Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Medical Research

And whether a medical trial is right for you.

This post is presented in partnership with Linear Clinical Research. 

Have you ever seen an ad about participating in medical research and thought, “What on earth is that?”

Look, you're definitely not alone.

We’ve teamed up with our mates from Linear Clinical Research and broken down everything you need to know about medical research, so you can wrap your head around it and figure out whether it’s right for you.

What is a clinical trial?

Clinical trials (also known as medical trials) are a part of the process in creating new life-saving drugs and therapies for patients. 

Trials are done to ensure medication is both effective and safe for patients, and every medication that we are lucky enough to use today goes through this exact process. 

Commissioned by pharmaceutical companies in the interest of discovering the next medical breakthrough, companies like Linear need healthy participants to sign up and test these potential new treatments to see if they are safe and tolerable, before they are then tested to see if they treat a potential disease or illness. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Do I get paid?

Absolutely you do. Looking through Linear’s current trials, remuneration for participating in a clinical trial can range from anywhere between $500 – $6,000. That’s some big bucks.

Studies which require more of a time commitment, like the Sickle Cell Anaemia Study, is paying $5,215 for a seven-day stay in Linear’s clinic and nine follow up appointments.

If you can’t give up seven days though don’t worry ‘cos Linear also offer appointment-only studies when they’re available. 

Of course, it's important to know all the details about the trial you'd be participating in so you can weigh up whether it's right for you. 

Do I need to meet any requirements?

Short answer: yes. To participate in medical research, you'll need to meet certain criteria.

For example, on Linear’s current trials page, you will see they list requirements that must be met before you can apply for a trial.

All trials require a person to be healthy and over 18-years-old. Beyond that, each trial will have specific requirements like “must have not smoked in the last 6-months” or “must not be taking prescription medication.”

If you decide to sign up and are deemed eligible, Linear will first confirm your application with you over the phone to ensure you are a good fit for the trial you signed up for. If you are, you will then be invited to a 2 – 3 hour comprehensive medical check to confirm you are healthy enough to take part. 

During this “screening appointment”, you will get the chance to speak to the study doctor about this trial, who can answer any questions you may have before deciding whether you’d like to participate. 

Can these clinical trials go wrong?

To answer this question, we spoke with one of Linear’s Marketing and Recruitment Officers, Gareth Renwick and quizzed him about the possibility of a trial going wrong.

“We can never guarantee how any particular medication can interfere and interact with an individual,” Gareth says.

However, occasions where issues occur are extremely rare, as new treatments and therapies have to go through extensive years of testing before they can be run in clinical trials on humans. 

“In the very off chance something was to happen, we have doctors and nurses at the clinic ready with processes in place should something go wrong," Gareth adds.

Plus, Linear's clinic is located within Sir Charles Gairdner hospital, so you can be rest assured knowing you’re in the safest environment possible. 

It's vital to note that the industry is heavily regulated, and organisations aren’t allowed to run trials unless they have approval from independent ethics committees. Linear takes this a step further by abiding by international certification guidelines as well. 

Running trials in Australia is also advantageous because safety standards are incredibly high, and Linear has more than 200 staff members who are experts in this field. You will also be encouraged to discuss any clinical trial you would like to participate in with your GP, should you wish to get a medically informed and independent view on it.

Can I do multiple trials?

Yes, you can, just not at the same time because that will interfere with the data if you have two study medications in your system.

There is usually a 30 – 90-day washout period after a trial, but once that has passed you can do another one.

A participant can do a maximum of four clinical trials per year.

Am I signing away my rights?

No. Though you do sign a consent form after you are found to be eligible.

The form you sign is basically agreeing that you understand the study requirements and that you’re interested in taking part and being responsible for the time commitment.

In the form it also states you can withdraw from the trial at any time without reason.

Will I be helping people?

Yes, you will, but it takes a bit longer than you think. 

Generally, it'll take a drug 10 – 15 years to go from being an idea to hitting the market. That's why the fact they rolled out the COVID-19 vaccine within a year makes it all the more impressive, and highlights just how important your contribution can potentially be for the good of humankind going forward. 

There you go, we’ve broken down everything that is involved in the process of participating in a clinical trial.

Yes, they may pay good money but there is risk—albeit low—involved and that matters when considering something like a clinical trial.

Like anything, you should always do your own research and find out all the details before you agree to participate. In fact, you can always give Linear’s Recruitment Team a call if you have any questions you'd like answered. 

You can check out Linear's website to find out more. 

Header Image: Naassom Azevedo via Unsplashed