Clinical research is an integral part of health care and one of the best ways to get new and improved treatments or access to new medications. The clinical trials and research opportunities available at the Partnership evaluate experimental drugs and treatment options for patients at all stages of HIV disease. Our clinical drug study coordinator guides patients through all stages of the research process and provides expert coordination of the health care of all research participants.

Benefits of enrolling in a clinical trial

• You may gain access to investigational new drugs to treat your HIV infection that are otherwise unavailable.
• If you are uninsured, you may be able to receive medication, medical exams, laboratory tests and information about your health for free.
• Your health will be monitored more closely.
• If you have tried most of the anti-HIV drugs that are already approved by the FDA, and your virus is now resistant to them, you may have the opportunity to be treated with newer drugs that are not yet on the market.
• Your participation may also help the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) decide whether the drugs being tested work in suppressing your HIV (lowering the amount of HIV in your blood), and if they are safe for you and other people who are infected with HIV.

Risks of participating in a clinical trial

• You might not be able to continue the medications that you are taking for other illnesses while you are in the study.
• The treatment might not work for you
• There may be side effects from the new drug
• You may have to see your doctor more often than you otherwise would