Clinical Trial Questions, Answered
At Mission Research Institute, we understand that considering participation in a clinical trials can come with many questions. Whether you’re curious about how clinical research works, the safety measures in place, potential benefits, or what to expect during a study, we’re here to provide clear and reliable answers. Clinical research plays a vital role in advancing medical care, and our team is committed to ensuring every participant feels informed, supported, and confident throughout their journey. Explore our frequently asked questions below to learn more about clinical trials and how you can help shape the future of healthcare.
Learn what a clinical trial is, how it works, and the four phases from first-in-human testing to post-market surveillance.
Q1. What is a clinical trial and how does it work?
A clinical trial is a research study in human volunteers that tests whether a new medication, medical device, vaccine, or treatment strategy is safe and effective, following a detailed protocol approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) and FDA regulations while a licensed physician closely monitors every participant. Before any investigational drug reaches patients, it must pass through rigorous laboratory and animal testing. Clinical trials are the critical final step — they determine whether a treatment is safe, effective, and better than existing options. At Mission Research Institute in Gilbert, Arizona, every trial follows these safeguards from the first visit to the last.
Learn more: NIH Clinical Research Trials and You: The Basics
Q2. What are the phases of clinical trials — Phase I, II, III, and IV?
Clinical trials move through four phases: Phase I tests safety and dosing in a small group, Phase II measures whether the treatment works, Phase III confirms results in hundreds to thousands of people to support FDA approval, and Phase IV monitors long-term safety after a drug reaches the market. Here is what each phase involves:
Phase I — First-in-Human Safety: These studies typically involve 20–100 healthy participants or patients and focus on determining whether a new treatment is safe, identifying side effects, and finding the right dosage. Safety and tolerability are the primary goals.
Phase II — Effectiveness & Dosing: Hundreds of participants with the target condition are enrolled to evaluate whether the treatment works as intended and to further assess safety at the selected dose.
Phase III — Large-Scale Confirmation: These are the pivotal trials involving hundreds to thousands of participants across multiple sites nationwide. Phase III trials compare the new treatment to the current standard of care or placebo and generate the data required for FDA approval.
Phase IV — Post-Market Surveillance: Conducted after FDA approval, Phase IV studies monitor the long-term safety and effectiveness of an approved drug in the general population and detect any rare side effects not seen in earlier trials.
Mission Research Institute has participated in all phases of clinical research, with over 30 completed trials and sponsors that include Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and AstraZeneca.
Learn more: FDA: Step 3 — Clinical Research
Q3. Who oversees and regulates clinical trials to make sure they are safe?
Clinical trials in the United States are overseen by four parties — the FDA, an independent Institutional Review Board (IRB), the study sponsor, and the site’s Principal Investigator — and each plays a distinct role in protecting participant safety and ensuring every study meets federal regulatory and ethical standards. Here is what each one does:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Sets the federal regulatory standards that every clinical trial must meet, and receives reports of all serious adverse events that occur during a study.
Institutional Review Board (IRB): An independent ethics committee that reviews and approves the trial protocol before any participant is enrolled, then monitors the study continuously to protect participants’ rights and welfare.
Study Sponsor: Usually a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company, the sponsor is responsible for the design and oversight of the trial.
Principal Investigator (PI): The physician who leads the study at the research site and is responsible for participant safety. At Mission Research Institute, our Principal Investigator, Dr. Sunildat Maheshwari (Dr. Sunny), a board-certified Family Medicine physician conducting clinical research since 2019, personally oversees participant safety at every visit.
Learn more: FDA: Institutional Review Boards Frequently Asked Questions
Q4. What is a placebo, and will I know if I receive one?
A placebo is an inactive substance that looks identical to the study drug but contains no active ingredient, and in blinded trials you will not know whether you receive it; your consent form will explain whether your study uses a placebo and how your current treatment is handled. Sometimes called a “sugar pill,” a placebo is used in some clinical trials to provide a fair comparison between participants who receive the actual treatment and those who do not. Blinding eliminates bias and ensures the results are scientifically valid. Many studies give the investigational drug or placebo in addition to your current treatment, and an independent IRB reviews every placebo-controlled study to make sure the risks to participants are reasonable.
Learn more: ClinicalTrials.gov: Learn About Studies
Find out who qualifies for a trial, what the screening process looks like, and how to sign up at our Gilbert, AZ research site.
Q5. Who can participate in a clinical trial? What are inclusion and exclusion criteria?
Anyone who meets a study’s eligibility requirements can participate in a clinical trial. Inclusion criteria are the characteristics you must have to qualify, such as a specific diagnosis, age range, or lab value, while exclusion criteria are factors that disqualify you, such as certain medications, health conditions, or pregnancy.
