New drugs and pharmaceutical breakthroughs would not be possible without clinical research. Researchers strive to develop new ways to diagnose, prevent, and treat diseases, but without clinical research studys, they would not be able to test the safety and effectiveness of their innovations and receive FDA approval. clinical research studys are always seeking new participants: healthy people as well as individuals with specific diseases and conditions. So, if you’re interested in taking part in clinical research, what are you waiting for? Scroll down to learn how to participate in clinical research studys.
How to Participate in clinical research studys
Research Your Options
To get started, investigate clinical research occurring in your area. You can do this by searching online, joining a registry of volunteers, or even talking to your doctor. To learn more, check out our blog post How to Find clinical research studys. One popular option is the National Institutes of Health’s searchable database, ClinicalTrials.gov. This website lists hundreds of thousands of research studies being conducted around the United States and across the world. While some are seeking participants who have a particular condition or disease, many others require healthy volunteers. So if you’re in good health, you can still take part in a clinical research study.
Review the Guidelines and Apply
Once you’ve found a study that interests you, check out the eligibility guidelines. All clinical research studys list inclusion and exclusion criteria, which impact who can participate in the trial. You must meet all the inclusion criteria to take part in the study. If you meet any of the exclusion criteria, you likely won’t be eligible to join the study. These criteria may include age, sex, race, ethnicity, weight, diet, physical activity, medical conditions, medications, treatment history, and more.
If you meet the eligibility criteria and you’re interested in participating, go ahead and apply for the study.
Complete the Recruitment Screening
Next, you’ll be screened for the study. This often begins with a phone call, during which a member of the research team will ask you some questions to ensure that you’re a good fit for the study. If you pass this initial screening, you will likely be asked to visit the clinic for a screening appointment, which may include more questions as well as a physical exam. After this, you may be invited to join the study.
Submit Your Informed Consent
Now that the researchers have accepted you as a participant, it’s time for you to consent to participate. The FDA requires that all research participants give their informed consent before joining a clinical research study.
To ensure that you understand the details of the trial, the research team will provide you with a lot of information at this stage, such as the following:
- Trial protocol
- Length of the trial
- Frequency of required visits to the research site
- Safety information
- Scheduling information
- Possible side effects
- Possible risks
- Possible benefits
- Compensation details
Once you have read the details of the trial and asked the patient care coordinator as many questions as you like, you will be asked to sign an Informed Consent Form (ICF). Don’t worry – this isn’t a binding contract. You’re free to leave the trial whenever you like.
Participate in the Study
Finally, the trial will begin! Your experience will vary based on the specific type and phase of trial, but the research team will guide you every step of the way.
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clinical research studys have the ability to improve the well-being of people around the world, helping them live longer and healthier lives. If you’ve been wondering how to participate in clinical research studys, we hope this information proves useful. To get started, check out QPS Missouri if you live in the southwest Missouri region.
QPS Missouri is looking for new participants. Since opening its doors in 1994, QPS Missouri has conducted over 1,000 FDA-regulated studies, paying out over $35 million to local participants. Your local participation could have a global impact, as QPS is an international leader in contract research with facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia. Our mission is to accelerate the development of drugs worldwide by enabling breakthroughs in pharmaceutical innovation. If you would like to join us in this mission, consider applying for a clinical research study.
To get started, you simply need to fill out an online application. Within 48 business hours, a recruiting coordinator will contact you for your pre-screening assessment. To learn more, please visit the QPS Missouri website, review the study participation process, or check out our list of FAQ.