Resources for Research Volunteers

We hope that the following resources will help inform and educate individuals who are considering participation in a research study. The resources range from short brochures that cover the basic rights of research subjects and the questions a prospective volunteer should consider asking to in-depth documents concerning all aspects of clinical trials. Another valuable resource is a searchable database of clinical trials nationwide.

Recommended Resources:

1. So, you’re thinking about being in a research study? a UB brochure for prospective research volunteers that answers to some common questions regarding research participation at UB and its affiliates including the role of IRBs.

2. Bill of Rights for Research Participants from the University of Iowa. (http://research.uiowa.edu/hso/index.php?get=bill)

3. Becoming a Research Volunteer - Its Your Decision a brochure from the federal Office of Human Research Protection (OHRP).
(http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/outreach/documents/Brochure.htm)

4. Questions to Ask the Research Team - a University of California at San Francisco flyer that includes questions that apply to all research studies and questions specifically relevant to treatment studies involving new drugs, devices or other interventions.
(http://www.research.ucsf.edu/chr/Rol/volunteers_questions.pdf)

5. Should I Enroll in a Clinical Trial? - an in-depth patient reference guide for adult patients with life threatening illnesses who are thinking about enrolling in a clinical trial. Developed by the Emergency Care Research Institute, this guide provides checklists that may be useful during discussions with physicians and loved ones about whether to enter a clinical trial. (http://www.ecri.org/Patient_Information/Patient_Reference_Guide/prg.pdf)

6. Clinical Trials, a National Institutes of Health website, provides access to a database of active clinical trials. Clinical Trials can be used as a search engine to find clinical trials being conducted by medical condition, location of trials, and whether open or closed to recruitment. (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui;jsessionid=7683E09912765922895061B1E8038542).

7. The Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation offers information on clinical research participation and provides links to other related websites. (http://www.ciscrp.org).

8. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Clinical Trials Education Series provides resources for individuals and health care professionals to understand cancer related clinical trials, such as workbooks, videos, and booklets. (http://www.nci.nih.gov/clinicaltrials/resources/clinical-trials-education-series)