Get to Know ClinicalTrials.gov

Posted by Margot M on December 5th, 2025 Posted in: NLM Resources
Tags: National Library of Medicine, professional development, Training

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Every medication a person picks up at the pharmacy, every treatment option a clinician recommends, and nearly every health headline that shows up on our screens began its life in a clinical trial. Yet for most people, the world of clinical research seems hidden from view.

ClinicalTrials.gov is a window into the world of clinical research. By searching in ClinicalTrials.gov, you can see how medical evidence is generated, from early recruitment to posted results. Understanding this resource helps us guide our communities toward informed decision-making.

ClinicalTrials.gov is the openly available federal registry and results database of publicly and privately funded clinical studies conducted in the United States and around the world. ClinicalTrials.gov is a vital resource for researchers, healthcare providers, patients and their families, and health sciences librarians who wish to consult the entire body of evidence on any health topic.

On Thursday, January 15, NNLM is offering a webinar designed specifically for librarians who want to feel more confident navigating the ClinicalTrials.gov database. We will walk through search strategies, study record features, and practical uses.  You can apply these search skills to answer consumer questions, support researchers, or strengthen your own health literacy instruction.

Please join us! Register at this link.