Summer 2011
INSIDE:
ABOUT VOLUNTEERS FIRST:
Volunteers First is published by the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Office of Communications, Patient Recruitment, and Public Liaison.
For more information about clinical studies at the NIH Clinical Center or the information in this newsletter, visit us at http://clinicalcenter.nih.gov/recruit
Information on
current studies:
1-866-444-6676
TTY: 1-866-411-1010
Se habla espaol
prpl@cc.nih.gov
PAST ISSUES:
The best reasons to volunteer are all around you.
Some you love.
Some you miss.
Some youll never know.
Healthy volunteers, partners in discovery
Throughout the years there have been manygroundbreaking medical discoveries pioneered at the NIH Clinical Center, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy to treat cancer, treatment of AIDS with AZT, gene therapy, and countless others. We all benefit from the advances made possible through medical research, and the commitment of healthy volunteers who participate in research at the Clinical Center make this progress possible.
Whats a healthy volunteer? Its someone with no known significant health problems who participates in research to test a new drug, device,or intervention.
Eric Obame of Maryland has been a healthy volunteer participating in research studies since 2004. "I think people worry sometimes about going to the doctor when they dont technically need to," he said. "But whenever I participate in research, I know it helps further medical knowledge and maybe even save lives."
Rusti Queen, another healthy volunteer from Maryland agrees, "It was so interesting. I recommend that people who are interested in research ask a lot of questions. You get to learn alot and really help science and medicine." Queen has participated in four studies over the past two years and plans to volunteer again.
"I want to help, and this is a great way to do it,"she said.
Healthy volunteers have always played importan troles in research at the NIH Clinical Center, helping researchers diagnose, treat, and prevent disease since the hospital opened in 1953.
About 300 studies under way here are actively seeking healthy volunteers. Many other studies are seeking patient volunteers, individuals with aparticular diagnosis. For more information about becoming a partner in research at the NIH Clinical Center, email prpl@cc.nih.gov or call 1-866-444-6676 (TTY: 1-866-411-1010) www.clinicalcenter.nih.gov
How institutional review boards protect patients
Health matters: IRBs and patient protection
An institutional review board (IRB) is an independent committee made up of medical specialists, statisticians, nurses, social workers, medical ethicists, and members of the public. At research institutions like the NIH Clinical Center, the IRB is the advocate of the research volunteer.
According to the Clinical Center Department of Bioethics, there is a chance that even the most careful researchers might overlook ways they could improve their research to make it more consistent with ethical principles or other requirements for research. To avoid such problems, a group of people who are not connected to the research are required to give it an independent review. These committees are not only tasked with protecting the rights and welfare of people who participate in research, but also make sure that every study addresses medically important questions in a responsible and scientific manner.
IRBs carefully examine each research study before it begins and make sure that any risks to volunteers are described clearly and completely. They also make sure that any risks associated with the study are outweighed by potential benefits and have the ability to request changes to planned research if they identify ways to better protect patient or healthy volunteers. Federal laws require that IRBs review and regularly monitor every clinical trial in the United States that involves human volunteers.
Learn more about the Clinical Centers commitment to research ethics and the protection of patient volunteers by visiting these websites:
- NIH & Clinical Research http://clinicalresearch.nih.gov
- NIH Clinical Center Department of Bioethics http://www.bioethics.nih.gov/home/index.shtml
Teaching research at the USA Science Festival
News and information from the NIH Clinical Center
NIH Clinical Center staff joined thousands of children, teachers, parents, and scientists on the National Mall in Washington DC last fall for the inaugural USA Science and Engineering Festival. The purpose of this event was to teach kids about research and science, especially the clinical research critical to the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of health-related illnesses.
The Clinical Centers booth titled, "Pack a Lunch with Punch for Kids in Research," demonstratedthe scientific research process to more than 900 children. Kids who stopped by learned about clinical research, how it works, and how promising discoveries can be translated into better health for all. Visitors participated in a hands-on demonstration that gave them the opportunity to walk through four different phases of research.
The Clinical Centers Executive Chef Robert Hedetniemi headlined a cooking demonstration with Pete Thomas from the second season of NBC's "The Biggest Loser." Hedetniemi demonstrated how to prepare healthy and affordable meals, including a pomegranate and fig breakfast parfait, an apple-encrusted autumn lunch salad, and a vegetable pasta dinner dish.The USA Science and Engineering Festival aims to invigorate the interest of the nation's youth in science, technology, engineering, and math. More information about the results of the days research demonstration and Hedetniemi's recipes, is available at:www.clinicalcenter.nih.gov/scienceexpo.
Information for patient volunteers | Information for healthy volunteers |
Asthma and Bronchiectasis Study Plaque Regression Study Autism Study Refractory Asthma
| Hepatitis B Immunity Noninvasive Imaging Study Tai Chi Study Lung Disease Study
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For more information about any |
The West Drive patient entrance off Cedar Lane is a special NIH entrance for Clinical Center patient and healthy volunteers. |
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