Clinical trial guides
Plain-language explainers for patients, caregivers, and anyone navigating US clinical research, how trials work, your rights, the phases, and how to find a study for your condition.
According to ClinicalTrials.gov, the NIH registry maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the registry catalogs more than 500,000 studies worldwide since 1997, with the FDA Amendments Act (FDAAA) of 2007 requiring registration for most studies of FDA-regulated products. These guides cover the federal regulations, informed consent, sponsor types, and patient rights. See our methodology for data sources.
Clinical trials are research studies that test medical treatments, devices, or interventions in people. These guides explain how trials work, your rights as a participant, and how to find studies for your condition. All information is for educational purposes, consult your healthcare provider before joining any trial.
Explore the data
Guides provide context. For the trial data itself, explore conditions, sponsors, and states.
How these guides are written
Our guides explain US clinical research in plain language. Trial figures shown across the site come directly from ClinicalTrials.gov; the regulatory facts in these guides are drawn from public federal rules, the FDA Amendments Act, 21 CFR Part 50 (informed consent), and 45 CFR 46 (the Common Rule) - which are cited inline where relevant.
These are educational explainers, not medical advice. For how the underlying trial data is sourced and refreshed, see our methodology, and always confirm specifics with your healthcare provider and the live study record on ClinicalTrials.gov.