UAB St. Vincent’s Clinical Research

UAB St. Vincent’s Clinical Research conducts medical research trials that may lead to better care outcomes for patients. Our Clinical Research Department is committed to improving the health and wellness of our patients and communities through discovery, development, and cutting-edge care.

Clinical research trials test the safety and effectiveness of new therapies in a controlled environment with volunteer participants. These may include promising new medications, medical devices, or surgical techniques. Clinical trials are an important part of advancing medicine and improving care, and they give volunteers access to treatments that are not available elsewhere.

Our researchers participate in clinical trials supported by the government, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and/or medical device companies. We also conduct our own independent research.

Volunteering

The advancements made through clinical research would not be possible without volunteers. Your participation may or may not help you personally, but the results of the research can advance medicine and help others in the future.

It is up to each person to decide if he/she wants to be in a research study, and participation is always voluntary. Participants can remove themselves from a clinical trial at any time, for any reason.

The benefits of participating in clinical trials include:

• Helping doctors better understand diseases, develop new treatments, and expand existing knowledge, leading to better health care outcomes for everyone
• Access to cutting-edge treatments that are not available to the general public, potentially improving patient outcomes
• Personalized health care, with treatment options tailored to your specific health needs
• Close medical monitoring, which can lead to early detection of health problems and better health management

Understanding clinical trials

Before you decide to participate, be sure that you understand the research study and its risks and responsibilities. Our researchers will provide information that can answer many common questions, such as: 

• Who can participate in clinical trials?
• How can I decide if a trial is right for me?
• What is informed consent?
• Is it safe for me to participate in a clinical trial?
• What questions should I ask before I volunteer for a clinical trial?
• What happens to the information gathered in the study?

During the trial, participants are watched closely by their care team for side effects from the treatment or medication being tested.

To learn more about clinical trials at UAB St. Vincent’s, please call 205-212-6031.