Learning how to sign up for clinical trials is simpler than many people expect. Most volunteers start by searching a trial database or a research center’s website, then call or fill out a form for a study that looks like a fit. From there, the study team guides you through a short pre-screening, an informed consent discussion, and a screening visit to confirm you qualify.
This guide covers each step in order, what to bring, and what happens if a study turns out not to be the right match. If you are still deciding whether a trial is right for you, our guide on why people participate in clinical trials covers the benefits and risks in detail.
Key Takeaways
To sign up for a clinical trial, find a study that fits your condition and location, review its listing, and contact the study team. A short pre-screening checks basic fit. You then review and sign an informed consent form before a screening visit confirms whether you qualify. Signing up never obligates you to join.
The Clinical Trial Sign-Up Process at a Glance
- Get clear on what you are looking for
- Search for studies that are enrolling
- Read the study listing
- Contact the study team
- Complete a pre-screening
- Review and sign the informed consent form
- Attend a screening visit
- Enroll and begin the study
Step 1: Get Clear on What You Are Looking For
A few minutes of planning makes the search much easier. Start with your condition or diagnosis, since most studies are organized that way. Then think about practical limits, such as how far you can travel, how often you could attend visits, and whether weekday appointments fit your work or family schedule.
It also helps to talk with your doctor early. Your doctor knows your health history, may already know of studies in your area, and can help you think through how a trial might fit with your current treatment. You do not usually need a referral to sign up, but your doctor’s input can save time.
Step 2: Search for Studies That Are Enrolling
Several reliable places list clinical trials that are looking for volunteers:
- Research center websites. Sites that run trials post their open studies directly. You can view the current clinical studies at the Lehigh Center for Clinical Research.
- ClinicalTrials.gov. This federal database lets you search by condition and location. Filter for studies marked “Recruiting” so you only see trials currently accepting volunteers.
- ResearchMatch. This free volunteer registry, supported by the National Institutes of Health, works in reverse. You create a profile, and researchers whose studies may fit contact you through the platform.
- The NIH Clinical Center. The research hospital of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, lists its own studies, including many for healthy volunteers.
- Your doctor or specialist. Physicians sometimes hear about local studies before they are widely advertised.
If you see a study advertised on social media or in a local ad, confirm it through the research site’s own website or its ClinicalTrials.gov listing before sharing personal information.
Step 3: Read the Study Listing
A study listing gives you enough information to decide whether it is worth a call. Look for these details:
- Enrollment status. “Recruiting” means the study is accepting volunteers. “Active, not recruiting” means it is underway but closed to new participants.
- Condition and purpose. What the study is testing and who it is for.
- Phase. Where the treatment is in the testing process. Our overview of what is a clinical study explains each phase.
- Key eligibility criteria. Usually age range, diagnosis, and a few major requirements.
- Location and time commitment. Where visits happen and roughly how long the study lasts.
- Contact information. A phone number, email, or online form for the study team.
Public listings summarize the eligibility criteria rather than showing the full list. If a study looks close to a fit, reach out anyway. The study team is in the best position to tell you whether you might qualify.
Step 4: Contact the Study Team
Reach out by phone, email, or the site’s online application form. The person you speak with is often a study coordinator, a staff member who manages scheduling and answers questions for volunteers.
A first call is a low-pressure conversation. The coordinator can explain what the study involves, how many visits it requires, and whether there is compensation for time or travel. Asking questions or scheduling a screening does not commit you to joining.
Step 5: Complete a Pre-Screening
Many research sites start with a short pre-screening questionnaire, completed online or over the phone. It asks about basics such as your age, diagnosis, current medications, and major health conditions, so the team can tell whether a full screening visit makes sense.
Answer as completely and honestly as you can. Details that seem minor, such as a supplement you take or a recent change in medication, can affect whether a study is safe for you. If you have questions about how your pre-screening answers will be stored or used, ask before you share them.
Step 6: Review and Sign the Informed Consent Form
Before any tests are done solely to check your eligibility, the study team will go over the informed consent form with you. FDA guidance on screening tests requires consent before any clinical procedure performed only to determine research eligibility, including stopping a medication in preparation for a study.
