Who can participate in clinical research?

Almost everyone living with ALS can participate in some kind of clinical research. But each clinical research study will have its own eligibility criteria, or requirements for who can participate. For example, researchers may be looking for people who have had ALS symptoms for a certain number of years.

It’s important for ALS researchers to learn from people with many different backgrounds and experiences. Each person is unique, and when people of all ages, genders, races, and ethnicities participate in clinical research, researchers can learn if ALS affects everyone the same or differently. This can help them develop treatments that work for as many people as possible.

Before you participate in a clinical research study, the research team will ask you to sign an informed consent form. Informed consent means you understand what will happen during the study — including possible risks — and you agree to participate. You have the right to take your time reading the consent form, ask as many questions as you like, and get a copy of the form after you’ve signed it. You also have the right to decide to stop participating at any time after you sign the form.