Each study’s criteria are set by its protocol. For example, a type 2 diabetes study may require a certain HbA1c level. These criteria are not arbitrary: they protect your safety and ensure the study results are scientifically valid.
Mission Research Institute currently enrolls participants for studies in type 2 diabetes, weight loss, asthma and COPD, heart disease, and fatty liver disease (MASLD). Call 480-716-9118 or submit the study interest form to find out whether a current study may be right for you.
Q6. How do I sign up for a clinical trial near me in Gilbert or the East Valley?
To sign up for a clinical trial in Gilbert or the East Valley, visit missionri.com to view currently enrolling studies or call Mission Research Institute’s research coordinators at 480-716-9118, who will ask a few health-history questions and, if a study fits, schedule a free screening visit at 690 E. Warner Road, Suite 134.
Getting started is simple. The brief pre-screening questions help us determine which studies you may be eligible for. Our team will guide you through every step of the process, from pre-screening to informed consent, at no cost to you.
Q7. What happens at the screening visit?
At the screening visit, a study coordinator and physician review your medical history, current medications, and overall health, and may perform lab work, vital signs, a physical exam, or other study-specific assessments to confirm that participation is safe and appropriate for you — at no cost and with no obligation to enroll.
The screening visit is your first formal step in the enrollment process. Many participants find this visit alone — including the labs and evaluation by our physician — to be a benefit in itself.
Understand the financial compensation, no cost medical care, and personal health benefits available to clinical trial participants.
Q8. Why should I participate in a clinical trial? What are the benefits?
People join clinical trials for the chance to access investigational treatments early, receive close monitoring from board-certified physicians, get study-related lab work, visits, and medications at no cost, earn compensation for their time and travel, learn more about their own health, and help advance research that may benefit future patients.
Here is a closer look at each benefit:
- Access to investigational treatments: Participants may receive investigational drugs or therapies years before they become commercially available — at no cost.
- Expert medical care: You will be monitored closely by board-certified physicians and a dedicated research team throughout the study.
- Free study-related care: Lab work, clinic visits, and study-related medications are provided at no charge to participants.
- Financial compensation: Most studies at Mission Research Institute offer compensation for your time and travel.
- Contribution to medicine: Your participation directly helps researchers determine whether new treatments are safe and effective, potentially benefiting future patients.
- Personal health insight: Many participants gain a deeper understanding of their own health through regular monitoring and testing.
Q9. Will I be paid or compensated for participating in a clinical trial?
Yes — most clinical trials at Mission Research Institute pay participants for their time and travel, with amounts that vary by study, number of visits, and trial length, and you will receive a complete compensation schedule during informed consent, before you agree to participate.
Compensation is typically provided via check or prepaid debit card and is not dependent on whether you respond to the treatment. Note that compensation received may be considered taxable income; please consult a tax professional if you have questions.
Q10. Do I have to pay anything to participate?
Your safety and rights are protected at every step — from informed consent through the right to withdraw at any time.
Q11. What are the risks of participating in a clinical trial?
Clinical trial risks can include anticipated or unknown side effects from the investigational treatment, the inconvenience of multiple study visits, and the possibility that the new treatment is no more effective than standard care, which is why every known and potential risk is explained before you agree to participate.
Transparency is one of our core commitments to every participant. At Mission Research Institute, risks are thoroughly reviewed during the informed consent process, and our physician monitors participants closely throughout the study. No treatment is started without your full understanding and agreement.
Investigational treatments have undergone extensive pre-clinical testing before being evaluated in people.
Q12. What is informed consent and what does it mean for me?
Informed consent is the process of reviewing a detailed written document — the Informed Consent Form — that explains a study’s purpose, procedures, known risks, potential benefits, and your rights before you decide to join, and signing it never locks you in or prevents you from withdrawing later.
It is one of the most important protections in clinical research, and no one can enroll in a study without it. The form also tells you who to contact with questions. You will have as much time as you need to review it, ask questions, and discuss it with family members or your personal physician before signing. You may withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty.
Learn more: FDA: Informed Consent Guidance
Q13. Can I leave a clinical trial after I've already enrolled?
Q14. Will my personal health information stay private?
Yes — your personal health information is protected by federal HIPAA law and the IRB-approved research protocol, your name is never published in study results, and your records are shared only with the parties your consent form authorizes, such as the study sponsor’s monitors, the IRB, and the FDA.
HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Before you enroll, you will sign an authorization that explains exactly who may see your information and why — for example, sponsor monitors review records to verify that study data is accurate. Data sent to the sponsor is coded and reported using participant ID numbers rather than names. Mission Research Institute maintains strict data security practices to safeguard all research records.
Learn more: HHS: HIPAA and Research
Q15. What happens if I have a side effect or health problem during the study?