The consent discussion covers the purpose of the study, what happens at each visit, the possible risks and benefits, and your right to leave at any time. Take the time you need. You can bring the form home, share it with family or your doctor, and come back with questions. Our guide on participating in clinical trials includes a list of questions worth asking at this stage.
Step 7: Attend the Screening Visit
The screening visit confirms whether you meet the study’s full eligibility criteria. Depending on the study, it may include a medical history review, a physical exam, blood work, an electrocardiogram (a test that records the heart’s electrical activity), and interviews or questionnaires about your symptoms. Some screenings take a single visit, while others span two or more.
Bring the following to make the visit go smoothly:
- A complete list of your medications, including doses, over-the-counter products, and supplements
- A list of past treatments for your condition, with approximate dates and how well each one worked
- Names and contact information for your doctors, in case the team needs records
- A photo ID and any paperwork the coordinator asked you to bring
- Your questions, written down so you do not forget them
Step 8: Enroll and Begin the Study
If the screening results confirm you qualify and you still want to take part, you are enrolled. Many studies begin with a baseline visit, where the team records your starting measurements before any study treatment begins. In randomized trials, this is also when you are assigned to a study group.
From there, you follow the visit schedule described in the protocol. For a closer look at what participation involves, including placebos, blinding, and follow-up, see how a clinical study works.
What If You Don’t Qualify?
Not qualifying for a study is common, and it says nothing about your health or your value as a volunteer. Eligibility criteria are written to answer one specific research question safely, so a person who is a poor fit for one study may be a strong fit for another. Ask the coordinator whether the site has other studies you could be considered for, or whether you can be contacted when a new one opens.
To learn why studies set the criteria they do and what your options are after a screen-out, read our guide to clinical trial eligibility and inclusion and exclusion criteria.
How Long Does It Take to Sign Up for a Clinical Trial?
The timeline from first contact to your first study visit varies. Some volunteers complete pre-screening, consent, and screening within a week or two. Others wait longer while lab results come back, records arrive from another doctor, or a required waiting period passes. Many protocols set a screening window, a set number of days in which all screening steps must be completed, and the coordinator will walk you through that schedule.
Signing Up for a Mental Health Study
Signing up for a psychiatric study follows the same steps, with a few differences worth knowing ahead of time. Screening often includes a longer interview with a trained clinician about your symptoms, history, and past treatments, so plan for the visit to take a few hours.
Some protocols require a period off certain medications before the study begins. Because that step counts as part of the research, it only happens after you give informed consent, and it should always be coordinated between the study doctor and your own prescriber. Never stop a psychiatric medication on your own.
It is fine to bring a family member or friend to your screening visit. If you are in crisis, though, a clinical trial is not the right first step. Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or contact your doctor or local emergency services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost anything to sign up for a clinical trial?
Signing up and completing screening typically costs nothing. Many studies also cover study-related medications, tests, and visits, and some offer compensation for time or travel. Ask the coordinator to explain costs and payments before your screening visit.
Do I need a doctor’s referral to join a clinical trial?
Most studies do not require a referral, and you can contact a research site directly. Some studies may ask for records from your doctor to confirm your diagnosis or medical history.
Can I sign up for more than one clinical trial at a time?
You can contact and screen for more than one study, but you can usually take part in only one interventional trial at a time. Many studies also exclude people who recently finished another trial, so be sure to tell each study team about any recent research participation.
Does signing up mean I have to participate?
No. Contacting a study team, completing a pre-screening, and even signing the consent form all leave you free to decline or withdraw at any point, without penalty.
Starting the Sign-Up Process With LCCR
The easiest way to begin is to look at what is enrolling now and reach out with your questions. A coordinator can tell you what a study involves and whether a pre-screening makes sense for you.
Browse enrolling clinical studies in Allentown, PA at the Lehigh Center for Clinical Research or contact our research team to get started.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always talk with a qualified healthcare provider about your individual health questions and before making any changes to your care. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Screening Tests Prior to Study Enrollment: Guidance for Institutional Review Boards and Clinical Investigators. 1998.
- ResearchMatch. ResearchMatch volunteer registry.
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. Search the Studies.
- ClinicalTrials.gov, National Library of Medicine. Search for clinical studies.
