Physicians who participate in clinical research studies gain benefits for themselves, their practice, and their patients. Private practice physicians have traditionally chosen to defer to their counterparts in academic medicine when it comes to contributing to scientific advancement through clinical trials. A growing number, however, now are taking a serious second look and deciding that there are unique benefits for both the practice and the patient. Physicians who decide to participate in clinical trials should give serious consideration to the time and dedication of staff and other resources that are required to meet both federal regulations and industry standards. In addition, ethical and scientific principles of assuring the protection of human research subjects must be a paramount concern.