FAQ's
What
is a Clinical Study? Click Here for Answer
Why
Should I Participate? Click Here for Answer
What
can I expect? Click Here for Answer What
happens after the trial? Click Here for
Answer
How
Do I Participate? Click Here for Answer
What
studies are currently available? Click Here
for Answer
A
clinical trial is a carefully designed study that is done with people
like you who volunteer to receive investigational treatments under
close supervision by a physician and other research professionals.
Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have developed these
treatments. And these companies have then selected physicians,
also called investigators, who are qualified to conduct clinical
trials. It is through these trials that investigational drugs
may show their benefits.
The
clinical testing of an investigational drug is a step-by-step
process that ensures you receive careful medical attention.
All clinical trials are reviewed by the U.S. government's Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) and of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs).
IRBs
are independent committees whose job is to make sure your rights are
fully protected and that you are not exposed to any unnecessary
risks. IRBs also are responsible for ensuring you sign a
consent form before agreeing to participate in a trial.
Clinical
trials usually are conducted in three phases (I, II, III). A
small number of people participate in Phase I trials. Each
later phase involves a larger number of people.
In
a clinical trial, a volunteer is usually assigned a specific study
group. Sometimes volunteers in one study group will receive an
investigational treatment or study drug. Sometimes volunteers
will receive a placebo or a treatment already available.
A
placebo is an inactive product used to compare the results of the
study drug. You, your physician and your research staff may
not know who is receiving a placebo and who is not. In this
way, volunteers in a clinical trial can be observed by the physician
and research staff more fairly. Whether you receive the
placebo or the investigational drug, the level of medical attention
and care that you receive is the same.
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As
a volunteer in a clinical trial, you help in the development of
medical therapies--therapies that may offer better treatments and even
cures for life-threatening and chronic diseases.
People
volunteer to participate in a clinical trial for a number of
reasons. You may get involved in a trial because you simply
want to help in the advancement of science. Or you may be
suffering from a disease for which a good treatment does not exist
presently. You may join a clinical trial hoping to get
improved medical care. Or you may not have health insurance
and clinical trials are a way to get study-related medical care.
Whatever
reason you choose, you may have questions about clinical trials and
drug research. This website answers some of your questions.
You should also ask your physician and our research center's
staff any questions before you volunteer.
It's
important that you make an informed choice about volunteering for a
clinical trial.
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Once
you have enrolled in a study, you may receive a physical
examination. Your study physician or a research staff member
will review your medical history as well. A detailed
description of your specific clinical trial and what's expected of
you will be outlined in your consent form.
Physicians
and healthcare professionals that conduct clinical trials are
committed to providing you with quality patient care and medical
attention. You should feel free to discuss your medical
treatment with your investigator or any research staff member at any
time during the course of your clinical trial.
Your
safety is the number one priority in a clinical trial.
Therefore, it's important that you take all your medication as
prescribed, that you keep all of your scheduled visits, and that you
answer your investigator's questions regarding how you feel and
whether you've been taking your medication at the scheduled times.
Many
study volunteers appreciate the medical attention that they receive
when they participate. Your study investigator needs to record
any symptoms no matter how minor they may seem to you. If you
miss your medication or you haven't taken it on schedule, tell your
physician or research staff. Your input is valuable and
important.
When
you participate in a clinical trial, your privacy is
protected. Your medical records are confidential. The
trial data that is provided to the pharmaceutical company and the
FDA will not include your name or the names of other individuals
participating in the study.
As
a volunteer, you have the right to leave your study at any time, and
for any reason.
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When
a clinical trial ends, several things might happen. For a
serious illness, a pharmaceutical company might continue to provide
the study medication to those patients that are responding well.
On some occasions, a patient will stop receiving the investigational
treatment. In this case, a patient may have to wait for the drug
to become available to the public.
After
a study is complete, all of the information is collected and
analyzed. This information determines whether a study drug is
working, whether it is safe and whether it has any side effects.
FDA medical advisors and specialists closely review this data before
approving any new drug.
Even
after a drug is approved, pharmaceutical companies will continue to
conduct studies that compare the new drug-in terms of its safety,
effectiveness and cost-to other drugs already on the market.
Other research studies may determine if a therapy can be
administered to children or special populations. And some
studies assess a drug's long-term effectiveness and its impact on
the quality of a person's life.
