Meet Sheila
When Sheila Keiner was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, she decided right away she was going to do everything she could to delay the effects of...
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Refer a friend or family member to join research study today and you will receive a $55 Visa gift card when they enroll.
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Why participate
Participate in finding better medicines
We are honored to partner with members of our community to bring new and improved treatments and medical understandings to the world.
Help shape future treatments and standards of care.
Understand your condition better.
Be part of something bigger than yourself.
Gain access to treatments that are otherwise unavailable.
Give hope to those who haven’t responded well to existing treatments.
The Study Process
Clinical Trial Phases
Participating in studies is a vital part of researching new cures and treatments.
Exploration & Discovery
Preclinical Research
Clinical Research - Phase 1
Clinical Research - Phase 2
Clinical Research - Phase 3
FDA Approval
Clinical Research - Phase 4
Researchers are constantly exploring molecular compounds, new technologies, and existing treatments to determine if any could be viable treatments for a range of diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or fibromyalgia.
When one seems viable, they begin the work of gathering more information, and the science progresses to the next stage of development.
In this stage, drugs are tested in a laboratory, where they can be managed in a controlled environment, such as a test tube or petri dish. Drugs are also tested in living organisms, such as plants, rodents, or small mammals.
This stage of research provides preliminary information regarding safety and proper dosing levels before the FDA approves the drug for testing in humans.
Phase 1 is the first of three phases of clinical trials in humans, prior to FDA approval of the drug. These three phases are the focus of what we do at Charter Research in partnership with our patients.
In Phase 1, fewer than 100 patients are brought in to test the safety of the drug and what dosages work best. This phase includes both patients who have the disease for which the drug is being tested and those who do not. It can last up to several months.
Up to several hundreds patients are invited to help determine if the drug is an effective treatment and explore any possible side effects. This phase focuses on patients who have been diagnosed with the specific disease or condition for which the drug is being tested, such as Alzheimer’s.
This phase can last up to two years.
Up to a few thousand patients are invited to further test and monitor the effectiveness of the treatment as well as any possible side effects.
This phase focuses on patients who have been diagnosed with the specific disease or condition, and can last up to four years.
After successful completion of Phase 3, all the data is collected and submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for review.
The FDA review team includes medical officers, statisticians, and pharmacologists who review the application and visit the clinical study sites. If approved, the medication becomes available to the public with a doctor’s prescription.
Every medication you’ve ever taken or given to a loved one has gone through this clinical trials process.
Sometimes, after FDA approval, Phase 4 clinical trials are conducted to further study safety and efficacy in human populations, to study drugs in a head-to-head comparison, or to study long-term risks and benefits.
Preclinical Research
In this stage, drugs are tested in a laboratory, where they can be managed in a controlled environment, such as a test tube or petri dish. Drugs are also tested in living organisms, such as plants, rodents, or small mammals.
This stage of research provides preliminary information regarding safety and proper dosing levels before the FDA approves the drug for testing in humans.
Clinical Research - Phase 1
Phase 1 is the first of three phases of clinical trials in humans, prior to FDA approval of the drug. These three phases are the focus of what we do at Charter Research in partnership with our patients.
In Phase 1, fewer than 100 patients are brought in to test the safety of the drug and what dosages work best. This phase includes both patients who have the disease for which the drug is being tested and those who do not. It can last up to several months.
Clinical Research - Phase 2
Up to several hundreds patients are invited to help determine if the drug is an effective treatment and explore any possible side effects. This phase focuses on patients who have been diagnosed with the specific disease or condition for which the drug is being tested, such as Alzheimer’s.
This phase can last up to two years.
Clinical Research - Phase 3
Up to a few thousand patients are invited to further test and monitor the effectiveness of the treatment as well as any possible side effects.
This phase focuses on patients who have been diagnosed with the specific disease or condition, and can last up to four years.
After successful completion of Phase 3, all the data is collected and submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for review.
FDA Approval
The FDA review team includes medical officers, statisticians, and pharmacologists who review the application and visit the clinical study sites. If approved, the medication becomes available to the public with a doctor’s prescription.
Every medication you’ve ever taken or given to a loved one has gone through this clinical trials process.
Clinical Research - Phase 4
Sometimes, after FDA approval, Phase 4 clinical trials are conducted to further study safety and efficacy in human populations, to study drugs in a head-to-head comparison, or to study long-term risks and benefits.
Our Expertise
Discover healthier
futures — together
We're partnering with people just like you in the search for innovative new treatments. Take a look at our current studies to see if you might be able to help in the search for innovative new treatments.
Disease Treatment Studies
Discovering whether a drug can treat or reverse your disease.
Symptom Treatment Studies
Investigating new treatments to help you overcome your symptoms.
Prevention Studies
Exploring whether a new medication can help prevent the onset of a disease.
The charter study experience
Expect great care
When you participate in a study with Charter, you can expect that we will be committed to caring for you and ensuring your experience is the best that it can be.
Discover what you can expect when participating.
Stories of Hope
Thank you for participating
By joining a clinical trial, you participate in the process of developing potentially life-changing treatments.
Meet Gordon
It began when Gordon Van Slyke realized he could no longer remember each and every hole on many of the 50 sprawling golf courses in...
Meet Wes
The first time Wes Capdepon visited Charter Research in The Villages, he met with the medical director, Dr. Jeffrey Norton. When discussing Wes’ Alzheimer’s diagnosis,...
Schedule Your Assessment
Sign up for an initial assessment (called a “prescreen”), and we'll give you a call. One of our professional medical staff will answer your questions and give you more information about Charter Research prior to an in-office visit.