Medical Trials/Reasearch - Human Guinea Pig

Poosmate

Just wondered if anyone had thought of doing something like this to make a bit of extra dosh?

I keep hearing this ad on the radio on the way into work and keep meaning to look up the name of the advertisers - but I can't remember what the name is. I need someone to do a trial on my memory!!

Wish I'd remembered to post this thread earlier but I forgot about it till I just popped on this forum and now it's time for bed! Doh!

Anyway, I've kind of half heartedly looked into it before and it seems that you can make some pretty good cash out of it.

There are, of course, risks. I remember some years ago when a trial went wrong and some guys heads swelled up, I think a couple died. I guess you can choose just to do research i.e. sleep trials, diet trials, stuff like that or more hardcore where you are administered actual drugs.

Any thoughts or experiences?

Look forward to coming back tomorrow night to check out what people think. (If I haven't forgotten by then! lol)

Poo

Disclaimer: I haven't participated in any trials nor have I signed up to any of the sites linked therefore, I am not reccommending any of them, just posting the links for information. Signing up and participation is your choice.

Poo

Links:

http://www.weneedyou.co.uk/quotient-home-page/why-volunteer/trials-explained.aspx
http://uk.testwiththebest.com/index.html
http://www.trials4us.co.uk/index.php

lincroft1710

Poosmate wrote: »

Just wondered if anyone had thought of doing something like this to make a bit of extra dosh?

No, because

There are, of course, risks.



Any thoughts?

The money may seem good, but that's for a reason

Look forward to coming back tomorrow night to check out what people think. (If I haven't forgotten by then! lol)

Personally unless I was absolutely desperate for cash I wouldn't sign up

Poosmate

I guess I'm used to risk - I travel on the motorways to work and back every day lol!

Seriously though, there are other trials you could take part in where no drugs are administered. As I mentioned, sleep trials (I'd win that one as I could be an Olympic Gold Medalist for England - I love my sleep), or dietary trials, brain and/or body scanning (though I think those last two would carry a small amount of risk).

I may do some more research on it and will post back if I sign up and become a GP.

Poo

1962davew

Hi

I am starting one on Monday at Hope hospital in Salford.
Just testing some anaesthetic cream and being zapped with lasers whilst being tested by an ECG.
Should be fun :rotfl:

Poosmate

1962davew wrote: »

Hi

I am starting one on Monday at Hope hospital in Salford.
Just testing some anaesthetic cream and being zapped with lasers whilst being tested by an ECG.
Should be fun :rotfl:

Excellent! I hope the cream works! Please post and let us know how it goes.

Good luck,

Poo

1962davew

Yes will do !
Hope its not like the laser eye surgery in Final Destination 5 LOL :embarasse

Jissurfung

I've done one in the past which was just a isolation study and a sleep study. The payout was okay. Around £2400 for 14 solid days. But I also had to commit to not drinking or smoking for 21 days before hand. I dont smoke but enjoyed a casual drink on the weekend.
It went fine and I actually found it quite interesting.

One of my friends is currently doing a medical trial for a Parkinson's drug. I'll let you know how he gets on but he's blogging about it as he goes through it if your interested

ryan1978

Davew, how did you get to do the one in Salford, I'm based in Manchester. I've got loads of hols to use so could really do with getting involved with something like that.



There used to be a company in Manchester called Medival but I think its changed names?

1962davew

Hi

Its via a company called Biotrax

http://www.biotrax.com/outside_form_popup.php?trial_id=1153&cat_id=1

1962davew

Poosmate wrote: »

Excellent! I hope the cream works! Please post and let us know how it goes.

Good luck,

Poo

Hi
Did part one of three visits today.
Had to do a quick questionnaire and a bit of a chat etc. the guy is very friendly.

Then on to the "laser" no protection they just zap you on your arm to find your pain threshold and you tell them on a scale of 1 to 10 but you don't get to 10 only 7, it doesn't really hurt at this point.

You do this on both arms it starts off quite easy, a bit like a pinprick and then a quick slight burning sensation.

After they have established your threshold you move onto the EEG cap which is placed on your head and then gel is squirted in behind each electrode (I took a photo at this point LMAO) luckily I don't have a great deal of hair as I shave most of it off, I can imagine it would be quite tricky for people with a lot but there are washing facilities i.e. a sink, shampoo and towels and a hairdryer.

You are then zapped approx 40 times between both arms and again you tell them on a scale of 1 to 7. After this they put some normal skin cream on your arms then wipe it off after approx 10mins and do it again (this is the placebo which makes no difference but they have to do it) and then zapped again the same amount. Whilst you wait for the cream you do a test on the comp to test your reaction times (this takes 11mins).
And finally they zap one more time, I suppose you get zapped over 200 times in total and towards the end your arm is getting quite sore but nothing to worry about, it subsides usually after an hour or so, but everyone is different.

The second time I believe they use the new cream and you don't get zapped as much.

So overall it took about 2 1/2 hours.
You get paid £10 hr and 40p mile for travelling expenses.
Your money is given after the 3rd one I think so approx for me £90 and £60 expenses.
The trial takes place over a couple of months.

Cheers

NB There is another trial going on at the moment and pays £300 plus expenses.
Briefly they inject some radioactive substance into you and it is monitored as it tags onto pain receptors in your brain.

Poosmate

Hey Dave, thanks very much for sharing your experience with us.

I don't like the sound of the other trial, radioactive stuff sloshing around inside of you? EEK!! No thanks even if you put another naught on the end of the payment!

Cheers

Poo