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.

Every clinic is like a restaurant. Some people adore Mc Donald’s while some people avoid it like the plague. I don’t think there is one restaurant in the world that everyone would equally like.

There are many different clinic environments. Some clinics have that industrial look and feel, like cruising down a Miami industrial area with the theme music from Miami Vice blaring. White buildings with lots of steel and black smoke glass. The interiors with bright colors and minimal furnishings. Yeah, you know the look. Other clinics tend to have a more homely feel with couches, recliners, pictures and flowers everywhere.

I find that the smaller clinics tend to be more laid back as there are fewer subjects. The larger clinics must run with more of an iron fist in order to maintain order and keep all of the subjects in line. It’s not that clinics are trying to be mean to the volunteers.

With any job, there must be rules to be followed in order to ensure that the objectives are being met. In the case of clinical research, each clinic can set their rules to what they believe will get the best results for the study. Certainly we are all adults and can take care of ourselves but anytime you put a bunch of strangers in close quarters, there’s bound to be compatibility issues with each other. The clinic’s main role is to conduct the study and get valid results.

So not everyone is going to like every rule. But again, and I can’t seem to stress this enough, everyone is there voluntarily. You may leave the study at any time, though you will get paid less. It is up to each volunteer to be responsible for him or herself.

So long story short, there are clinics I personally like and some that I’m not fond of. But all clinics are working towards the same goals; conducting clinical research studies in the safest and efficient manner to get new drugs to the market or at the very least, discover what compounds work and do not.