How BrightStudy works
BrightStudy is a search and notification service for publicly listed clinical research. We are not a research site, a sponsor or a healthcare provider, and we do not make eligibility decisions.
- 01
You tell us broadly what interests you
We ask for a ZIP code, an age confirmation and a general research-interest category. That's enough to filter the public directory. We deliberately don't ask for diagnoses, medication lists, medical record numbers or insurance information at this stage.
- 02
We search public trial data
BrightStudy queries the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 for studies with a recruiting status, prioritizing U.S. locations. We store each study's NCT number and original source URL, cache the results, and refresh them at least daily. Studies that stop recruiting are removed at the next refresh.
- 03
We show possible matches, not decisions
Our matching is a filter over public information. It can tell you "you may be interested in this study". It can never tell you that you qualify, that you are eligible, that you've been accepted, or that you'll be paid.
- 04
You choose whether to go further
You can read the original record, contact the site listed on ClinicalTrials.gov yourself, or ask us to pass your details to a research site. Nothing is shared with a site unless you ask for it.
- 05
The research site screens and decides
Study staff run their own screening against the protocol. They decide eligibility and enrollment, explain risks, and go through informed consent with you. You can decline at any point, even after screening.
Language we use — and don't
We say "you may be interested in this study". We never say "you qualify", "you have been accepted", "you are eligible" or "you will receive compensation", because none of those are ours to say.
How compensation is handled
Some studies reimburse time and travel; many don't. We display an amount only when a verified study partner has supplied it and approved it for recruitment use. We never infer payment from similar studies. Compensation, eligibility and study availability vary. Submitting your information does not guarantee qualification, enrollment, medical treatment or payment.
Partner and sponsored listings
Alongside the public directory, BrightStudy can carry recruitment materials supplied directly by sponsors and research sites. Those are labeled as partner or sponsored placements. Before any such listing is published, our internal review records the partner name, study identifier, whether IRB approval is required, the IRB approval status, the approved copy version and approval date, whether compensation has been verified and its source, and a listing expiration date. Custom recruitment claims and compensation amounts are not published until the responsible business owner confirms they are authorized.