The Department of Surgery is committed to finding new ways to prevent and treat disease in people through clinical trials research to fulfill UCSF’s mission as a leading health sciences university. Clinical trials are done through a study and below is the process of how to design and conduct a study from beginning to end and valuable resources to help its success.

View Department of Surgery Clinical Trials

Study Overview

For an overview and requirements of how to start a clinical trial, visit UCSF Office of Clinical Trial Activation. Other useful resources can be found at UCSF HUB's Study startup and Clinical Study Management.

Components to Consider Before Starting a Clinical Trial

Protocol Template

A protocol is a document that describes the background, rationale, objectives, design, methodology, statistical considerations, and organization of a trial. The ICH Good Clinical Practice Guidelines specify some topics that should generally be included in a protocol. Visit the Clinical Trial Protocol Development guidance located on the UCSF Research Hub for more information on protocol development and templates. Many of the NIH institutes have their own protocol templates. Examples are available at the NIAID website.

Budget Development

Every investigator should have a clear financial management plan to adequately support their research endeavors. The plan should include a defined department process and a responsibility log which outlines the team members accountable for the process. Please review Budgeting Services before starting your study.

Coverage Analysis

Coverage analysis is the independent review of a human research study to determine which patient care costs are billable to insurance and which are not. Learn more about coverage analysis here. Awards involving human subjects’ research require coverage analysis and budgets review. To initiate coverage analysis, email clinical trails.

Feasibility Checklist

When approached with an invitation to participate in a clinical trial, the investigator usually receives a copy of the protocol or a protocol synopsis. It is very important to carefully review and evaluate the protocol and determine if appropriate patient population and resources are available for successfully completing the trial. The Sample Feasibility Checklist gives you a list of questions to consider before agreeing to participate in a trial.

For additional assistance with study management tools, please email the HUB.