Why Volunteer?
Why volunteer for clinical trials?
Why choose Chiltern?
What happens and what is required?
Is it safe to volunteer?
Who can take part?
Other common questions
Why volunteer for clinical trials?
When taking any form of medication have you ever wondered how it is developed and tested? This information is needed to help obtain the correct dosage, the safety of the drugs, and how long a drug may remain in the body. New treatments are continually being developed for the treatment of disease. However, it is a complex process with many stages of development before a new medicine can be used to treat patients.
A promising new drug must be extensively investigated before it is thought to be safe to be given to humans. It is then tested in healthy volunteers so that certain properties of the drug can be determined. During any drug trial volunteers safety and good clinical practice are our primary concern. Volunteers are seen by one of our medical doctors to check they are suitable for the trial and the research trial will have full approval from an Independent Research Ethics committee. Healthy volunteers and patients play an essential part in the development of new drugs, treatments, assessing products and helping to test new and existing medicines to combat disease.
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Why choose Chiltern?
Chiltern has over 20 years experience in clinical research, testing medicines and new products for the pharmaceutical industry. Chiltern has offices worldwide, and our clinical research unit is conveniently placed just west of London. We pride ourselves on our friendly professional approach, wealth of knowledge and experienced recruitment team to answer all your queries. Currently Chiltern has over 4000 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 75 and in addition has a panel of both male and female Japanese volunteers. In order to license medications in Japan it is necessary to find out whether in Japanese a drug differs from that of Western Caucasians, Chiltern International is one of the leading organisations using Japanese subjects for such clinical trials in the United Kingdom and has over 6 years experience conducting clinical trial using Japanese volunteers.
We have a purpose built clinical research unit recently expanded to 30 beds. However, we still manage to maintain our friendly approach, and provide an excellent service to the pharmaceutical industry and our volunteers. The safety and comfort of our volunteers is very important to us and we provide a volunteer lounge where you can watch videos, play pool, or generally relax.
JSTV is available for our Japanese volunteers and Internet access is provided. We have curtained areas around beds, lockable bedside cupboards for safekeeping of valuables and our housekeeper is on site to assist with meals. If you have been one of our volunteers before you will be aware that they are not your average hospital meals! Chiltern also provides an onsite Japanese national interpreter to help with any language difficulties and welfare. This is to ensure that volunteers understand the details of the clinical trial, restrictions, timelines and commitments. As trials often require staying in for several days or short visits to the unit an appropriate payment is made at the end of the trial as compensation for the time devoted to the trial. A travel allowance is given to cover travel expenses to the unit.
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What happens and what is required?
A medical examination will be needed to check that subjects are suitable and in good health before entering a trial. This might include a blood and urine sample, height, weight, an ECG to monitor heart and blood pressure. Volunteers will be tested for recreational drugs. This is an additional safety measure to detect any illegal drug substance, which may react with the medicines on trial. A full explanation of the study will be given by one of the doctors and volunteers will be asked to sign a consent form indicating that they understand the nature of the trial and are willing to take part. Japanese volunteers will have all study details and written information translated into Japanese and procedures of the clinical trial will be explained thoroughly before participation. All volunteers are free to withdraw from the trial at any time without detriment to their medical care.
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Is it safe to volunteer?
The trials are conducted under strict medical supervision in our Clinical Research Unit near Slough, West of London. An Independent Ethical Research Committee reviews each trial to ensure that the highest possible safety standards are maintained to protect the rights, safety and well being of the subjects. The qualified staff include: full-time medical doctors, experienced registered nurses and technicians, recruitment team, a Japanese interpreter and administrative staff.
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Who can take part?
Both Male and Female Volunteers may apply, depending on the criteria for the trial. The age range is normally between 20 and 45, however we do run trials using volunteers of all ages. As a form of identification volunteers are ask to bring in their passport and UK nationals are also required to bring details of their national insurance number.
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Other common questions
Can I smoke / can I drink alcohol?
Restrictions depend on the trial; smoking may be permitted, or restricted to generally no more than 10 cigarettes a day. If smoking is allowed there are designated areas in the unit. Restrictions on alcohol depend on the trial. No alcohol is permitted in the unit.
Can I do exercise?
This may be restricted during your trial, you will be advised what to do.
Can I drink coffee?
This may be restricted during your trial, you may also be asked not to eat or drink anything containing caffeine, which would include CHOCOLATE, and cola type drinks.
Are there contraceptives requirements?
Usually you will be asked to use a double barrier method of contraceptive. This means if you are a male you will be asked to use a condom and your partner will also have to use a method of contraceptive as well.
Will I be tested for HIV?
It is standard practice on most clinical trials to be tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and C. The results of these tests are all confidential.
Will I be tested for recreational drugs?
YES, you will be tested at screening and often at every admission period for recreational drugs, which includes cannabis, "Es", and other hard drugs. Be warned cannabis stays in your system for at least 3 weeks.
What do I receive for my participation?
You could receive as little as £25 or over £1000 depending on the type of study you apply for. There will be a payment of £15 towards travel expenses.
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