At Akron General Medical Center, an entire team of clinical research coordinators and investigators recruit and manage participants for clinical trials in areas such as cancer care, critical care, emergency medicine, heart & vascular, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, trauma and wound healing. Clinical trials move investigation to the highest level, from a lab to a clinical setting, which helps researchers compare the effectiveness of medications, devices and treatment, methods of care delivery and more. Patients often seek clinical trials for additional follow-up and access to the latest therapies and treatments they typically provide.

Participation in research studies usually does not result in additional cost to the patient. Standard care, including basic test and procedures are typically covered under the patients healthcare plan or are paid for out of pocket. Procedure and tests performed only for the purposes of the study and study drugs are normally provided at no cost by sponsored.

NCI-sponsored cooperative groups trial summary information originated from the National Cancer Institute Web site, www.cancer.gov.