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Research Studies and Clinical Trials at St. Luke's

Clinical research is the study of health and disease in people. It changes lives every day. You can be a part of this potentially life-changing experience through voluntary participation in a clinical trial. A clinical trial is a type of clinical research study that involves people.

St. Luke’s is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our patients by providing the best treatment options possible right here in our community. To do this, we partner with pharmaceutical and medical companies to test new drugs and devices that can lead to important discoveries that may improve patient care while expanding the knowledge base of our providers. 

Your participation in a clinical trial at St. Luke’s could help researchers gain valuable information to share with other doctors and researchers in our community and around the world. The information collected from a clinical trial may help others who have a similar problem in the future. In fact, many treatments used today are based on the results of information learned from past clinical trials.

Information for Patients About Research Studies and Clinical Trials 

  • Points to consider before participating in research

      • Participation is voluntary. If you decide not to participate, it will not impact the medical care you receive at St. Luke's.
      • Research is not the same as medical care. Participating in a research study may or may not help you personally, but could help others in the future.
      • Joining a research study involves risks and benefits. It's important for you to ask questions to make sure you understand both.
      • A group of independent scientists, non-scientists, and community members (called an institutional review board or IRB) reviews the research study before it starts to make sure it is safe for patients. 
  • What are clinical trials?

      • A type of clinical research study that involves people 
      • A way to test new drugs, devices, and equipment to find new ways to treat and help patients
      • An experiment to see if new drugs or treatments are safe and effective 
      • A process that can sometimes take many years to complete
  • Why is clinical research Important?

      • Clinical trials allow us to test the safety and effectiveness of new drugs and devices 
      • It also allows us to explore new ways to use existing treatments
      • The knowledge gained through clinical research allows us to improve treatments for future patients
      • It is essential to advancing health care; without it, there can be no new treatments
  • What are research participants commonly asked to do during a study?

    • There are different things you may be asked to do depending on the goals of the study. Some common activities are: 

      • Completing questionnaires
      • Providing samples such as blood or saliva
      • Taking an experimental drug or using an experimental device
      • Allowing access to your medical records
      • Taking part in an interview, alone or with a group 

Areas of Research

For more information about clinical trials at St. Luke's, as well as contact information, please select an area of research.

Support Local Research Opportunities

Your generosity will change lives.

 Give to support laboratory research, patient clinical trials and applied research in our community.