National Kidney Foundation microsite explains and helps patients find clinical trials

The National Kidney Foundation has launched a new microsite designed to make it easier for kidney patients to find a clinical trial. The new microsite can help patients find matching clinical trials in their local area within 60 seconds just by answering a series of questions about their condition.

Patients and professionals can go to www.kidney.org/clinicaltrials to directly search clinical trials. Patients will also find stories from clinical trial participants and resources addressing common questions such as: What is a clinical trial? Who can participate? Are clinical trials safe?

“Clinical trials offer patients the chance to receive treatment which may otherwise not be available, and also help promote general knowledge or treatment of a specific condition that may benefit other patients,” said Joseph Vassalotti, MD, Chief Medical Officer of the National Kidney Foundation.

“But clinical trial websites can be difficult for patients to understand and time-consuming to sort through what may, or may not, be applicable to their specific disease or condition. NKF’s new microsite takes all of the available information from clinical trial databases and puts it into one easy place to help patients find a matching trial in their local area. The site also helps patients understand that participation in an individual clinical trial carries potential benefits and risks.”

The microsite also offers a free detailed guide entitled, “Clinical Trials: What You Need to Know,” available for download in English and Spanish.