Preventive
Reducing how often attacks happen8–24 weeks, typically
- A documented baseline period first
- Daily diary entries throughout
- Regular visits or video check-ins
- Often the longest commitment of the three
Migraine research opportunities
Help researchers evaluate emerging approaches to migraine prevention and treatment — on terms you set, with no cost to you and no obligation at any stage.
Types of study
What migraine research is usually asking for
Different questions need different commitments. These are the three shapes most migraine studies take, and what each of them typically wants from a participant.
Acute
Treating an attack once it starts1–3 attacks recorded
- You treat an attack and record the result
- Shorter and less demanding than preventive work
- Dose timing is usually the critical detail
- Travel is frequently reimbursed
Device and digital
Non-drug approaches, mostly at home4–12 weeks, at home
- Neuromodulation, behavioural programmes, apps
- Equipment sent to you; few or no site visits
- Adherence matters more than in a drug trial
- You keep your own diary either way
These descriptions are illustrative summaries of how studies of each kind are commonly structured. They are not offers, and no specific study is being described. Eligibility, duration, procedures and any reimbursement are set by each study's own protocol and given to you in writing before you agree to anything.
Your rights
What you are entitled to, every time
None of this is a favour from us or from a sponsor. It is the baseline for human-subjects research, and if any study you meet through us falls short of it, tell us.
Informed consent, in writing
Before anything begins, the study explains in plain language what it is testing, what it will do to you and ask of you, the known risks, and the alternatives. You take that document away and think about it.
Independent review
Studies involving people are reviewed by an ethics committee or institutional review board before they may recruit. You can ask which one approved a study and when.
Withdrawal without penalty
You may stop at any point, for any reason or none, without affecting your usual medical care and without owing anyone an explanation.
Confidentiality
Study data is held under the protections described in that study's consent form — which governs it, not this website's privacy policy.
A named person to ask
Every study gives you a contact for questions about the research and a separate one for questions about your rights as a participant.
Honesty about what is known
A study exists because the answer is not known yet. Anyone promising you a result is not describing research.
Before you sign up
Questions worth asking any study
Take these to the study coordinator. A good study will have ready answers and will not mind being asked.
- What exactly is being tested, and against what — a placebo, or an existing treatment?
- What are my chances of receiving the active treatment rather than a placebo?
- What happens to my current migraine treatment while I take part?
- How many visits, how long is each, and where?
- What are the known side effects, and what happens if I have one?
- Who pays for what — including travel, time and any care I need as a result?
- What happens at the end, and will I be told what the study found?
- Who is funding it, and who reviewed it?
Get started
Start tracking, and hear about studies that fit.
Two things in one sign-up: a link to start your migraine diary, and — only if you tick the box — a message when a study is recruiting people with a pattern like yours. Tracking is free and stays free.
Check your inbox.
We have your details. We will email you when the diary opens, and text you if a study matching your pattern starts recruiting — you can stop those at any time by replying STOP.
Looking is not joining.
Join the list and you will hear when something fits. Everything after that is a decision you make with a study's own documents in front of you.