Participating in clinical research gives you early access to the latest medical advances. It also helps you make a difference in the lives of the people of Lancaster and beyond.
For several decades, our patients have benefited from the care improvements that clinical research makes possible. Our research program has a reputation for patient safety and involvement in groundbreaking trials. Use our resources for research participants to make informed decisions about your participation.
Learn more:
You may be interested in taking part in clinical research if:
- Someone from Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health asks you to participate in a study
- You see or hear advertisements for Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health research studies that interest you
- You see a link on our website or in your electronic medical record asking you to participate in research
- Your provider thinks one of our studies could improve your health
To learn more, email us at LGHResearch@pennmedicine.upenn.edu. One of our team members will contact you to answer your questions and see if you may be eligible for any of our studies.
Meet the Research Institute team
Qualifying for a Research Study
A research study’s eligibility criteria are the requirements you must meet to join it. This list of requirements usually involves factors such as:
- Age
- Health status
- Medical diagnoses
- Treatment history
- Current participation in another clinical study
If you qualify, our research team will guide you through the next steps so you can enroll. Read more about what to expect in a clinical research study.
We are among the most active community hospitals in the U.S. when it comes to available research studies. At any given time, we have more than 40 to 50 active studies across a variety of medical specialties. These specialties include cardiovascular care, neurosciences, and oncology.
Search for clinical research studies at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.
In the U.S., medical research is performed under the careful direction of these regulatory bodies:
- Department of Health and Human Services: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the federal agency tasked with protecting the health and well-being of all Americans.
- Office for Human Research Protection: The Office for Human Research Protection is a federal office in the Department of Health and Human Services. It oversees the protection of humans in research.
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA): The FDA is the federal agency that oversees human research involving investigational drugs and devices.
- Institutional Review Board (IRB): The Lancaster General Hospital IRB is an independent entity that approves and oversees all our clinical research activities. It ensures that each study follows the regulations, policies, and ethical standards established for research involving humans. The IRB is part of the Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Human Research Protection Program (HRPP). The IRB—together with other HRPP components such as the Compliance Committee and Radiation Committee—helps studies meet established regulations and standards. It also protects the rights, safety, and privacy of our study participants while ensuring the highest level of integrity of clinical research results.
If you are experiencing medical problems, please communicate with your study team. You can also contact the Human Research Protection Program for help:
Contact the HRPP for help if you:
- Have general questions about research or your rights
- Wish to discuss problems, suggestions, or concerns
- Do not feel comfortable communicating with the study team
- Want advice about how to communicate with the study team
- Have communicated with the study team, but they have not been able to help you
If you contact the HRPP, they will take every precaution to maintain your confidentiality. If you report a problem, they might need to reveal your name or other information about you to investigate the problem. A representative from the HRPP will contact you before revealing information about you.
Background Information
Federal Agency Resources
FDA
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- National Institutes of Health (network of federal agencies that fund and conduct human research)
- ClinicalTrials.gov (national database you can use to find U.S. studies currently enrolling human subjects)
- Medline Plus (NIH website that provides patient-friendly information on medical conditions, treatments, and research)
If you are a member of a community group who is interested in hosting a seminar presented by HRPP leadership, please make your request by email: SM-HRPP@lghealth.org.
For general questions about research at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, email LGHResearch@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.