Who’s who at a trial, and who to ask

A study has several people and groups behind it. Knowing who does what helps you know who to turn to with a question.

The site and the coordinator

The site is the clinic or hospital where the study happens. The study coordinator is often your main day-to-day contact — a good first person to bring any question to.

The investigator

The investigator is the doctor or researcher responsible for running the study at that site and for your safety within it.

The sponsor

The sponsor is the organization that funds and organizes the study. They design it and are responsible for it overall, but they are usually not the people you meet at visits.

The ethics board (IRB)

An independent ethics committee, sometimes called an IRB, reviews the study to help protect participants. You can ask the team how to contact them if you have a concern.