Helping people gain better

Posted on August 14, 2024

Clinical research trials are conducted every day in every field of medicine in order to discover and advance new and innovative forms of treatment. At Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology (TD&E), our commitment to endocrinology research is unwavering. 

During a clinical research trial, patients volunteer to test cutting-edge new treatments (or medical devices) while in the development stage before they become available to the general public.

The benefits to a patient for opting to participate in clinical research trials include: (1) allowing them to learn more about their condition and actively take control of their health, and (2) potentially improving their condition (and therefore quality of life) by trying an effective new treatment.  

As appreciation and gratitude for their time and travel, patients who participate in TD&E research trials typically receive a form of compensation and all research-related medication and testing is free.

At Texas Diabetes, our Research Department was established in 2007 and is led by our team of board-certified endocrinologists and diabetes experts. We are considered one of the most active endocrine research practices worldwide.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about clinical research trials at Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology:  

TD&E Research Trials FAQs

Is there compensation for participating in a trial? How are patients compensated?

• Yes, there is compensation for participating in each study as a thank you for your time and travel to the site. 
• Compensation varies between each study and the requirements of each visit.  
• Compensation is provided on a payment card that is loaded after each visit is completed. 
• The informed consent for each trial has a detailed description of the payment schedule and the Research Coordinator will review it with the patient during their screening visit. 
• Patients who receive a payment of $600 or more during a tax year will receive a 1099-MISC form in the mail for tax purposes.

What is the time commitment required for a clinical research trial and how flexible are visits?

• Every study is different and the visit  frequency will vary depending on the type of study. Most visits with the Research Coordinator will last one to two hours and are scheduled based on the individual study requirements. The informed consent for each study will have a detailed explanation of the number of visits required and whether it’s an onsite visit or phone visit.
• All visits are conducted Monday through Friday, with most visits being scheduled for the morning hours. Our office opens at 7am and closes at 4pm.
• Most studies have a visit window which allows for some flexibility when scheduling study visits.

Will there be blood draws at each visit and where will they occur?

• The majority of studies will require blood work to confirm eligibility and to make sure that it is safe for patients to participate in the trial.
• All blood work will be conducted onsite by our research team.
• All visits that require fasting blood draws will be scheduled in the morning.

Do clinical trials go through insurance or will patients have to pay copays?

• Your insurance will not be billed for any research visits, and all materials and medication are provided by the research study.

Will patients learn at some point what medication they were on and will they be informed of results when the study is over?

• Yes, the study team will let the site know once all participants have completed the trial at all sites (in the United States and globally) and all data has been collected. The participant will receive a letter afterwards with the information regarding what treatment was received during the study. 

Clinical Research Opportunities at TD&E

You can learn more about our research department and currently enrolling clinical trials here. Please feel free to contact us at (512) 334-3505, option 4, to speak to a recruiter about our enrolling studies.

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