If you experience a side effect or health problem during a study, contact our research team immediately using the 24/7 emergency contact information we provide; depending on the severity, you may be seen by our physician, referred for additional care, or safely withdrawn from the study.
Your safety is our top priority, and this applies to any adverse effect, expected or unexpected. All serious adverse events are reported to the IRB, the study sponsor, and the FDA as required by federal regulations.
Your informed consent form explains how medical care for a study-related injury is provided and who pays for it, so please review that section with our team before you enroll.
What to expect at your visits, how Mission Research Institute is different, and why our physician-led model matters to you.
Q16. How long does a clinical trial last? How many visits are required?
Clinical trial length varies by study — some are completed in a matter of weeks, while others span one to two years or longer — and before you enroll you will receive a detailed visit schedule listing every required appointment, its estimated duration, and what happens at each visit.
Trial length and visit frequency depend on the study design and the condition being studied, and the visit schedule is provided during the informed consent process.
Our research coordinators work with participants to accommodate scheduling needs and minimize inconvenience whenever possible. We strive to make each visit at our Gilbert, AZ location as efficient and comfortable as possible.
Q17. Can I keep seeing my regular doctor and taking my current medications?
Q18. What types of clinical trials are enrolling at Mission Research Institute right now?
Mission Research Institute in Gilbert, AZ is currently enrolling clinical trials for type 2 diabetes, weight loss without diabetes, asthma and COPD, heart disease including a lipoprotein(a) study, and fatty liver disease (MASLD). Visit our Find Study page or call 480-716-9118 to see which studies are open now.
Current studies include:
- Type 2 diabetes: adults 18+ with type 2 diabetes
- Weight loss (no diabetes): adults 18+ with a BMI of 27 or greater
- Asthma/COPD: adults 18+ diagnosed with COPD
- Heart disease: adults at risk for or living with heart disease, including a lipoprotein(a) study for adults with established cardiovascular disease and elevated lipoprotein(a)
- Fatty liver disease (MASLD): adults with fatty liver disease
Mission Research Institute has completed more than 30 clinical trials. Studies open and close, so check the Find Study page or call us for the latest list.
Q19. Is Mission Research Institute led by a physician?
Yes — Mission Research Institute is led by Dr. Sunildat Maheshwari (Dr. Sunny), a board-certified Family Medicine physician who joined Gilbert Center for Family Medicine in 2010 and has served as a Principal Investigator since 2019; the established primary care practice has served Gilbert and the East Valley since 1998.
This physician-led model means that participant safety, clinical judgment, and patient-centered care are embedded into every aspect of our research process — not just research metrics. You are always under the oversight of a real, licensed, experienced physician.
Q20. How is Mission Research Institute different from other clinical trial sites in Arizona?
Mission Research Institute differs from other Arizona trial sites because a physician personally oversees every study, it is rooted in a family medicine practice serving the East Valley since 1998, it has completed 30+ trials with top global sponsors, and it is conveniently located in Gilbert.
We combine the resources of a dedicated clinical research site with the patient-centered values of a long-standing community medical practice. Here is what sets us apart:
- Physician-led research: Dr. Sunny personally oversees all studies — participants are never left to interact solely with coordinators.
- Deep community roots: Since 1998, serving the Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, and East Valley communities through GCFM.
- Proven track record: 30+ completed trials and a history of working with top-tier global sponsors.
- Convenient East Valley location: Easy access from Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, and Queen Creek.
- Personalized experience: We believe every participant deserves individualized attention, transparent communication, and genuine respect.
If you are searching for clinical trials near me in Gilbert, AZ or the greater Phoenix area, we encourage you to contact Mission Research Institute today at 480-716-9118.
MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT JOINING A TRIAL
Q21. Do I need health insurance to join a clinical trial?
In most cases, no — you do not need health insurance to join a clinical trial at Mission Research Institute, because study-related visits, lab work, and investigational medications are provided at no cost, though your research coordinator will confirm any requirements for the specific study you are interested in.
Insurance still matters for care outside the study. If you continue to see your personal physician for unrelated health needs, those visits are billed as usual to your insurance or paid out of pocket.
To ask about a specific study, call 480-716-9118.
Q22. Can I keep taking the study medication after the trial ends?
Q23. Are there paid weight-loss or GLP-1 clinical trials near Gilbert, AZ?
Mission Research Institute in Gilbert conducts obesity and weight-management clinical trials, and most of its studies compensate participants for time and travel; because enrollment changes as studies open and close, call 480-716-9118 or visit missionri.com to see which weight-loss studies, including any GLP-1 medication studies, are currently enrolling.
Eligibility for weight-loss studies typically depends on factors such as body mass index (BMI), related health conditions, and current medications. Study-related visits, lab work, and medications are provided at no cost, and our physician monitors your health throughout the study.
