For Patients and Research Participants

Clinical and Academic Research

For Patients and Research Participants

Clinical and Academic Research
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For Researchers and Sponsors
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For Patients and Research Participants

Clinical Research at Cook County Health

For almost 200 years, Cook County Health has cared for people in Cook County, regardless of their ability to pay. We do more than provide care. We also do research, teach future healthcare workers, and look for better ways to help people stay healthy.

Clinical research helps us learn more about health and illness. It helps us find better ways to prevent, find, and treat health problems. Some studies look at new treatments. Others help us learn more about how health conditions affect people. What we learn may help patients today and in the future.

Our Research Journey

Research has been an important part of Cook County Health for many years.

As we have grown, our research program has grown too. We work hard to make sure our research is safe, fair, and open to everyone.

Our research program helps us:

  • Give more people a chance to join research studies and clinical trials
  • Include people from many different backgrounds
  • Work with schools, community groups, government agencies, and healthcare partners
  • Find better ways to care for patients
  • Support safe and high-quality research

Our Commitment to You

Your safety, privacy, and respect are important to us. Joining a research study is your choice. You do not have to take part and your medical care will not change if you say no.

If you join a study, you can leave at any time.

Research That Reflects Our Community

Research works best when it includes people from many different backgrounds.

Cook County Health cares for people of many ages, cultures, languages, and life experiences. That is why we support research that reflects the communities we serve.

By including more people in research, we can better understand how illnesses and treatments affect different groups of people.

Cultural Competency and Respect

Every person is unique. People have different experiences, beliefs, languages, and traditions. We respect those differences and work to make everyone feel welcome and heard.

We strive to:

  • Treat participants and their families with respect
  • Provide information that is clear and easy to understand
  • Offer interpreters and language support when needed
  • Reduce barriers that may make it hard to join a study
  • Respect each person’s beliefs, values, and choices
  • Train research staff to work respectfully with people from all backgrounds
Why Participate?

People join research studies for different reasons.

Some want to try a new treatment being studied. Others want to help researchers learn more about a health condition. Many people join because they want to help future patients.

Research participation may:

  • Help doctors and researchers learn more about health and disease
  • Provide access to a treatment being studied
  • Help improve care for future patients
  • Give you a chance to help your community
  • Connect you with a team working to answer important health questions

 

Important: You may or may not benefit from joining a research study. Before you decide, the research team will explain the possible risks, benefits, costs, and other options. 

Advancing Equity Through Research

Everyone should have a fair chance to benefit from medical advances.

Cook County Health works to remove barriers that may keep people from joining research studies. When more people can take part in research, the results can better reflect the communities we serve. This helps support safer and better care for everyone. 

Frequently Asked Questions

A research study is a structured activity that helps researchers answer important questions about health, disease, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. In an interventional study, such as a clinical trial, researchers may assign a treatment or another intervention to learn how it affects participants. In an observational study, researchers do not change your clinical care. Instead, they collect and study information about health and outcomes.

An Institutional Review Board, or IRB, is a group that helps protect the rights and welfare of people who take part in research. The IRB includes scientific and nonscientific members and reviews a study before it begins. It evaluates the study plan, risks, informed consent process, privacy protections, and compliance with applicable rules.

Each study has specific eligibility requirements. Some studies enroll people with a particular health condition, while others may include healthy volunteers. The research team will review the requirements with you and determine whether a study may be a good fit.

Before you decide, the research team will explain the study through a process called informed consent. You will receive information about the study purpose, what you will be asked to do, how long participation may last, possible risks and benefits, costs, alternatives, privacy protections, and your rights. You may ask questions, take time to think, and discuss the decision with people you trust. Joining is completely your choice.

There is no guarantee that you will benefit directly from participating. Some studies may offer a possible benefit, while others may not. Even when there is no direct benefit, the information learned may help improve care for other people in the future.

Every study has some level of risk. Risks may include inconvenience, discomfort, side effects, loss of privacy, or other study-specific concerns. The research team will explain known risks, describe steps taken to reduce them, and tell you if important new information becomes available during the study.

Payment varies by study. Some studies provide payment or reimbursement for time, travel, parking, meals, or other expenses, while others do not. The research team will explain any payment before you agree to participate.

Billing varies by study. Some services may be paid for by the study sponsor, while routine medical care may be billed to you or your health insurance. The informed consent form and research team should explain any expected costs before you decide to participate.

Yes. You may leave a research study at any time. Your decision will not be held against you and will not affect the care you receive at Cook County Health. If you decide to leave, contact the study team so they can explain any steps needed to withdraw safely.

Researchers take steps to keep your information private and secure. The research team will explain what information will be collected, how it will be used, who may access it, and how it will be protected. For example, study data may use a code instead of your name, and results are generally shared in a way that does not identify individual participants.

Participant safety is overseen by the study investigator, the research team, the Institutional Review Board, and, when applicable, other oversight groups or regulatory agencies. Every study must follow an approved plan and applicable ethical and regulatory requirements.

You may want to ask why the study is being done, what participation involves, how long it will last, what the possible risks and benefits are, what alternatives are available, whether there are costs or payments, how your information will be protected, and who to contact with questions or concerns.

For questions about a specific study, contact the study doctor or research team using the information provided in the informed consent form. For concerns, complaints, or questions about your rights as a research participant, contact the Cook County Health Institutional Review Board at (312) 864-4821 or [email protected].

Contact Information

Interested in learning more about clinical research at Cook County Health? Our Clinical Research team is available to help.

General clinical research email: [email protected]

Questions About Participant Rights

Cook County Health Institutional Review Board

Phone: (312) 864-4821
Email: [email protected]

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