In 25 days, three hours and eight minutes, I will be at the Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati, donation in hand and ready to “put my money where my mouth ...
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Clinically Speaking
Learn more about participating in clinical research from the researchers themselves. Our ...
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(Don’t) Let it go, update your ResearchMatch profile
Things have been quite busy for me since my last post. I graduated from The Ohio State University, started a new career, and have been busy getting my post-college life situated. Once the dust settled a little, I had a moment to think about the past couple of years and how they led me to […]
It’s a wrap
Quick recap: I enrolled in a 12-week study to test whether sesame oil could reduce risks for cardiovascular problems. I got off to a rocky start at my first visit because I was dehydrated and I couldn’t produce enough blood for the samples needed. So I restarted a few days later, but I had earned a […]
Studies vital to patient survival
I met one of the most memorable patients of my medical career in 1981 when I was an intern at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Her name was Wanda, a beautiful, skinny 7-year old with an aggressive form of acute leukemia that required frequent admissions to the hospital.
Clinical research, scientists can’t do it alone
Clinical research requires multiple processes and personnel to be successful. There is the value and validity of the scientific approach and methods, as well as independent review, informed consent and monitoring the welfare of those enrolled. Yet, perhaps the most important steps are fair subject selection and adequate enrollment. Huh? Oh right, this isn’t a […]
Common myths, part 2
There are a lot of myths out there about participating in clinical research studies. Blair has made it her mission to dispel some of the most common ones in a three part series.
Helping communities through research
Researchers give significant thought to the concerns of the people they are trying to recruit to participate in their studies. These are people with busy lives – jobs, families, hobbies, other volunteer opportunities, possibly health concerns. So there are many things that compete with a participant’s time, and the scientists who develop their studies take […]
Common myths, part 1
There are a lot of myths out there about participating in clinical research studies. Blair has made it her mission to dispel some of the most common ones in a three part series.
Too busy? Try a survey.
Since signing up for ResearchMatch, I have received many emails about participating in research studies. Some have requested I participate in person, and others have just wanted to ask me some questions online.
Study midpoint
This study, testing whether sesame oil can improve cardiovascular health, is 12 weeks long. My visits were scheduled every three weeks. But the first was just a quick drop-in to pick up a new supply of oil.
Study Notes 