What are the benefits of volunteering to take part in clinical research?

* You may help in the development of medicines that may help someone suffering from a chronic, serious, or life-threatening illness.
* You may provide important scientific information for developing the medicines of the future.
* You'll receive a thorough medical examination and blood screen to check your health status.
* Volunteers who take part in clinical research studies at Simbec receive a generous inconvenience payment which can range from £350 to £2000+.
* Whilst on a study you'll have lots of time to relax, catch up on some studying using our free Internet access, or just chill out in the recreation room playing pool or test your knowledge and skill by playing our board and video games.
* Simbec will provide all your meals during your stay
* And provide transport to and from Simbec whilst on a study

Why do we need to conduct clinical trials?

The vast majority of us at sometime in our lives will have been prescribed some form of medication by our doctor. In doing so you will have benefited directly from clinical trials, which would have involved healthy volunteers like you.

Medicines we now take for granted, such as Ibuprofen and antibiotics like amoxicillin were once new drugs and had to undergo a series of Clinical Trials before being allowed onto the market. In fact these medicines continue to be researched as pharmaceutical companies strive to improve formulations etc.

Giving a medicine to a healthy volunteer provides information on the safety and tolerance of medicines and how a healthy body absorbs and excretes drugs. This can be tested for example, by taking blood and urine samples, by measuring blood pressure and performing a ECG (a trace of your heart rate) at various times in the day.

Is it safe and are there any side effects?

Have you ever read the information sheet in a box of tablets? In this you will see that most medicines may have side effects. As a volunteer you will be concerned about your safety. That is why here at Simbec the well being of our volunteers is always our priority. Each and every study we undertake is submitted to the South East Wales Research Ethics Committee, as an independent group, who will review the information available and ensure that each study maintains the highest levels of safety before allowing it to proceed.

What does a typical trial involve?

Before the start of every trial, you will have to undergo a pre-trial medical examination and blood test to ensure that you are suitable to take part. Before this medical examination, you will be provided with the full trial details and will be asked to sign a consent form. Please note you are free at any time to withdraw your consent. If you decide to take part in a trial and require transport to Simbec, we will arrange this for you.

Every trial follows a strict schedule of events. You may need to fast overnight, followed by dosing of the trial medication usually in the morning. Dosing is mostly in tablet form but maybe an injection, liquid, patches or infusion.

At the end of every trial you will have to attend for post-trial blood tests and medical examination before being discharged from the trial. Then, usually two days following this examination, you are paid for having helped us.