How to Find a Paid Clinical Trial

If you are interested in participating in a paid clinical trial, the first step is to find a trial located in your area. You can search for clinical trials by location—for instance, you can search for all trials taking place in your state or, if desired, narrow the list to trials held in a particular city.

Once you have a list of clinical trials in your area, you’ll need to check individual studies to see if you fit the eligibility criteria. Click on the study title to open the study description in a new window. First, take a look at the ELIGIBILITY section. This lists the trial’s inclusion/exclusion criteria. If there are no items that rule you out as a participant, you may be able to participate in the study.

The ELIGIBILITY section also provides information on whether the study accepts healthy volunteers. With very few exceptions, healthy volunteers are paid for their time and effort when they participate in a clinical trial. Some trials also pay volunteers who have the condition being studied.

If you have a particular medical condition, such as asthma or depression, you may qualify for a paid clinical trial that deals with your condition. Begin by searching for trials by location, as described above. Click on individual study descriptions to find clinical trials that address your medical condition.

To learn more about a clinical trial, read over the PURPOSE and INTERVENTION sections. These sections provide more detail about the study and describe what participants will do during the study.

Although the trial descriptions found in the government database do not include specific information on payment, you can often learn more about volunteer compensation by visiting the sponsoring organization’s web site. For instance, the National Jewish Health web site describes current clinical trials, volunteer qualifications, what volunteers receive during the study (such as medical treatment or free medication), and whether compensation is provided.

If you find a clinical trial that looks like a good fit, you can obtain full details by contacting one of the study’s researchers. Contact information can be found in the CONTACTS AND LOCATIONS section. The researcher will be able to answer any questions about the trial, help determine whether you qualify to participate, and give you specific information about payment, participation requirements, and other benefits or risks of participation.