Every
volunteer in a clinical trial is extremely valuable and important.
Without volunteers, there would be no new drugs to fight diseases
and ailments. By participating in a clinical trial, you are
helping yourself and others like you live longer and healthier lives
now and long into the future.
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First
you will need to fill out and submit either form provided on our FORM
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Please
note:
All
study patients receive at no cost: Physical assessments, Laboratory
tests, Patient education, Diet counseling, X-rays, and medication.
All results will be shared with the patients’ PCP upon request.
Stipends are usually based on the number of visits and paid upon
successful completion of the study.
717
Encino Place NE • Suite 24 Telephone (505) 224-7407
Fax
(505) 224-7404
Watch
for DENTAL studies coming soon to ACT
Pediatric
Diabetes Type II
This
is a research study for treatment of Type II Diabetes in children
ages 8 - 17. If you think your child might have problems with blood
sugar and is NOT currently taking any medication for it, He / she
may qualify for this study. The study will last approximately 24
weeks with 7 office visits. Each patient will receive no cost
medication, physical examinations, lab work, and extensive diabetic
education. A stipend of $575 will be paid to each patient upon
completion of the study. The study drug, Avandia®, has been
approved by the FDA for adult use.
Adult
Diabetes Type II
If
you have been diagnosed with type II diabetes and your current
treatment is diet, exercise, or an oral antidiabetic, you may
qualify for this study. Participants in this study will receive
no-cost medical examinations, electrocardiograms, laboratory
testing, medication, and diabetic education. You will receive
compensation for your time and travel during your participation in
this study.
Glaxo
SmithKline is conducting A Diabetes Outcome Progression
Trial (ADOPT). The purpose of this long term research
study is to compare the effects of three FDA approved medications on
Type II Diabetes (Adult Onset). To qualify you
must be 30 - 75 years of age, diagnosed with type II diabetes within
four months, and treating your diabetes with diet and exercise only.
A Stipend ($75 per visit for 21 visits, a total of $1575.00) will be
paid upon successful completion of study.
Hypertension
(High Blood Pressure)
Bristol
Meyer Squibb is sponsoring several Hypertension studies at this
time. If you have ever been diagnosed with high blood pressure
call the office and set up a no cost blood pressure screening to see
if you may qualify for any of these studies. Compensation
varies depending on which study you may qualify for.
Cholesterol
Have
you had your cholesterol checked lately? No!? You
can schedule a no cost cholesterol screening with our office.
If your cholesterol (LDLs) are high you may qualify for a study
sponsored by Bayer pharmaceutical company. This study is 26
weeks long with 10 scheduled office visits. This study will be
targeting Japanese Americans and Caucasians. You will be
compensated $300 upon completing the study.
O.P.E.R.A
(Omapatrilat in Persons with Enhanced Risk
of Atherosclerotic events). ACT is currently enrolling
patients in this five year cardiovascular research study with an
investigational drug designed to determine whether treating persons
65 years old and over with mildly elevated blood pressure and risk
factors for heart disease will reduce the risk of heart attack,
heart failure, or stroke. Men and women with a type of mildly
elevated blood pressure called Stage 1 isolated systolic
hypertension and other qualifying characteristics may be enrolled in
this study. This study could possibly entail eighteen visits with a
stipend of $30.00 per visit.
Community
Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)
If
you have a new or increased cough, change in sputum, change in
breath sounds, and a fever, you may qualify for this study. We are
looking for patients 16 years or older with community acquired
pneumonia to participate in this study. Patients will be provided
with medication (320mg Gemifloxicin ®), medical examination, chest
x-ray, and other laboratory testing. This study will require 4
visits to our office over a 5 week period. You will be compensated
$300 upon completion of this study.
Sinusitis
ACT
is looking for patients 16 years or older to participate in an acute
bacterial sinusitis trial conducted by SmithKline Beecham. This
study will be approximately 1 month in duration. If you have
respiratory signs and symptoms of a sinus infection for at least 3
days, but no longer than 28 days, you may qualify for this study.
Some signs of a sinus infection are: purulent nasal discharge,
facial pain, pressure and tightness over affected sinus (sinuses),
facial congestion/fullness, or nasal obstruction/blockage. Patients
will be provided with free medical examinations, radiological
testing, laboratory testing, and medication. The medication used
will be Augmentin SR®. You will be compensated $500 upon completion
of the study.
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