For Patients & Research Participants

Clinical & Academic Research

For Patients & Research Participants

Clinical Research at Cook County Health

For nearly two centuries, Cook County Health has cared for the people of Cook County regardless of their ability to pay. That commitment extends beyond excellent clinical care. Through research, education, and innovation, we work to improve health outcomes, reduce disparities, and help ensure that advances in medicine benefit the communities we serve.

Clinical research helps answer important questions about health, disease, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Some studies test new treatments or approaches. Others observe participants to better understand health conditions and outcomes. Every study is designed to contribute knowledge that may improve care now or in the future.

Our Research Journey

Research has long been part of the Cook County Health mission. As our health system has grown, so has our commitment to building a strong, ethical, and inclusive research program that supports patients, clinicians, community partners, academic collaborators, and industry sponsors.

Our research enterprise continues to grow in order to:

  • Expand access to clinical trials and other research opportunities across our health system
  • Increase participation among populations that have historically been underrepresented in research
  • Strengthen partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies, community organizations, and industry
  • Advance treatments and approaches that improve patient care
  • Build sustainable infrastructure that supports high quality and ethical research

Our Commitment to You

At Cook County Health, participant safety, dignity, privacy, and respect are central to every research study. Participation is always voluntary. Choosing not to participate will not affect the care you receive, and you may leave a study at any time.

Research That Reflects Our Community

Medical discoveries are stronger when research includes people from different backgrounds and life experiences. Cook County Health serves one of the nation’s most diverse patient populations, giving us both an opportunity and a responsibility to support research that is inclusive, representative, and responsive to the health needs of our communities.

By improving representation in research, we can better understand how diseases and treatments affect people across ages, races, ethnicities, genders, languages, cultures, and health circumstances.

Cultural Competency and Respect

Every participant brings unique experiences, perspectives, languages, beliefs, and cultural values. Respecting those differences helps build trust, improve communication, and support ethical research.

We strive to:

  • Build respectful partnerships with participants and their families
  • Provide clear and understandable information
  • Offer language assistance and interpreter services when needed
  • Reduce barriers that may limit participation
  • Respect cultural beliefs, values, and individual preferences
  • Train research teams in cultural humility, inclusive engagement, ethical recruitment, and recognition of unconscious bias
Why Participate?

People take part in research for many reasons. Some hope to access an investigational treatment or receive additional study related monitoring. Others want to help researchers learn more about a health condition or contribute to better care for future patients.

Participation in research may:

  • Help advance medical knowledge
  • Provide access to an investigational treatment or approach
  • Help improve care for future patients
  • Give you an opportunity to contribute to your community
  • Connect you with a research team focused on answering important health questions

Important: There is no guarantee that you will personally benefit from participating. The possible risks, benefits, costs, and alternatives will be explained before you decide whether to join.

Advancing Equity Through Research

Health equity means that everyone should have a fair opportunity to benefit from advances in medicine. Cook County Health works to identify and reduce barriers that have historically limited participation in research. Broadening access helps produce findings that better represent the people we serve and supports safer, more effective care for all populations.

Searchable Studies

Explore current research opportunities at Cook County Health. Study listings should allow visitors to search or filter by the information most useful to them.

COMING SOON

Preguntas frecuentes

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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