Internet Resources

There is a wealth of information online regarding clinical trials. This Internet Resources section is designed to assist our readers in becoming more informed clinical trial professionals. The following Web sites are focused on the professional and/or potential participant. Please note that many pharmaceutical companies currently running trials offer access to them through their own Web sites. In addition, many patient advocacy groups and disease-specific organizations may have listings for current clinical trials specific to a medical condition on their home pages on the Web.—The Editors

The Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group (AACTG)

http://aactg.org

Featuring occasional news regarding AIDS trials and listings of trials according to location, state, type of trial, and eligibility requirements. The AACTG is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

CancerConsultants

http://patient.cancerconsultants.com/

Viewed by over 250,000 people every month, this popular site is managed by the oncology research center CancerConsultants.com Inc. and provides numerous resources, including a drug and cancer dictionary, a section for newly diagnosed cancer patients, a free newsletter (SURVIVE), coverage of major medical meetings, and access to clinical trials searchable by cancer type and U.S. location. The site can also be viewed in Spanish and is endorsed by the Oncology Nursing Society.

CancerEducation.com

http://www.cancereducation.com

This resource-rich Web site offers cancer-related information for professionals and patients. Features comprehensive coverage of over 20 cancer types, access to medical reference texts, live and archived Webcasts, continuing education accreditation, multimedia clips, a dose calculator for physicians, online medical journals, a clinical trials search engine, practice guidelines, and disease-specific moderated message boards. Free registration is required to access portions of the Web site.

CancerHelp UK

http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/

A free information service sponsored by Cancer Research UK that provides information on cancer treatments and research along with a search engine that allows users to search clinical trials by type of cancer, trial name, or drug. This well-designed site also features a recommended reading list for over 30 different types of cancers and an impressive index of related links.

Clinical Connection

http://www.clinicalconnection.com

A recruiter site where patients register and receive e-mails listing ongoing studies that match their pathogen and geographic needs. Clinical Connection sends medical information to clinics, but never contact information.

ClinicalTrials.gov

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov

This longtime National Institutes of Health (NIH) database lists many of the Institutes' funded trials and has a wealth of search options, including by location, disease, treatment type, and age group. There is a particular focus on AIDS and cancer trials.

Giving Flite

http://www.givingflite.org

Based in Birmingham, Alabama, this nonprofit organization is dedicated to giving clinical research patients the ability to participate in far-off trials via philanthropic flights.

National Cancer Institute

http://www.cancer.gov/clinical_trials

This search site, run by the National Institutes of Health, allows users to find trials by stage/subtype of cancer and type of trial (i.e., prevention, diagnostic, or genetic). It also takes travel into consideration, allowing a distance search by zip code and the option to choose trials from 20 to 500 miles away.

PhRMA Clinical Study Results Database

http://www.clinicalstudyresults.org

A Web-based repository of results from trials (both published and unpublished) of 49 different pharmaceutical companies. Part of a drive to make trial results for U.S. pharmaceuticals more transparent. Although more companies are voluntarily submitting data, the database is still in its early stage.