Learn to use the registry well
Clinical Trials Finder is a navigation directory, and these guides teach the navigation itself: how ClinicalTrials.gov records are structured, what the registry's labels actually mean, and how to search so that you neither miss open studies nor chase closed ones.
By the Clinical Trials Finder editorial team Guidance last reviewed June 10, 2026 Report an issue
How to read a ClinicalTrials.gov study record
A field-by-field walkthrough: NCT IDs, the two titles, status and dates, design fields, eligibility criteria, locations, contacts, and results — plus a reading order that works.
Read the guide →Clinical trial phases, explained
What Phase 1 through Phase 4 each measure, why so many records say “N/A,” what combined phases mean, and how phase changes what participation tends to involve.
Read the guide →Recruitment statuses, and why they lag
Every status value in lifecycle order, why registry statuses trail reality in both directions, and a timing strategy that accounts for the lag.
Read the guide →How to find clinical trials near you
How location data really works, a five-step search process, what to prepare before calling a study team, and honest options when nothing turns up nearby.
Read the guide →Healthy volunteers and paid clinical trials
What “healthy volunteer” means in registry terms, why payment information in listings is unreliable, and how to confirm compensation with a study team.
Read the guide →Reference pages that pair with these guides
The glossary defines every registry term used across this directory. The condition, city, sponsor, and therapy directories put the guides into practice, and every record links back to its official ClinicalTrials.gov page.