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Introducing NMDP, formerly known as the National Marrow Donor Program and Be The Match. Our name has changed but our mission has not: We save lives through cell therapy. Learn More

Finding and Joining a Clinical Trial

Finding a trial, enrolling in it and starting treatment could take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. One of our clinical trial navigators can help you through this. To give you an idea of what to expect, here are some of the key steps in the process:

1. Gather information. This is important for the search process. If you don’t know all of this information already, you may need to look into your medical records or ask your doctor. 
  • Your age 
  • The specific type of disease 
  • Previous treatments you’ve had 
  • Any other health problems that may need to be considered, like heart or kidney problems 
  • Any special features of the disease, like specific markers of the cancer cells or genetic mutations

2. Search for clinical trials. There are over 1,200 clinical trials listed on our website, so knowing the information above can help narrow down the trials that may be a fit for you. If you’re interested in certain types of treatment, we can focus the search to those specific treatments. Other times, we can read through all of the trial options and talk about the differences with you.

3. Talk with your doctor about your options. After some trials have been identified, print out the trial descriptions and talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of each trial option, as well as any other treatment options. Your doctor can help you decide on the best treatment option for you. 

4. Talk with the clinical trial coordinator. If you want to move forward with a trial, we can help you contact the clinical trial coordinator. They can help you understand the clinical trial treatment and gather any necessary medical records. They can also help make an appointment for you to meet with the clinical trial doctor. 

5. Talk with your insurance company. Before you agree to join a trial, ask your insurance company to help you figure out how to pay for the clinical trial. In addition to the cost of treatment, there may be travel costs, too. Apply for this grant to help pay for some travel costs.  

6. Go through informed consent process. If you’re eligible for the trial and you’re still interested in joining, you’ll go through an informed consent process. The clinical trial coordinator will help you understand the treatment journey and what to expect. Then, you will have some tests done to make sure the trial is as safe as possible for you to join. 

As you can see, the process can be very complex and time consuming. But that’s what we’re here for! We can help you with as much or as little of the process as you’d like. Call one of our Clinical Trial Navigators at 1 (888) 814-8610 or email contact@ctsearchsupport.org