Why volunteer for clinical trials?
When taking any form of medication have you ever wondered how it is developed and tested? This information is needed to help obtain the correct dosage, the safety of the drugs, and how long a drug may remain in the body. New treatments are continually being developed for the treatment of disease. However, it is a complex process with many stages of development before a new medicine can be used to treat patients.
A promising new drug must be extensively investigated before it is thought to be safe to be given to humans. It is then tested in healthy volunteers so that certain properties of the drug can be determined. During any drug trial volunteers safety and good clinical practice are our primary concern. Volunteers are seen by one of our medical doctors to check they are suitable for the trial and the research trial will have full approval from an Independent Research Ethics committee. Healthy volunteers and patients play an essential part in the development of new drugs, treatments, assessing products and helping to test new and existing medicines to combat disease .
Is there payment for volunteering?
The majority of trials involve short visits to the unit however some may require a stay in the unit of several days. In either case volunteers will be paid in the region of £100 to £3000 for their time depending on the specifications and duration of the trial. They will also be re-imbursed for travel expenses.
Is it safe to volunteer?
The trials are conducted under strict medical supervision in our Clinical Research Unit. An Independent Ethical Research Committee reviews each trial to ensure that the highest possible safety standards are maintained to protect the rights, safety and well being of our volunteers.
The qualified staff include: full-time medical doctors, experienced registered nurses and technicians, recruitment team, a Japanese interpreter and administrative staff.
What happens and what is required?
A medical examination is required to check that volunteers are suitable and in good health before entering a trial. This might include a blood and urine sample, height, weight, an ECG to monitor heart and blood pressure. Volunteers will be tested for recreational drugs. This is an additional safety measure to detect any illegal drug substance, which may react with the medicines on trial. A full explanation of the study will be given by one of the doctors and volunteers will be asked to sign a consent form indicating that they understand the nature of the trial and are willing to take part. Japanese volunteers will have all study details and written information translated into Japanese and procedures of the clinical trial will be explained thoroughly before participation. Volunteers are free to withdraw from a trial at any time without detriment to their medical care; they will be paid (pro-rated) for the time spent.
Why choose Chiltern?
Chiltern has over 20 years experience in clinical research, testing medicines and new products for the pharmaceutical industry.
Chiltern has offices worldwide, and our clinical research unit is conveniently placed just west of London, in Slough, Berkshire with easy access to motorways (M4, M25 M40) and London, Paddington (Main Line Station). We pride ourselves on our friendly professional approach, wealth of knowledge and our experienced recruitment team to answer all your questions/concerns. Currently Chiltern has over 4000 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 85 and in addition has a panel of both male and female Japanese volunteers. In order to license drugs in Japan it is necessary to find out whether they are absorbed by the body in a different way to that of Western Caucasians, Chiltern is one of the leading organizations in conducting such clinical trials in the United Kingdom and has many years experience in this field.
We have a purpose built clinical research unit situated in Slough. The safety and comfort of our volunteers is very important to us and we have a lounge where they can watch TV / DVD, Sky TV, ‘surf the net’, play pool.
JSTV is available for our Japanese volunteers and Internet access is provided. We have curtained areas around beds, lockable bedside cupboards for safekeeping of valuables and our housekeeper is on site to assist with meals. If you have been one of our volunteers before you will be aware that they are not your average hospital meals! Chiltern also provides an onsite Japanese national interpreter to help with any language difficulties and welfare. This is to ensure that volunteers understand the details of the clinical trial, restrictions, timelines and commitments.
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