Whether you are a starving student looking to make some cash or keen to contribute to the development of pharmaceutical and medical knowledge, signing up to participate in clinical trials of anything from drugs to treatments and procedures may seem like a straightforward, lucrative option to pursue. Sometimes that will be the case, but it is sensible to be aware of the pitfalls too.
There’s a Reason You May be Paid Well –
Risk!
Although participants in trials are closely monitored, the very nature of the
situation is about testing and observing the effects of something on the human body. If
you are not prepared for side effects, or in extreme cases, loss of life, then
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whether you are taking part in clinical trials or not, as none of us know when
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The Pay Rate Can Vary a Lot
Drug trials usually have several stages of trial. The first is usually the
riskiest, as a substance tested on animals is administered to people, and
consequently usually pays more. Pay decreases as stages progress – late stages
often don’t pay anything beyond expenses.
Entry Requirements Vary
Many clinical trials recruit healthy (non-smoking/heavy drinking/long term
sickness) adults, although some specialist trials target those with a specific
unhealthy habit or a particular illness. It is not worth lying about your
health or habits – if only for your own safety!
Some trials involve a short or long term residential stay, and others mean
regularly travelling long distances for monitoring tests. You may be expected
to give blood or have other tests, to eat or skip food, and so on.
Choose the Right Company
If you are keen there is no shortage of work available, but for your own peace
of mind do a little research on the contract research organization responsible
for designing the trial. Choose an established company with high ethical standards
and well qualified staff.
Aftercare is Important
Good companies provide high level access to medical services for those who
need them following a clinical trial. This may be more important after phase
one trials, but is reassuring for all participants, and ideally extends beyond
the supervised trial period.
Clinical trials are invaluable to the progress of medical science and often
equally beneficial to those who participate, especially when fully informed of
what the trial involves beforehand.
How trials protect volunteers
If you are thinking about taking part in a clinical trial, it helps to know what happens before a treatment ever reaches a volunteer. New medicines and procedures go through laboratory testing first, and only move on to human trials once there is good evidence that they are reasonably safe to try. Every trial also has to be approved by an independent ethics committee before it can recruit anyone.
Not everyone can join. Each study sets eligibility criteria, which can include age, sex, existing health conditions, medication and medical history, to protect participants and make the results reliable. You will be given written information and asked to give informed consent, and you can ask as many questions as you like. Importantly, you can withdraw at any point without giving a reason. During the trial you will be closely monitored, and the study team will explain the possible side effects in advance and treat any that occur.
What taking part in a trial involves
Each study has its own entry requirements. Most look for healthy volunteers who do not smoke and drink only moderately, though some seek people with particular conditions. Before being accepted you will have a full medical. In a phase one trial you are among the first people to receive the drug, while phases two and three follow only once phase one has been passed and are generally seen as lower risk.
Payment depends on how long you take part. Some studies are short, others involve overnight stays of varying length, and most involve needles, whether for injections or blood tests. You may be given a placebo, since comparing results against one is essential to the research, and the payment is the same either way.
Side effects range from a mild headache to something more serious, though serious effects are very rare. Aftercare is offered at the end, and it is sensible to tell your GP you took part. Places are limited, so only sign up if you are committed, although you are always free to withdraw.
How to find a trial that suits you
If you are a patient, your doctor is often the best starting point, as they already know your condition and may be aware of studies that could be relevant. Healthy volunteers usually find trials through research units and universities, many of which keep registers of people willing to take part.
Beyond that, there are two main routes. Trial matching services ask questions about your health and circumstances and suggest studies you may be eligible for, usually free of charge. Public trial registries list ongoing studies with a description of what is being tested, who can take part and who to contact. Before applying, it helps to understand how a trial is run and who is involved. A study coordinator or clinical trial assistant is often your main point of contact, and they can explain what each visit involves, how long the study lasts and what happens if you decide to leave early.