Thoughts from a Lab Rat

Okay, so that’s a bit drastic. But the reality of the situation is that times are tough right now. The prolonged recession is affecting the pharmaceutical industry which in turn affects the research and development which in turn affects the need for volunteers. Will things get better? Yes. This has happened before. The demand for volunteers fluctuates depending on the stages of a particular drug. When drugs first come on the scene, as in first in man, the trials require 6 to 8 subjects per cohort and there are usually 4 to 6 cohorts. As the study progresses, more and more volunteers are required until the study switches over to patient trials which require even more volunteers. Sometimes there are more first in man studies than later stage studies and sometimes it’s the opposite but most times its an even mix.

But it’s so hard right now! I feel all of your pains! Believe me! I live the same life you do. I’m scheduled to check-in to a fantastic study one day and am digging holes in a field for 6 bucks an hour the next. Being a lab rat full time can be rough, I mean rough. With no guarantees of a stipend check, it can be very difficult to plan ahead. Certainly it would be nice if the dedicated volunteers such as us had some more security in our work but with the way the industry works that is not possible.

Things will improve but we have to be patient. There are studies out there. They may not be the highest paying but they all lead towards a better, healthier future for everyone. As I’ve mentioned before, there is risk involved with doing studies. Not only the possibility of uncomfortable side-effects but the reality that nothing is guaranteed as a volunteer. We are all here out of our own freewill and fully understand the risks involved. Sponsors may cancel and postpone studies at the last minute but there is usually a legitimate reason involved. Whether it is restructuring the study because of safety concerns or the FDA steps in, it’s all geared towards keeping clinical research studies as safe as possible. Obviously, there is no way to prevent all problems that come up but that is the whole point of conducting research trials, to make sure that as many side-effects are detected as possible.

So, keep a sharp eye out for studies and don’t panic. While I would recommend being open to other opportunities, don’t count out the future of clinical research.

Mirror site:

www.drugspay.com is the mirror site. It is exactly the same as www.jalr.org. There may be a few bugs but I haven’t found them yet. Having the site mirrored on two different locations should help alleviate some of the slow-downs that have been occurring lately.

Covance closes down two clinics:

I have been expecting this for quite some time. The San Diego and Boise locations will be shutting down at anytime. These clinics are no longer recruiting new studies. They will carry out the remaining studies that are in progress. While having fewer locations may seem bad, it will hopefully allow the company to distribute studies to the various clinics better.

Qualia shuts down:

Qualia in Omaha shut down last month unexpectedly leaving employees and volunteers without compensation. The company basically folded without warning however financial reports painted a bleak picture from the beginning. As with most bankruptcies, the rightful victims are rarely ever paid their dues. Best of luck to the employees and volunteers in getting their money.

New updated printable clinic sheet:

New sheet is updated and reflects recent changes. There are two pages. One with the contact info and one with basic travel info. You can print the pages separately or back to back.