Clinical Trials
Clinical research helps advance healthcare by evaluating new treatments, therapies, medical devices, and approaches to patient care. By participating in a clinical trial, you may have access to new treatments while helping improve care for others in the future.
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Browse research opportunities by area of care or search all clinical trials to narrow your results using filters.
What To Expect as a Participant
Clinical trials are research studies that help researchers learn more about new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat health conditions. Each study is different, and participating is always your choice.
Before you decide whether to participate, the research team will explain the study, including what you will be asked to do, possible risks and benefits, and how the study may affect your care. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions and take time to decide whether participation is right for you.
If you choose to take part, the research team will support you throughout the study and answer questions along the way. You can decide not to participate or leave a study at any time.
Learn more about participating in research
Learn about your rights as a research participant, informed consent, potential risks and benefits, questions to ask before joining a study and more.
Understand Clinical Trial Phases
Some clinical trials, particularly those studying new drugs, move through several phases. Each phase helps researchers learn more about a treatment's safety and effectiveness.
Phase I
Phase I of a clinical trial typically involves a small number of participants who are healthy control participants. Phase I trials are the first in humans, and they determine whether the product is safe for use.
Phase II
Phase II studies are larger studies that begin to identify appropriate doses and whether or not the drug has an effect in the target population.
Phase III
Phase III trials usually involve the largest study population. These trials gather data to determine whether the drug will receive FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approval or not.
Phase IV
Finally, phase IV studies are long-term safety studies that track the product or drug’s safety profile over many years. Phase IV trials are completed after an investigational product has FDA approval.
Clinical trials for investigational devices are also categorized based on the characteristics of the study. Device trials have pre-market and post-market studies that follow the same general process, first starting in smaller numbers of participants to determine safety and then moving into larger sample populations to study effectiveness.
Following FDA approval, some devices may have post-market studies to study long term safety, as well.
Explore Research at Carilion
Clinical trials are one part of Carilion's broader commitment to advancing healthcare through research and innovation. Explore the people, programs, resources, and partnerships that support research and discovery across Carilion.