Registry — What It Means in Clinical Trials
Plain English Definition
A registry is a long-term observational study that collects health data from a large group of people with a specific condition. Registries help researchers track disease patterns, treatment outcomes, and side effects over many years. You may be asked to share medical records or fill out surveys.
Why It Matters
Joining a registry is one of the easiest ways to contribute to medical research. There is usually no experimental treatment involved, and your participation helps researchers understand your condition better for future patients.
Example
A listing may say: "National registry for patients with sickle cell disease. Participants will be followed for up to 10 years."
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