Clinical Trials The UCI Center for Clinical Research is a centralized clinical research operation driven to improve the health and wellness of people in Orange County and the world by providing lifesaving clinical trials designed to strengthen and accelerate the pathway of discovery from the medical laboratory to you. Home Research Clinical Trials Open Clinical Trials Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of KPI-012 in PCED A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of KPI-012 Ophthalmic Solution in Participants with Persistent Corneal Epithelial Defect (PCED) Learn More Amblyopia Study (Pediatric Study) A Randomized Trial to Evaluate Sequential vs Simultaneous Spectacles Plus Patching for Amblyopia in Children 3 to <13 Years Old Learn More Exotropia (Pediatric Study) The purpose of this study is to determine whether full-time patching is more effective than observation for improving distance control of IXT after 3 months of treatment (on-treatment outcome). Learn more Retinopathy of Prematurity (under 6 months) Study Bevacizumab Treatment For Posterior Zone I Retinopathy of Prematurity Learn More Frequently Asked Questions For Participants Clinical trials evolve from research that begins in a lab. They provide a path for innovation and discovery to reach people all over the world. Through clinical trials, researchers seek to find safe and effective ways to prevent, detect or treat disease. They do this through recruiting participants, like you, to take an active role in your healthcare and, at the same time, add to our knowledge about the treatments for disease. Clinical trials are conducted in a series of phases that are designed to investigate how treatment or therapy affects patients: Phase 0/Early Phase 1 trial: A phase of research used to describe exploratory trials conducted before traditional phase 1 trials to investigate how or whether a drug affects the body. They involve very limited human exposure to the drug and have no therapeutic or diagnostic goals (for example, screening studies, microdose studies). Phase 1 trial: A phase of research to describe clinical trials that focus on the safety of a drug. They are usually conducted with healthy volunteers, and the goal is to determine the drug's most frequent and serious adverse events and, often, how the drug is broken down and excreted by the body. These trials usually involve a small number of participants. Phase 2 trial: A phase of research to describe clinical trials that gather preliminary data on whether a drug works in people who have a certain condition/disease (that is, the drug's effectiveness). For example, participants receiving the drug may be compared to similar participants receiving a different treatment, usually an inactive substance (called a placebo) or a different drug. Safety continues to be evaluated, and short-term adverse events are studied. Phase 3 trial: A phase of research to describe clinical trials that gather more information about a drug's safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs. These studies typically involve more participants. Phase 4 trial: A phase of research to describe clinical trials occurring after the FDA has approved a drug for marketing. They include postmarket requirements and commitment studies that are required of or agreed to by the study sponsor. These trials gather additional information about a drug's safety, efficacy, or optimal use. As an academic medical center, UCI Health is uniquely positioned to advance medicine through leading-edge research and clinical trials. Why Participate Clinical trials unlock the door to breakthroughs and discoveries. Before any new breakthrough can begin the journey from researcher to patient, clinical trials must take place to understand and evaluate the effects of experimental tests and treatments. This step must be taken before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can determine if both the safety and efficacy of the new discovery, and certainly before it can be made available to the public. These trials require the participation of volunteers, like you. Clinical trials help others. Participation is critical in helping prevent, diagnose, and cure diseases and illnesses. When you participate in a clinical trial, you are contributing to research that could bring new treatments one step closer to reaching patients across the nation. The trial may not only help advance the science for your disease or illness, but could also make progress for related areas of science. Clinical trials may save you, or your loved ones. If you have a disease or illness that’s genetic, your participation could end up helping your loved ones by making new treatments available and advancing scientists’ understanding of the disease or illness and possibly leading to a cure. Clinical trials give you access to new treatments. Participating in a clinical trial may give you access to experimental, cutting-edge treatment options. Plus, you will have access to a medical team that carefully monitors your disease and your overall health. Clinical trials need participants from all backgrounds to participate. Participation is the key to any clinical trial. Patients of all backgrounds are needed as some conditions are more prevalent within certain populations. Whatever your age, race, gender or background – clinical trials need you to make the next discovery a reality. Will I be Paid for Participating Payment will be explained to you during the informed consent process. Some studies do not have the resources to pay you. Other studies might pay you for the time and effort it takes to participate. The money is usually only enough to cover expenses (parking, transportation, meals, etc.) and some compensation may be given for the time you spend away from work. The payment should not be enough to convince you to take risks that you normally would not take. If you leave before the end of the research, you will usually be paid for that portion of the research study you complete.