Information Disclaimer

Information, not medical advice

The articles, condition guides, study descriptions and other content on JoinAStudy.ca are for general information and education. They are not medical advice, and they do not replace a diagnosis or treatment from your own doctor, nurse practitioner, pharmacist or other qualified health professional.

Always talk to your health care provider about your health, your medications and any decision to join a study. Never ignore professional advice, delay getting care, or stop or change a treatment because of something you read on this website.

No doctor–patient relationship

JoinAStudy.ca is a service that helps people find clinical research studies. It is not a clinic or a health care provider. Using this website, filling in a form or talking with our team does not create a doctor–patient relationship with Trial Management Group Inc. (TMG), with JoinAStudy.ca or with any research site. A relationship with a study team begins only if you go to a screening visit and give your informed consent.

About the studies we list

Study pages summarize information about clinical research studies that are, or may soon be, looking for volunteers in Canada. We check our listings regularly, including against public registries such as ClinicalTrials.gov, but study details, locations and requirements can change and a study can close at any time. The study team’s information and the study’s approved consent form take precedence over our summary.

In Canada, a clinical research study must be reviewed and approved by an independent research ethics board before anyone is enrolled.

Pre-screening is not enrolment

• Our questionnaires and study forms are pre-screening tools. They help the research team see whether a study may be worth discussing with you.
• Sending a form does not enrol you in a study and does not guarantee that you qualify or that a place will be available.
• Only the study doctor can decide whether you are eligible, after a screening visit and your written informed consent.
• The message you see after sending a form is not a medical opinion about you.

Investigational treatments

Many studies test investigational medications, devices or procedures. “Investigational” means the treatment is not yet approved by Health Canada for the use being studied, and its safety and effectiveness are still being studied. Some participants may receive a placebo (an inactive treatment) or an existing treatment instead. Nothing on this website is a claim that a treatment is safe or effective, and nothing here promotes any product.

Taking part is voluntary

Taking part in research is always your choice. You can say no, or leave a study at any time, without giving a reason and without affecting your usual medical care. The study team will explain the possible benefits, risks, visits and commitments before you decide.

Compensation and costs

Some studies reimburse expenses such as travel or parking, or compensate participants for their time. When this applies, the amounts and conditions are set out in the study’s ethics-approved consent form. Any mention of compensation on our website is a summary and is not a promise. We do not charge you for using JoinAStudy.ca or for taking part in a study.

Health articles and guides

We write our health content for a general Canadian audience and update it when we can. Medical knowledge changes, and an article may not reflect the latest research or apply to your situation. Each article shows when it was published or updated. A guide is described as physician-reviewed only when a named reviewer has actually reviewed it, and the guide shows the reviewer’s name and the review date.

Brands, sponsors and products

We may mention medications, devices, companies or study sponsors by name to give accurate information. A mention is not an endorsement or a recommendation, and logos and trademarks belong to their owners.

Links to other websites

We link to other websites, such as public health agencies, patient organizations and study registries, for your convenience. We do not control them and are not responsible for their content or their privacy practices.

English and French versions

JoinAStudy.ca is available in English and in French. We use translation software to help prepare the French version, and we take care to make both versions say the same thing. If you notice a difference, please tell us; we will correct it and apply the meaning that is more favourable to you.

Limits of our responsibility

We work to keep JoinAStudy.ca accurate, available and secure, but we provide it “as is” and cannot guarantee that it will always be complete, current or free of errors or interruptions.

To the extent permitted by law, TMG is not responsible for losses that result from relying on general information on this website instead of seeking advice from a qualified health professional.

Nothing in this disclaimer limits any right you have that cannot be limited by law, including your rights under consumer protection law. In particular, in Quebec, nothing here excludes or limits liability for bodily or moral injury, or for intentional or gross fault.

This disclaimer is governed by the laws of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada that apply there. This does not take away any protection you have under the laws of the province or territory where you live.

Contact us

JoinAStudy.ca is operated by Trial Management Group Inc., 42 St Clair Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario M4T 1M9.

• Questions about a study: research@joinastudy.ca
• Questions about your personal information: privacy@joinastudy.ca
• Something on this page is wrong or out of date: contact us