Who can participate in a clinical trial?

Each clinical trial has specific criteria about who can or cannot participate, called inclusion and exclusion criteria. These criteria are based on factors like: Age Type and stage of disease Previous treatment history Other medical conditions Gender (for some studies) General health status These criteria help ensure that participants are similar in key ways, which makes it easier to tell if a treatment works. They also help protect participants from unnecessary risks. It's important to be honest with the research team about your health history and current conditions to determine if a study is appropriate for you.