What is the Clinical Research Volunteer Program (CRVP)?
Since 1954, the NIH Clinical Center, through the Clinical Research Volunteer
Program, has provided an opportunity for healthy volunteers--local, national,
and international--to participate in medical research studies (sometimes
called protocols or trials). Healthy volunteers provide researchers with
important information for comparison with people who have specific illnesses.
Every year, nearly 3,500 healthy volunteers participate in studies at
NIH.
What are the benefits of volunteering to take part in clinical
research?
Healthy volunteers who take part in clinical research studies at NIH
may:
- Receive a thorough physical exam (in some studies)
- Receive compensation for taking part in a study
- Further medical knowledge
- Have the satisfaction of helping someone suffering from a chronic,
serious, or life-threatening illness
- Provide important scientific information for developing new disease
treatments
Will I be compensated?
Yes. NIH compensates volunteers for their time and, in some instances,
for the inconvenience of a procedure. There are standard compensation
rates for the volunteer's time; the study's principal investigator determines
inconvenience rates.
To be compensated, you must visit the CRVP office to register. Be prepared
to show a Social Security or tax identification number and picture identification
when you register. NIH reports compensation of $600 or more to the Internal
Revenue Service and sends a "Form 1099-Other Income" to the volunteer
at the end of the year.
What kinds of clinical studies are available?
There are about 300 studies available to healthy volunteers. You can
find information on these studies on the Clinical Center's home page on
the World Wide Web (http://clinicalstudies.info.nih.gov).
Type in the keywords: healthy and normal.
Studies for both inpatients and outpatients vary in length of time, location
(onsite at the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, the NIH hospital
in Bethesda, Maryland, or at off-site facilities in other areas), age,
gender, special requirements, medical exclusions, and procedures. You
select the studies that interest you the most and for which you think
you would qualify.
Are there any risks?
The NIH staff will explain any risks, requirements, restrictions, or
possible side effects before you agree to take part in any study. It is
wise and important that you ask them any questions or voice any concerns
before you make a decision about taking part. .
How are studies approved for volunteer participation?
Before a study is approved for volunteer participation, the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration reviews and approves any that involve an investigational
drug. If the study involves radiation, the NIH Radiation Safety Committee
must review and approve it. These reviews and approvals must take place
before any volunteer is invited to participate in a research study.
In addition, physicians, scientists, and lay people rigorously screen
all studies for safety, ethics, and need. The clinical director of the
supporting institute, that institute's Institutional Review Board, and
the Clinical Center director are among with approval authority for each
study.
How can I volunteer?
If you are considering volunteering, you can find information about research
studies currently recruiting volunteers by visiting the CRVP offices or
by viewing the clinical studies web site (http://clinicalstudies.info.nih.gov).
When searching the web site, type in these key words: healthy volunteers
and normal volunteers. You will need to come to the CRVP office to register
for participation in a study. Call (301) 496-4763 or 1-800-892-3276 for
more information.
To determine your eligibility for a study, you may need to complete medical
questionnaire forms. An NIH staff member will ask you additional questions.
It is critical that you are honest and thorough in providing information
about your medical and psychiatric history and about any prescription
or nonprescription drugs you take. Accurate information allows investigators
to judge whether the study poses any risk to you. You also must let the
investigator know of your participation in any other research studies--past,
present, or planned.
Before agreeing to participate in any study, the investigator will give
you a consent form that explains the study in detail and in everyday,
non-medical language. By signing this form, you indicate that you understand
the study and volunteer to participate. As a volunteer, you are free to
withdraw from, interrupt, or refuse to take part in a study at any time.
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For more information on the Clinical Research Volunteer Program
for healthy volunteers,
send an e-mail to CRVP@mail.cc.nih.gov
For information about patient participation in clinical studies,
contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov
Questions about the Clinical Center? CC
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