There are several people you should find out about when you enter a clinical trial. First, there will be a study nurse or study coordinator. This will probably be the person that you deal with most often. He or she will probably explain the informed consent form to you, deal with some kinds of medical tests, and handle any minor problems that may come up during the trial, such as helping you to find transportation to the study site.
In addition, every study site will have a principle investigator (or "PI"). This person is the doctor who is running the study at your trial site. The PI may also give you medical examinations during the study, and will be responsible for dealing with any serious medical problems that come up as a result of your study participation.
Finally, every study site has an Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB is responsible for protecting the rights of people in a trial. It must approve every trial that is conducted at that institution, and must review the trial every few months. The IRB can stop a trial that doesn't do what it promised or one that exposes people to harm. You can complain to the IRB if you have a problem while in a trial.
When you sign the informed consent form, it is a good idea to get contact information for the study coordinator or study nurse, the principle investigator, and the chairman of the IRB. That way, if any problems come up during the study, you can easily contact the right person.
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