Compass is still being developed and is effectively in beta. Some content and features may be incomplete, change, or not work as expected.

Content is anchored to trusted sources where available, but Compass has not yet been clinically reviewed. It provides general information rather than medical advice.

Feedback helps us identify gaps, errors, usability problems and opportunities to improve Compass over time.

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Treatments and research

Clinical trial

A study testing whether a treatment works and is safe enough, in people who agree to take part.

What it means

Run to a fixed plan agreed in advance, saying who can join, what will be measured and how long it lasts. Taking part is voluntary and can be stopped at any point. Trials answer questions that individual experience cannot, which is why the plan is so rigid.

Why you might hear it

  • Many people ask about trials soon after diagnosis.
  • Eligibility rules are strict and are the usual reason someone cannot join.

People who may help

Where Compass goes into this

About this explanation

These are plain explanations of words you may come across, not advice about your own situation. Where a word matters to a decision, the question pages go into it properly, and your own team is the place to take it.