Who is involved in a research study?
People who volunteer to participate in a study may be called human subjects, research participants, or another term that identifies their role as volunteers in a clinical research study. The doctor or healthcare professional who conducts the clinical research study may be called a clinical investigator, principal investigator, or study doctor. It is important to remember that the role of a clinical investigator is very different from the role of the health care provider. While your health care provider is responsible for making health care decisions for you based upon your medical condition, a clinical investigator is conducting a research study and is responsible for carrying out the study as described in the study protocol or study plan. This means that while the clinical investigator is responsible for carrying out the study in a way that minimizes research participant risks and maximizes the study benefits, the clinical investigator is limited by the requirements of the study with
