How to Find Clinical Trials for Your Condition

A step-by-step guide to searching ClinicalTrials.gov, understanding eligibility, and preparing questions for your doctor.

By Victor Lafforgue, Founder of TrialsAlert. See our editorial policy for how we source and review content.

What are clinical trials and why do they matter?

Clinical trials are research studies that test new treatments, drugs, procedures, or devices in human volunteers. They are the foundation of every medical advance. Before any treatment reaches your pharmacy or hospital, it must go through clinical trials to prove it is safe and effective. For patients, clinical trials represent an opportunity to access treatments that are not yet widely available. This is particularly important for conditions where existing treatments are limited, have significant side effects, or have stopped working. There are currently over 400,000 clinical trials registered worldwide on ClinicalTrials.gov, the largest public database of clinical studies maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Hundreds of new trials are added every week, making it nearly impossible for any individual patient or caregiver to stay current without automated monitoring.

How to search ClinicalTrials.gov

ClinicalTrials.gov is maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and is free and open to the public. Start by entering your condition in the search bar using the medical name if you know it. Use the "Recruiting" filter to see only trials currently accepting new participants. Each trial listing includes the study purpose, eligibility criteria, locations, and contact information. Pay attention to the trial phase, as it tells you how far along the research is. Phase 1 tests safety in 20-100 people, Phase 2 tests efficacy in 100-300, Phase 3 is large-scale testing in 1,000-3,000+ patients, and Phase 4 monitors long-term effects after approval.

Understanding eligibility criteria

Eligibility criteria define who can and cannot participate in a trial. Inclusion criteria describe characteristics you must have, for example "adults aged 18-75 with confirmed type 2 diabetes." Exclusion criteria describe characteristics that prevent participation, such as "currently receiving insulin therapy" or "history of heart disease." If you are unsure whether you qualify, contact the trial's research team directly. The contact information is listed on each trial's ClinicalTrials.gov page.

Questions to ask your doctor

Before enrolling in a clinical trial, discuss it with your healthcare provider. Key questions include: Is this trial appropriate for my specific situation? What are the potential benefits and risks compared to my current treatment? What does participation involve? Will I know if I am receiving the experimental treatment or a placebo? What happens to my care if the trial ends? Are there costs associated with participation?

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