The role of healthy volunteers in clinical research

Episode # 102
Uploaded: July 11, 2012
Running Time: 2:32

CROWN: From the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, this is CLINICAL CENTER RADIO.

The NIH Clinical Center, America's Research Hospital, depends on all kinds of volunteers to participate in clinical research studies. Dinora Dominguez, lead of patient recruitment at the Clinical Center, says that includes healthy volunteers.

DOMINGUEZ: We do have patients and healthies that come to us from all over the country and all over the world and we do have about 1,500 studies or so going on at any given time. But every study is looking for individuals who must meet very specific eligibility criteria.

CROWN: A healthy volunteer is someone with no known significant health problems who participates in research to test a new drug, device, or intervention.

DOMINGUEZ: So healthy volunteers are an important part of the research done here at the NIH Clinical Center. Researchers need both individuals -- those that are healthy and those that have the medical condition or medical diagnosis -- because we learn from both of them.

CROWN: Ms. Dominguez adds some people may be concerned about what participating in clinical research means and what they'll have to do as part of their participation. She says every study is different, so it's important to take it one step at a time.

DOMINGUEZ:  The first step to consider as a volunteer is that you have the right to say no – that you are not interested in this part of the study or that you are not interested in continuing in the study at all. It's key to communicate with the research team what your concerns and your questions are. Another point I make when speaking with potential volunteers is that their time and their involvement today is what makes medicine move forward; it is what helps medicine move forward. 

CROWN: To find studies for healthy volunteers go to clinicalstudies.info.nih.gov and search for studies using the word healthy. When you select individual studies, carefully review the study overview and eligibility requirements. If you meet the eligibility requirements, call 1-800-411-1222. From America's Clinical Research Hospital, this has been CLINICAL CENTER RADIO. In Bethesda, Maryland, I'm Ellen Crown, at the National Institutes of Health, an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

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