Explore Clinical Trials at BIDMC
Learn more about the drug trials, surgical trials and other clinical research studies available to you here.
Transplant Clinical Trials
Advancing organ transplant care through research
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Clinical Studies Advance Transplant Care
Researchers evaluate how well the new treatments work compared to therapies we currently use.
At Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), investigators from the Transplant Research Center develop clinical trials based on discoveries we make in our laboratories. Through these special research studies, you can access new, potentially more effective treatment options before they become more widely available. Our transplant clinical trials are often born from groundbreaking discoveries in our laboratories and focus on improving care at every stage: before, during, and after transplantation.
Clinical Trials at the Transplant Institute
Our research studies test treatments that may be helpful before organ transplant, at the time of transplant or after organ transplant. The studies focus on many topics, such as:
- New anti-rejection drugs and other medicines
- New combinations of treatments
- Advanced surgical techniques
- Psychological and behavioral health interventions
Transplant researchers at BIDMC's Transplant Institute have a long history advancing transplant medicine. Our work has benefitted people around the globe. The goals of our trials are to discover the best ways to:
- Improve medication effectiveness
- Reduce side effects and complications
- Prolong organ survival
- Enhance quality of life and mental health
- Extend life expectancy for transplant recipients
We will refer you to clinical trials when they are appropriate and may benefit your care.
More About Transplant Clinical Trials
Benefits & Risks of Clinical Trial Participation
By taking part in a clinical trial, you might:
- Access to leading-edge treatments before they become widely available
- Helping improve transplant care for future patients
We do everything we can to keep you safe if you take part in a clinical trial. However, there are possible risks:
- New treatments aren't always better than existing treatments. In some cases, they might not be as good.
- Treatments being studied may have known or unknown side effects.
Our Commitment to Your Safety
Whether to join a clinical trial is completely up to you. If you choose to take part, you can feel confident knowing that your well-being is our top priority.
All of our research studies undergo multiple levels of review before anyone can participate. Our research committees and Institutional Review Board (IRB) are involved in these reviews.
Members of our IRB include health professionals and people from the community, much like you. The IRB protects your safety by looking over the trial protocols. They make sure that the risks and potential benefits of the trial and possible alternatives are clearly spelled out for you, so you can make informed decisions about taking part.
In addition:
- Throughout the clinical trial, you see your doctor on a frequent, regular basis.
- We stop the trial immediately if anyone participating experiences harm.
You may withdraw from a clinical trial at any time without affecting your ongoing transplant care.
Clinical Trial Eligibility & Informed Consent
Most clinical trials have strict criteria regarding who can take part. If you're interested in participating, we carefully assess you as a candidate. Your doctor or another person on the research team will tell you if a clinical trial is right for you. Before you agree to take part, we explain:
- Why the clinical trial is being done.
- What will happen during the trial.
- How many required visits and tests you must have.
- What side effects you might face.
- How the trial might affect your daily life.
The research team will give you a document known as an informed consent form. This form explains all the details of your clinical trial. We ask you to review the form and share it with others who might be part of your decision. We encourage you to ask any questions you have about the trial.
If you decide that the trial is right for you, we ask you to sign the informed consent form in the presence of your doctor. Even if you sign up, you can still change your mind. You're free to withdraw from the clinical trial at any time without putting your transplant treatment at risk.
Questions to Ask Before Taking Part in a Clinical Trial
There are many questions you might wish to ask your research team before you decide to join the trial.
About the Clinical Trial
- How do the risks and side effects of the standard treatment compare with the treatment being studied?
- How will my participation help me?
- What will happen to my transplant with or without this treatment?
- Why is this clinical trial being done?
During the Clinical Trial
- How could the clinical trial change what I do every day?
- How long will the clinical trial last?
- How will you check on me after the clinical trial?
- What kind of tests and treatments are part of the clinical trial?
- Who will have access to my medical record? How am I protected?
- Will I have to stay in the hospital during the clinical trial? If so, how often and for how long?
About the Cost
- Will I have any financial costs because of the clinical trial?
- Will my insurance cover the clinical trial?
Additional Information
If you are interested in exploring clinical trial opportunities at BIDMC’s Transplant Institute, talk to your transplant care team or contact our research office. We are here to guide you through the process and answer all your questions.
