Clinical Trials 101

If you are new to clinical research, this section will cover the basics of clinical trials. You will learn how your or your child's safety will be protected, why you might want to participate, and how to find a clinical trial.

What You Need To Know

Blog Post

Clinical Trial Finder

Find out about clinical trials in your area by using the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Clinical Trial Finder.

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  1. Article

    Why Participate in a Clinical Trial?

    Clinical trials (or studies) are critical to developing new treatments for cystic fibrosis. When you are considering whether you or your child should participate in a clinical trial, you must consider the risks and the benefits.

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  2. Article

    Patient Safety Is a Priority

    Nothing is more important than patient safety in developing new treatments for cystic fibrosis. The U.S. government requires that all clinical trials are supervised for safety, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation adds additional measures to protect study volunteers.

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  3. Article

    How Do Clinical Trials Work?

    Each clinical trial has a study sponsor and a protocol. Potential drugs must move through four well-defined phases of testing in patients.

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  1. Article

    Informed Consent: Your Rights Are Protected

    Choosing to volunteer in a cystic fibrosis study is a personal decision. Through a process called informed consent, people with CF and their families can find out all the information they need, get answers to their questions, and learn key facts about a clinical study.

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  2. Article

    Clinical Trials Versus Studies: Is There a Difference?

    A clinical trial is one of two main types of clinical studies. A clinical trial tests (or tries out) an intervention -- a potential drug, medical device, activity, or procedure -- in people. It also is referred to as an interventional clinical study.

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  3. Article

    Children With CF and Clinical Trials: What a Parent Needs to Know

    Patient safety is a priority in clinical trials, and special precautions are taken to ensure children’s safety. It is important to involve your child in the decision-making process about whether to join a trial.

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  4. Explainer

    How Do I Find a Clinical Trial and Stay Informed?

    Your care team can help you consider the pros and cons of whether participation in a clinical trial is right for you or your child. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Clinical Trial Finder is a great way to find clinical trials you or your child might be interested in. You can also sign up for email alerts when new trials are beginning.

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  5. Article

    Data Safety Monitoring Board

    The primary responsibility of the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board is to protect the safety and welfare of people who participate in clinical trials approved by the Therapeutics Development Network.

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  6. Download

    CF Clinical Trials: Blaze a Trail to a Cure

    Learn about the importance of clinical trials, the potential benefits and risks of participating, and what you can do to help pave the way to new treatments and a cure for cystic fibrosis.

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  7. Blog Post

    How an Experimental Drug Becomes an Approved Therapy

    Ever wondered what it takes for a potential cystic fibrosis drug to become approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration? Here's an explanation of the four phases of clinical research.

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Find a Clinical Trial

Help us blaze a trail to better treatments and a cure for CF. Find a clinical trial that may be right for you.

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