By Tom Norris

For those of us living with chronic pain, being overlooked is part of the experience. But your voice matters in treatment, research, and the decisions that affect our lives. One powerful way to advocate is by getting involved in clinical trials and research studies—as either a participant or patient adviser.

You don’t need a medical degree to contribute. Your lived experience is your expertise. And now, more than ever, researchers and clinicians need our insights to design better, more effective care.

It starts with a conversation—with your doctor. Here are seven tips to help you bring up research participation.

1. Say you’re interested

Be clear: “I’d like to learn about participating in a clinical trial or helping as a patient adviser.”

Most providers won’t raise the topic unless you do.

2. Know the two tracks

You can participate in a trial as a research subject, which can take many forms—you may be testing a new medication or treatment, wearing a symptom-monitoring device, or answering a questionnaire.

You can also use your lived experience to advise researchers on how to design and improve studies. Patient advisers also serve on clinical guideline panels, helping to set care standards nationwide. There’s training available if you want to serve as an adviser; you’re not expected to know everything on Day One.

3. Bring your story

Come prepared with your diagnoses, treatments, and what matters most to you. This helps your doctor identify relevant opportunities—or refer you to someone who can.

4. Be specific

Identify your specific focus, such as fatigue, non-opioid therapies, or mobility issues. This helps narrow the field.

5. Ask what they know

“Are there any studies I might qualify for? Do you know anyone doing pain research?”

Even if your provider is not involved in research, they may have connections.

6. Share what you find

If you come across information about a trial, ask your doctor to review it with you. You don’t have to navigate it alone.

7. Keep it collaborative

“If I get involved, how can we stay aligned on my care?”

It’s important to keep your doctor in the loop when you take on a research role. For instance, if you join a trial to test a new medication, your providers can identify potential interactions with your current treatment regimen and monitor side effects.

Getting involved in research has helped me reclaim my voice—and use it to improve care for others. Training opportunities and resources are available through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Pain Foundation, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), Veterans Affairs, and more to support you in stepping into these roles.

You’re not invisible. You’re part of the solution. Start by speaking up—your lived experience might be the missing piece someone’s research desperately needs.