It’s always a little nerve-racking to try something new. It requires us to step outside our comfort zones, ask others for guidance, and accept a certain amount of uncertainty. So if you’re feeling a bit nervous about the prospect of signing up for a clinical research study, we encourage you to learn more about the process. For example, you could explore how clinical research studys work and what happens in each phase of a clinical research study. Before you submit an application, you might also wish to know where you’ll be going for your appointments during the course of the clinical research study. Where does a clinical research study usually take place?
Where Does a Clinical Research Study Usually Take Place?
clinical research studys can be used to test new treatments and devices; to look for new ways to detect, diagnose, or measure the extent of a medical condition; or even to explore new ways to prevent a disease from occurring. They’re critical to the process of delivering safe, effective health care to people around the world.
clinical research studys vary greatly, but all trials will require you to visit a specified place for a preliminary screening as well as one or more appointments. During these appointments, you may receive a treatment, undergo a physical, or answer questions regarding your health, amongst other tasks. Where you go for your appointments will depend on who is conducting the study. clinical research studys often occur at the following places:
- Clinical research centers
- Community clinics
- Academic medical centers
- Hospitals
- Universities
- Doctors’ offices
Unlike other types of scientific research that occur in a laboratory, clinical research usually occurs in a hospital or clinical setting under the direction of researchers. It isn’t uncommon for a single clinical research study to take place at multiple sites so that researchers can recruit more diverse participants.
Before you sign up for a clinical research study, the research team will explain where you will be expected to go and how often. If you have any questions or concerns about the study site, don’t hesitate to voice them. Generally, it’s a good idea to sign up for a study that’s located near you, but it’s important to keep in mind that some studies will reimburse participants for their transportation costs.
Clinical research occurs in cities around the world, so if you’re interested in participating in a study, you can likely locate an option near you. To get started, check out the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s database: ClinicalTrials.gov. You’ll find hundreds of thousands of research studies being conducted in every American state as well as more than 215 different countries.
Do you live in the southwest Missouri region? If you’re interested in joining a clinical research study, check out QPS Missouri. 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.