Clinical / Medical trials

ALLI · 8 Mar 2006 at 19:27

Anyone know of any companies that recruit human guinea pigs, specifically in the West Mids?

ElRazur · 8 Mar 2006 at 19:44

I only know of the ones in and around london, why dont you do a search and see.

Out of interest, are you looking to get into one?

ALLI · 8 Mar 2006 at 20:25

Yeah.

basically, because im studying mental health, i get sent on clinical placements that last for 7 weeks. this makes part time work a real hassle because im off and on all the time and very few employers tolerate this. im currently on the bank at the local hospital but it's absolute dire - lowest of the low type work. the nurses hate you because your unqualified (even though they know im training) and the HCA's hate you because you're training to be better than them. plus, the money is terrible and it's very demanding work.

i figured these trials can pay quite well and are quite flexible with regard to when and where you do the trials and will often pay for your travel expenses too. also, being diabetic, im keen to do whats called "patient" trials where they can test new products such as inhaled insulin, somthing im very keen on as injecting 4 or 5 times a day can be a real nightmare (injection rotation, scar tissue etc)

i've found one place that does trials around the country so i'll see what they say.

ElRazur · 8 Mar 2006 at 20:28

ALLI said:
Yeah.

basically, because im studying mental health, i get sent on clinical placements that last for 7 weeks. this makes part time work a real hassle because im off and on all the time and very few employers tolerate this. im currently on the bank at the local hospital but it's absolute dire - lowest of the low type work. the nurses hate you because your unqualified (even though they know im training) and the HCA's hate you because you're training to be better than them. plus, the money is terrible and it's very demanding work.

i figured these trials can pay quite well and are quite flexible with regard to when and where you do the trials and will often pay for your travel expenses too. also, being diabetic, im keen to do whats called "patient" trials where they can test new products such as inhaled insulin, somthing im very keen on as injecting 4 or 5 times a day can be a real nightmare (injection rotation, scar tissue etc)

i've found one place that does trials around the country so i'll see what they say.

I see whee you are coming from, i did it before (4years ago) and got paid almost £2000 but having said that i wouldnt advice anyone to do it.

Lately i read in the news if anything happens to you there is no come back i.e you cant sue them for willfully taking part. Just be careful please.

happytechie · 8 Mar 2006 at 20:30

try any university / teaching hospitals in your area, I'm sure brum has one, I know that some poeple did trials at the sheffield hospitals when I was doing biochemistry there. They didn't get paid very well and it was a lot notetaking iirc

HT

ALLI · 8 Mar 2006 at 20:41

happytechie said:
try any university / teaching hospitals in your area, I'm sure brum has one, I know that some poeple did trials at the sheffield hospitals when I was doing biochemistry there. They didn't get paid very well and it was a lot notetaking iirc

HT

thats why im aiming for the patient trials as opposed to the standard "take this pill, could be a placebo, could be viagra" type trials.

Dr House · 8 Mar 2006 at 20:44

ALLI said:
Anyone know of any companies that recruit human guinea pigs, specifically in the West Mids?

I will give you £500 to try some of my mums cooking, having said that the clinical trials may be safer.

But seriously the clinical trials are really not a good idea unless you are starving

firstborn · 8 Mar 2006 at 20:57

I did several for Pharmaceutical Profiles who are based in Notts. At the time they paid fairly well, especially for the week long studies. But you were only allowed to do a trial once evry six months iirc as they used radio labelled drugs.