Clinical Trials
Northwestern Medicine has an ever-changing list of clinical trials. Patients in these trials may have access to innovative treatments and medications that are not widely available. They also help make the future of medicine better.
Why Join a Clinical Trial?
If you join a clinical trial, you may have access to therapies and treatments that you cannot get outside of the trial. We use what we learn from clinical trials to find ways to help people live better. We offer:
- Access to innovative clinical trials
- Clinical studies in a broad range of specialties
- New alternative treatments and experimental medications that are not widely available
- An affiliation with Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago1
- Opportunities to play an active role in your own health care and participate in research to provide hope and healing to others, long into the future
- Quality medical care at award-winning hospitals
Clinical Trial Categories
Understanding Clinical Trials
Through clinical trials, care teams better understand how to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases and medical conditions. These studies test and compare experimental drugs, medical devices and techniques. Care teams learn how to bring beneficial new treatments to patients.
Most medications and medical devices being used today began in clinical trials to test their safety and effectiveness.
Clinical Trial Participation
Clinical trials and the people who volunteer for them help shape the future of medicine. Whether to apply to take part in a clinical trial is up to you. To help you decide, ask your care team:
- What will happen to me during the study?
- How might this study affect my daily life?
- Will there be any side effects?
- Can I leave the research study at any point?
- Will the results of the study be provided to me?
- How is my safety ensured and protected?
- Will this be covered by my insurance?
Benefits and Risks
Northwestern Medicine reviews all potential clinical trials before making them available to you. Still, be sure you understand the possible benefits and risks to participating in any given clinical trial.
Possible Benefits
- Help test medications, medical devices and treatments that can help people around the world now and in the future
- Play an active role in your own care
- Gain access to new treatments before they are available to the public
- Get world-class care at a leading healthcare facility
Possible Risks
- Unpleasant, serious or life-threatening side effects
- Treatments or therapies may not be effective
- Participation in a clinical trial may require more time and attention than standard care
Related Resources
Conflict of Interest Research (PDF)Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital is a collaborative program between Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and Lurie Children's and its affiliated physician groups. The physicians participating in this program are neither agents nor employees of Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital or Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital.