By Regenerative Medicine China · Published and sources checked · Patient information and administrative due diligence, not an individual clinical opinion or legal advice.
How do I check whether a clinical-trial invitation is genuine?
Match the study identifier, sponsor, intervention and hospital in an official registry, then independently contact the study site. Ask whether that site is currently screening someone with your diagnosis and whether international participation is possible. A registry listing is a lead for verification, not an offer of a place or a guarantee of benefit.
Identify the exact study
Request a registry identifier such as an NCT number or the relevant Chinese registration number, the protocol title, sponsor and site investigator. Search the identifier yourself rather than relying solely on a screenshot or a link label. Read the record’s update date and study status.
Compare intervention names, diagnosis, age range and site list with the invitation. If the hospital or product differs, ask the research office to explain whether the proposal belongs to another protocol. Do not allow several related studies to be presented as one interchangeable programme.
Confirm site-level screening
A study-level recruitment label does not tell you whether a specific site has capacity today. Ask the site whether it is open, what screening documents it needs, what language support is available and whether the proposed visit is screening or enrolment.
The NCI describes clinical trials as protocol-based studies with screening and consent steps. That background explains why a records check cannot promise final enrolment. Do not stop current treatment or travel on the assumption that a slot is secured by a referral alone.
Request the participant information
- A current participant-information and consent document in a language you understand.
- The purpose of the study and the investigational treatment or procedures.
- Important known risks, remaining uncertainties and available alternatives.
- Visit frequency, expected location, follow-up commitments and contact details.
- What happens if screening fails, the study closes or you choose to leave.
A patient may need time to ask questions and discuss the proposal with their treating clinician. A consent form is not a substitute for that conversation, and an intermediary should not sign the patient’s decision for them.
Trace every proposed charge
Ask the study office for the funding breakdown rather than assuming that participation is either entirely free or entirely self-funded. Identify research-related items, ordinary care, travel and any separate coordination services. Verify that the site recognises the particular payment request.
If a promoter charges to “guarantee” enrolment, ask the site to confirm whether the service exists and who authorised the charge. A high fee does not prove fraud, and a free offer does not prove authenticity; the records and institutional confirmation still need to match.
Make an evidence log
Save the registry page or identifier, date checked, site’s written reply, document version and open questions. Mark each statement by source: registry, investigator, supplier or coordinator. This prevents a coordinator’s expectation from turning into a supposed clinical decision when the family discusses the case.
This guide complements our existing clinical-trial-versus-clinical-application explanation. RMC is not a trial sponsor and cannot allocate a place or override eligibility criteria. Ask the responsible research site for the final decision.
Your practical checklist
- Find the registry record independently.
- Confirm the specific site is screening now.
- Review participant information and costs.
- Treat acceptance as a site decision, not a purchased entitlement.
Common questions
Does a registry entry prove that a treatment works?
No. A record describes a study and its planned or reported details. Evaluate results separately with a qualified clinician.
Does screening guarantee enrolment?
No. The site must complete its protocol-specific assessment and consent process.
Sources and scope
- ClinicalTrials.gov: public study records
- NCI: what to expect in a clinical trial
- NCI: understanding cancer research consent forms
- NCI: who pays for clinical trials
Sources support the factual context described above. The checklists are RMC’s suggested questions, not official mandatory document lists. US sources are background guidance and do not establish Chinese law, local insurance cover or an individual institution’s terms. Public-source review is not certification of a hospital, payee or treatment.