When beginning any study the doctor, or investigator, must get approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB is a committee of doctors and other medical personnel that have no ties to the study. The IRB makes sure the clinical trial is as safe as possible and that the "informed consent" explains all of the important information to the patient. Before people join a clinical trial, they go through something called the "informed consent process." This process ensures that as a potential study participant you are given written information about the purpose of the study, the risks and benefits of being in the study; and what you may expect to occur during the course of the study. Once you have carefully read these documents, you should ask questions about words or procedures that you don't understand.