The Anschutz medical campus is conducting clinical studies, and participants are needed. Each study calls for different population criteria, and many offer financial compensation.
Dr. Richard Krugman, dean of the School of Medicine and vice chancellor of health affairs at Anschutz, said, “The purpose of these studies is to advance science and improve care.”
Krugman estimates that there are “more than 2,000 studies going on at any given time.” The large number is a result of the school’s $375 million research budget.
There are myriad populations needed for the studies.
“We welcome students, but we are in need of populations of all ages, different genders, and different ethnic backgrounds,” said Krugman.
And not only is the school of medicine seeking participants for its studies, but they are, according to Krugman, “looking for the next generation of researchers as well.”
Usually, students at Anschutz begin taking part in the studies because of the easy accessibility from classes to the sites of the studies.
Loriel Weddington is one such case. As a nursing student at Anschutz, Weddington receives e-mail updates about campuswide events.
That is how she found out about a nutrition study in which she is currently a participant. The study is comparing the brain’s response to food in obese-prone and obese-resistant people.
The study involves overfeeding and underfeeding participants based on their body weight. The school provides all of the food, and even pays the participants for their commitment.
Even with the e-mail notices, Weddington said that there is “not a high level of awareness” with other students. She also said that a lack of participation is probably due to “people being scared of the risks.”
She had reservations of her own, but with her particular study, medication is not involved. They’re just observing the body’s reactions to different diets, so she decided to participate.
With each study, potential benefits and potential risks are disclosed with the participants. Contracts are signed before any of the research begins.
Megan Brocado, a professional research assistant, is currently working on a blood draw study. This study is similar to a blood drive. It involves looking for healthy subjects who want to donate their blood.
She said that even though the study is low-risk and participants are paid $60 per pint of blood donated, participation and interest comes and goes.
To find more information, go to www.cudenver.edu/whoami/network/study/pages.
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