Clinical Trials in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Doctors and researchers use clinical trials to discover new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases. Nearly every medication, vaccine, medical device, and treatment used today was first tested in clinical trials.

In Grand Rapids, MI, residents benefit from access to high-quality research through major healthcare systems such as Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health. These organizations, along with local universities and research partners, help make West Michigan an important center for medical research and clinical trials.

Clinical trials are especially important in Michigan, where seasonal changes, cold winters, and Great Lakes–related environmental factors can affect respiratory health, heart disease, and chronic conditions. Research done here can directly improve care for people living in Grand Rapids and across the state.

What Is a Clinical Trial?

A clinical trial is a carefully designed research study that involves volunteers. It tests:

  • New medications or combinations of medications
  • New uses for existing drugs
  • Medical devices (such as implants, pumps, or monitors)
  • New ways to diagnose diseases earlier
  • New strategies to prevent disease (such as vaccines, vitamins, or lifestyle programs)
  • New approaches to surgery or other procedures

Without clinical trials, doctors in Grand Rapids and across Michigan would have far fewer tools to treat cancer, heart disease, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, and many other conditions common in our region.

Access to Cutting-Edge Treatments in Grand Rapids

Because Grand Rapids is home to major health systems and research centers, local residents may have access to innovative treatments before they are widely available.

Clinical trials in Grand Rapids may be offered through:

  • Corewell Health / Spectrum Health hospitals and clinics
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids specialty clinics
  • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health research programs
  • Mercy Health and affiliated practices
  • Local academic and research partners in West Michigan

Participating in a clinical trial may allow you to:

  • Try a new treatment that is not yet available to the general public
  • Receive closer monitoring from a specialized research team
  • Contribute to medical knowledge that can help others in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and beyond

Benefits and Risks of Clinical Trials

Every clinical trial has potential benefits and possible risks. Regulations in the United States are designed to make trials as safe as possible, but no study is completely risk-free.

Potential Benefits

  • Access to promising new treatments or therapies
  • More frequent checkups, tests, and monitoring by a research team
  • A structured plan for your care during the study
  • The opportunity to help improve future treatments for others, including people in your own community
  • Sometimes, reduced or no cost for study-related medications, tests, or visits (varies by trial)

Potential Risks

  • The new treatment may cause side effects that are:
    • Different from standard treatments
    • More serious or more uncomfortable than expected
  • The treatment may not help your condition
  • You may be randomly assigned to:
    • A standard (current) treatment, or
    • A placebo (inactive) treatment, when appropriate and ethical
  • Extra time and effort may be required:
    • Additional blood tests or imaging
    • More frequent clinic or hospital visits
    • Keeping diaries, logs, or collecting samples (such as 24‑hour urine collections)

Before you join any clinical trial in Grand Rapids, the research team must explain all known and potential risks and answer your questions.

How Clinical Trials Are Regulated and Kept Safe

Clinical trials in the United States are tightly regulated by federal agencies and ethics committees to protect participants.

Key protections include:

  • Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Human Ethics Research Committee:
    Every study involving people must be reviewed and approved by an independent ethics committee (often called an IRB). Grand Rapids hospitals and universities have their own IRBs or work with regional boards.
  • Federal regulations and guidelines:
    U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other federal rules govern how trials are designed, monitored, and reported.
  • Ongoing safety monitoring:
    Many trials have a Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) that reviews safety data while the trial is in progress.

These safeguards apply whether the trial is run at a major Grand Rapids hospital, a local clinic, or a university research site.

Phases of Clinical Trials

Drugs and many treatments move through several phases of testing. Knowing these phases helps you understand who can participate and what to expect.

Pre‑Clinical Studies

Before a treatment is tested in people, it is studied in:

  • Laboratory models and animals
    • To evaluate basic safety
    • To see if it is likely to be effective

Only treatments that show promise and acceptable safety in pre‑clinical studies move into human trials.

Phase I Trials

  • Who participates: Usually a small group (often 20–80) of healthy volunteers or people with the condition
  • Main goals:
    • Evaluate safety
    • Understand side effects
    • Determine safe dosage range

Phase II Trials

  • Who participates: Typically 100–300 people who have the condition the drug is meant to treat
  • Main goals:
    • Further evaluate safety
    • Begin to test how well the treatment works
    • Refine dosing

Phase III Trials

  • Who participates: Larger groups (hundreds to thousands) of people with the condition
  • Main goals:
    • Compare the new treatment to standard treatment or placebo
    • Confirm effectiveness
    • Monitor side effects in a larger population

Phase III results are often used to request FDA approval so the treatment can become widely available in clinics and hospitals in Grand Rapids and across the country.

