clinical trials

Human Clinical Trials (what are clinical trials?)

Human clinical trials are the final phase of research done before a new drug or treatment is approved for the market. Many tests are conducted before the clinical trial stage to determine whether potential treatments are appropriate for testing in people.  It is through clinical trials that new drugs, therapies and ultimately, a cure for type 1 diabetes will be discovered.

By participating in a JDRF-funded clinical trial, you play an important role in the fight to treat and cure type 1 diabetes. The decision to participate, however, is very personal and should be made only after speaking with your health care provider and other individuals you trust. You can stop participation in a clinical trial at any time if new concerns arise or you lose confidence that its potential benefits outweigh its risks.  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) ClinicalTrials.gov Web site answers some of the most frequently asked questions about these studies.

Clinical Trials Connection

To help you better understand what is involved in participating in a clinical trial, and to simplify the process of finding trials that are of interest to you (or your child), JDRF has created an online customized clinical trials listing service - the JDRF Clinical Trials Connection. Clinical Trials Connection is for people personally affected by diabetes and its complications, looking to be up-to-date on research progress and opportunities.

The JDRF Clinical Trials Connection is an online service that allows you to "opt-in" to get information about trials, and access to them. It contains information about all currently active diabetes trials in the U.S.   You can sign up at www.trials.jdrf.org and provide some basic information. The service then gives you access to customized information about clinical trials, the option to sign up for monthly emails with up-to-date information about newly launched trials, and contact information for the researchers conducting the trials you are interested in.

To learn more about the JDRF Clinical Trials Connection or to sign up, click here.

Other Current Clinical Trials:

• The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the NIH, has set up an online list of type 1 diabetes clinical trials that users can use to search by location or by eligibility (such as age).
  
  
• Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet is a group of studies looking at the prevention and early treatment of type 1 diabetes. This site provides information about ongoing and completed TrialNet Studies.TrialNet performs trials for newly diagnosed or at risk individuals for type 1 diabetes.
  
  
• The Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) conducts clinical trials and tolerance assay studies in the following disease areas: Transplantation (Islet, Kidney, Liver), Autoimmune Diseases, and Allergy & Asthma. Information is provided on current clinical trials in new onset type 1 diabetes.
  
  
• ClinicalTrials.gov also lists NIH-sponsored trials that have been scientifically reviewed through NIH mechanisms and approved by government council.
  
  
• Children with Diabetes lists a number of trials actively seeking participants.
  
  
• CenterWatch also includes geographic listings of current trials regarding type 1 diabetes.
  

Although NIH-sponsored trials may be of scientific and medical value, JDRF has not reviewed these studies and therefore cannot endorse participation in them. JDRF does not take responsibility for the trial conduct; liability lies within the sponsoring university/hospital/clinic. Inquiries regarding trials should be directed to the trials contact person or institution, not JDRF. JDRF does not take responsibility for accuracy of clinical trial information provided.

For questions regarding this Web page, please contact Jeannie Denaro: jdenaro@jdrf.org.