National Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov
The U.S. National Institutes of Health maintains a registry and results database of publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants conducted around the world.

Known by many by its web address ClinicalTrials.gov, this online database allows visitors to learn more about clinical studies, as well as the history, policies and laws surrounding clinical studies.

If you’re new to the ClinicalTrials.gov website, it can take some time to acquaint yourself with its structure and how to best search for information that may be of assistance to you and your loved one.

Researching clinical trials that may be relevant to your condition or that of a loved one can be an overwhelming task. Learn how to navigate the database ClinicalTrials.gov, a registry maintained and supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, using the instructions in the tabs below.

Please note that although trials at Washington University School of Medicine are listed in the database, neither the school or university manage the website.

ClinicalTrials.gov Searching Help

Steps to Search for an ALS study: ClinicalTrials.gov
  1. Go to https://clinicaltrials.gov
  2. In the “Search for Studies” box, type in “amyotrophic” and click the search button.
    *Note: searching for “ALS” often brings up broad results (over 700 studies), but searching for “amyotrophic” will quickly direct you to relevant studies (about 300 studies). 
  3. Under “List” view, check the “Include only open studies” box.
  4. Click the blue “On a Map” tab and then click on your state to see recruiting ALS studies in your area.
  5. To learn more, click on the name of the study.
    * Read about the purpose of the study to figure out if you are interested in the study.
    * Look at the inclusion and exclusion criteria to find out if you are eligible for the study.
    * Use the contact information at the bottom of the page to reach out to the study’s research staff.
To search for interventional ALS studies only
  1. Go to https://clinicaltrials.gov
  2. Under the “Search for Studies” box, click on “Advanced Search”. 
  3. In the “Search Terms” box, type in “amyotrophic”.
  4. Select “Open Studies – Recruiting” from the drop down menu on the “Recruitment” selection line.
  5. On the “Study Type” drop down menu, select “Interventional Studies” and then click the search button.
  6. Click the blue “On a Map” tab and click on your state to see recruiting ALS interventional studies in your area.
  7. To learn more, click on the name of the study. * Read about the purpose of the study to figure out if you are interested in the study. * Look at the inclusion and exclusion criteria to find out if you are eligible for the study. * Use the contact information at the bottom of the page to reach out to the study’s research staff.

Other Resources

Video Help Guides
ClinicalTrials.gov
Neals.org

The Northeast Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Consortium website offers an additional option to view ongoing trials.