Volunteering can be a rewarding experience. It gives people the opportunity to really help others. CROs offer unique benefits to volunteers and provide many benefits to the companies they work with.
What is a CRO?
A CRO, which stands for Contract Research Organization, is a company that works closely with specific organizations to conduct research. Clinical trials and drug trials are great examples of the work of one. These organizations hire employees or recruit volunteers who agree to participate in these trials, and then the process begins.
What does a person do volunteering?
Volunteering in an organization is usually a very simple process. Many organizations have trials in various locations across the country, giving thousands of people the opportunity to participate in clinical trials. The process usually begins by visiting the company’s website and then filling out a brief form. Some websites simply require interested people to contact them to participate.
What’s it like to volunteer?
Volunteering to participate in clinical research is usually as simple as signing up as a volunteer. Participants in drug trials, for example, will simply take the drugs given to them and do whatever other tasks the experts tell them. For example, they may need to take a pill once a day and then keep a daily diary of when they took the pill and what side effects they experienced.
are their advantages?
Volunteers report many benefits of working with CROs. First, they affirm that they truly feel like they are making a difference in the lives of others. While volunteering on a smaller scale, like at a soup kitchen, has an impact, volunteering with an organization has a bigger impact that can change the world.
Many volunteers appreciate the free cost of medication provided. For example, a person living with HIV can receive free drugs to treat their symptoms if they participate in a trial that tests drugs for HIV. Participants who volunteer in drug trials must have the disorder the drug is designed to treat, resulting in a few people receiving free drugs for a few months.
Finally, volunteers can be compensated for their time. This does not apply to all organizations and volunteers are encouraged to inquire about this before volunteering.
Regardless of whether volunteers receive something of monetary value, such as free money or medicine, they still receive the wonderful feeling of helping others.
Is it safe?
The main concern with clinical trials is that the drugs used may not be safe. Volunteers can be assured that many drugs are tested, then tested again, before being tested on humans. Every aspect of the medication is reviewed to help ensure the safety of volunteers.
The final question that volunteers often ask themselves is whether or not they should work with a CRO. This is a question that can only be decided by the volunteer himself. While this benefits the business, other volunteers can do the same. Companies never want a volunteer to step out of their comfort zone or do something they will regret later in life.
To answer this last question, we encourage volunteers to ask themselves how they feel. If a volunteer feels uncomfortable, a clinical trial may not be the best thing for them at this time in their life. We also remind them that if they are uncomfortable but don’t want to miss out, there will be other tryouts and volunteer opportunities they can participate in.
