith Simmons
Faith put it simply: her first visit to Remington-Davis felt like a vacation. From the warm welcome to the staff who treated her like family, she found clinical research to be far more personal than she expected. That feeling brought her back for additional studies.
Participate in a Clinical Trial at Remington-Davis
As an independent clinical research site, Remington-Davis offers the kind of personalized, patient-first experience that's hard to find at a larger network location. Our team gets to know each participant, supports you through every step of the study, and treats your questions and concerns as a priority at every touchpoint.
We have many clinical trials currently enrolling across various therapeutic areas. Find the right fit for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About How Participating in Clinical Trials Works
Why are clinical trials important, and what does that mean for me as a participant?
Clinical trials are how new treatments get tested, refined, and approved for wider use. As a participant, you get an early seat at that process. You gain access to next-generation care, close monitoring from a dedicated team, and the chance to shape better outcomes for people facing the same condition in the future.
How does the clinical trial protocol shape the care I receive?
Every study follows a clinical trial protocol, a detailed plan that lays out eligibility criteria, your visit schedule, the tests you'll receive, and how your health will be monitored throughout. That structure works in your favor. It means your care follows a clear, consistent plan, and nothing about your monitoring is left to chance.
What does informed consent give me as a participant?
Before you enroll, you'll review and sign an informed consent form that walks through the study's purpose, procedures, and any risks in plain language. You'll have the chance to ask questions and take time to decide. That process puts you in control from the very first conversation, and it stays in place throughout the study.
Will I find out the results of the study I participated in?
Many studies share trial results with participants once the trial wraps up, and your study team can tell you what to expect for the trial you join. It's one more way participation can add to your own understanding of your health, even after your visits are complete.
Can joining one trial lead to other opportunities down the road?
Often, yes. Many of our participants come back for future studies once they've had a good first experience. Once you're part of our research community, we can notify you of future studies that fit your interests or health needs later on.