Phase IV Trials (Post‑Marketing Studies)

  • Who participates: People using the approved treatment in real‑world settings
  • Main goals:
    • Monitor long‑term safety and effectiveness
    • Detect rare or delayed side effects
    • Understand how the treatment works in broader, more diverse populations

Phase IV studies often involve patients at community clinics and health systems like those throughout Kent County.

Who Can Join a Clinical Trial?

Each clinical trial has specific rules about who can and cannot participate. These are called eligibility criteria and are designed to keep participants safe and ensure reliable results.

  • Inclusion criteria: Characteristics you must have to join
    • Example: certain age range, specific diagnosis, stage of disease, or lab test results
  • Exclusion criteria: Characteristics that prevent you from joining
    • Example: certain other medical conditions, pregnancy, specific medications, or prior treatments

Before you enroll, the research team in Grand Rapids will review your medical history, current medications, and test results to see if the trial is a good and safe fit for you.

Joining a clinical trial is always voluntary. Your regular medical care at Spectrum Health/Corewell, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health, or any other provider will not be affected if you decide not to participate.

Before you enroll, you will receive a Patient Information Statement or Informed Consent Form that has been reviewed by an ethics committee. It will explain, in clear language:

  • The purpose of the trial
  • How long the trial will last
  • What procedures and tests are involved
  • Possible risks and side effects
  • Potential benefits (if any)
  • How the trial may affect you, your family, or caregivers
  • Any costs to you, and what is covered by the study
  • Your rights, including the right to leave the study at any time

You should:

  • Read all materials carefully
  • Ask questions about anything that is unclear
  • Write down questions in advance to discuss with:
    • Your primary care doctor
    • Your specialist
    • The research nurse or study coordinator

Informed consent means you fully understand the information and agree freely to take part. You can withdraw at any time, and your standard treatment in Grand Rapids will continue.

Special Considerations for Certain Groups

Some clinical trials have additional protections and rules for:

  • Pregnant women and unborn babies
  • Children and adolescents
  • Older adults
  • People with limited English proficiency

If English is not your first language, ask if materials are available in your preferred language or if interpreter services are available. Many Grand Rapids health systems provide interpreters and translated materials.

Clinical Trials and Your Everyday Care

  • Your doctor may discuss a clinical trial as one option for your care, especially if:

    • Standard treatments are not working well
    • You have a rare condition
    • You are interested in contributing to research

  • You are never required to join a trial.

  • If you join and later decide to stop, you can leave the study at any time. Your regular care at your Grand Rapids clinic or hospital will continue.

Local Resources for Clinical Trials in Grand Rapids, MI

If you are interested in clinical trials in the Grand Rapids area, you can:

  • Talk with your:
    • Primary care physician
    • Oncologist, cardiologist, or other specialist
  • Visit the research or clinical trials pages of:
    • Corewell Health / Spectrum Health
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
    • Mercy Health
  • Explore national registries such as ClinicalTrials.gov and filter by:
    • Location: “Grand Rapids, Michigan” or “Kent County, Michigan”
    • Condition (for example: “breast cancer,” “diabetes,” “COPD,” “heart failure”)

For community health support and information on local health priorities, you can also contact:

  • Kent County Health Department
  • Grand Rapids Public Health programs and community clinics

These organizations often know about local research opportunities and can help connect you with appropriate resources.

Key Points About Clinical Trials in Grand Rapids

  • Clinical trials are essential for discovering new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease.
  • Residents of Grand Rapids, MI, can benefit from cutting‑edge treatments through trials offered at local hospitals and clinics.
  • Drugs and treatments must go through pre‑clinical studies and Phases I–IV to ensure safety and effectiveness.
  • Every trial has benefits and risks, and participation is completely voluntary.
  • Informed consent protects your rights and ensures you understand the purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits before you decide.
  • Your regular medical care in Grand Rapids will not be affected if you choose not to join—or if you leave—a clinical trial.