Thoughts from a Lab Rat

The lingering recession has many rats concerned with the survival of full-time volunteering. While things may seem bleak at the moment, I must point out that there are studies out there. Certainly, there are fewer studies, maybe big stipend studies, but there are hundreds if not thousands of studies for healthy individuals. That’s not to say that some clinics aren’t experiencing a greater slowdown than others. Sponsors use various clinics to do their trials. Over the course of a trial, the volunteer requirements will vary thus affecting the current demands of a certain clinic. Sometimes, all the moons may align and a particular clinic may only have small studies. Conversely, the same clinic may get several large studies and the need for volunteers is greater. There is no way to predict what the future holds for each clinic because the contracts constantly change and evolve. Regardless of how long a recession lasts, the need for medications and treatments will always be there. Until the day comes where we are replaced by unethical clones, our services will be needed and appreciated.

While the best part of doing a study may be getting a check, it’s not always easy to get there. Sometimes it may take two or three tries to get into a study. Sometimes it may take weeks or months to get into a study. While people can and do make a living, there are often lean times and points where things seem to fall apart at the worst possible time. Unfortunately, clinics only base their decisions to enroll volunteers on lab results and the predetermined methodology of placing qualified candidates into the study. It’s similar to a slot machine where it has no memory of previous studies or how long it’s been since you’ve done one. Sometimes you just have to be patient. Many people have part-time or full time jobs to keep them busy during the antics of finding a study. I get lots of work off craigslist and sometimes through local labor agencies. It’s important to keep busy and not dwell on how long it takes.