Medical Research & Clinical Trials

Research transforms our understanding of disease and genetic changes and how our bodies respond to them.

Types of research we conduct include:

• Basic – This approach focuses on acquiring new knowledge. Basic research lays the groundwork that raises questions to be answered in further studies.
• Translational – This research is "bench-to-bedside" work. We take what we learn from basic and clinical research and transform it into treatments and devices that advance patient care.
• Clinical – This research explores health and disease in people. It teaches us the best ways to diagnose, manage, prevent and treat illness.

Clinical research takes different forms, including:

• Behavioral studies – Research to understand how human behavior impacts health and disease.
• Clinical trials – Tests and studies to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a new device, medicine, therapy or treatment.
• Epidemiological studies – Investigators study the causes, effects and patterns of health and disease in different groups of people.
• Observational studies – To gain more knowledge, researchers monitor aspects of human health or natural relationships without intervention or manipulation.

Translational research is used to prevent, cure and eradicate human disease through accelerated translation of research from "bench-to-bedside." This dynamic process brings innovations made in our labs directly to our clinical patients by "translating" discoveries made by researchers into leading-edge therapies and medicines to drive extraordinary care.

Through robust industry partnerships, external funding and philanthropic support, Beth Israel Lahey Health invests in translational research to quickly develop diagnostics and therapeutics designed to improve the health of our patients and communities

Precision medicine strives to create personalized treatment plans for patients based on their unique circumstances and individual molecular profile. For example, by understanding how your body breaks down a specific medicine, we can prescribe specialized therapeutics.

Our researchers use translational research to manage a wide array of conditions in a wide array of conditions including cancer and infectious diseases. 

When you volunteer for a clinical trial, you improve health care for yourself and your community. You also help doctors and scientists learn more about how the body and mind work.

People take part in clinical research for different reasons, including:

• Gaining access to leading-edge experimental treatment or therapy
• Advancing scientific learning
• Contributing as a healthy volunteer
• Furthering our understanding of a specific health condition
• Helping others

Researchers across Beth Israel Lahey Health contribute to thousands of clinical trials across nearly all medical specialties. We have a variety of open studies for patients, including cancer and diabetes treatments, investigational drug therapies and innovative surgical techniques.

Clinical trials lead to innovative advances, such as multi-modal pain therapy and early mobilization after joint surgery. These approaches are now best practices that lead to shorter hospital stays and excellent patient experiences and recovery.

Participation in research is voluntary; this means you don’t have to join a study. There are many different types of research. Human subjects research is overseen by an independent committee called an Institutional Review Board (IRB). Human subjects research must have IRB approval to conduct the research.

You have rights as a research participant. Research is voluntary and will have no impact on your care at BILH. It is important that you are provided with all the information needed to decide to participate, done through an informed consent process. You may also stop at any time.

The informed consent will include the following:

• An explanation of the purpose of the research.
• A description of what you will be asked to do and how long it will take should you participate and whether or not you will be compensated for your time.
• A description of any risks involved in participating. These risks could be physical, psychological, or informational (including privacy, legal, financial, and social harm). The steps taken to minimize these risks should also be described.
• A description of any benefits to you or to society as a whole.
• The degree to which the information will be kept confidential.
• Who to contact should you have questions about the research or about your rights as a participant.
• A statement that you are free not to participate and can stop participating at any time.

What is an Institutional Review Board?

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a group of people who review human research studies to make sure they are done properly according to federal and state laws that protect the human participants. The research can’t be started until the IRB has approved it. The members of the IRB include a mix of scientists, healthcare providers, non-scientists, and a member of the community.

What are my rights as a research participant?

• To be treated with respect, including respect for your decision whether or not you wish to enroll in, continue in, or stop being in a study
• To choose to stop being in a study at any time
• To be given time to read the consent form and have the research study explained to you
• To be given time to ask questions, and to be told whom you can contact if you have any more questions
• To be given a copy of the consent form after you have signed it

I am interested in participating in a research study. Where can I look for open studies?

If you are interested in learning about studies that are enrolling new participants, please visit the links below under the title: “Our Research Centers.”

Where can I find more information about research?

Visit the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) website to learn more about research participation.

Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH) is rolling out a new electronic health record that includes a patient portal, MyBILH Chart. MyBILH Chart will allow patients to see their health records across all BILH hospitals and organizations. Learn more about MyBILH Chart.

MyBILH Chart includes an option that allows you to select your preference for receiving messages in MyBILH Chart about research. You may select “OK to contact,” “Do not Contact,” or “Undecided.” 

What should I know about this?

The default setting in MyBILH Chart allows BILH researchers to send you messages. If you do nothing, select “OK to contact,” or select “Undecided,” you may be contacted about research studies. Your selection means you are indicating your preference to receive messages in your MyBILH Chart message center about research opportunities. This does not mean that you agree to participate in the research study; it only indicates your willingness to receive recruitment messages. Research recruitment messages must be pre-approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) for each study. 

What do I do if I receive a research recruitment message?

If you are interested in learning more about the study, you can select “Yes, interested.” If not, select “No, not interested.” The study team will also include their contact information in the message, so that you may contact them using the email or phone number provided in the message.

Who can I contact if I have questions?

You may contact any of the following contacts to ask questions about research recruitment or if you have questions about participating in research:

• BIDMC and Mount Auburn
  • Human Subjects Protection Office Help-Line: 617-975-8500 or hspo@bidmc.harvard.edu 
• Joslin Diabetes Center
  • Committee on Studies: 617-309-2543 or CHS@joslin.harvard.edu
• All Lahey locations, Winchester Hospital, Addison Gilbert Hospital, Beverly Hospital, and Anna Jaques Hospital
  • Research Administration: 781-744-8027 or clinicaltrials@lahey.org
• New England Baptist Hospital
  • Research: 617-754-6732 orresearch@nebh.org

I am interested in participating in research. Where can I get more information?

If you are interested in learning about studies that are enrolling new participants, please visit the links below the title: “Our Research Centers.”