Paying participants for the essential role that they play in clinical trials is important, but the amount given, and how it is paid, require careful consideration. Appropriately compensating clinical trial participants lessens the financial burden placed on them by participation in research and increases the pool of possible contributors.

As a result, sponsors can increase diversity in their clinical trials, and make sure that they are truly representative of the patient population. Compensation increases recruitment, allowing studies to be completed efficiently, saving time, money, and staff resources.

It also recognizes participants for their contribution to advancing medical science. But how can sponsors strike the right balance between compensating research participants to achieve those benefits, while minimizing the potential for the payments to have an undue influence on their behavior?