About Clinical Research Archives • Meridian Clinical Research

Clinical Trial Phases: What Happens in Phase 1, 2, 3 and 4?

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Clinical trials are research studies of medications, vaccines, medical devices, procedures, diagnostics (tests), and other health-related products. These studies involve participants (also known as patients, volunteers, or subjects) to determine whether certain experimental products are safer and/or more effective than currently approved products. Without clinical trials, it would be impossible to develop new medicines, cures, vaccines, and other medical products — including everything from COVID-19 and flu vaccines, to infant formula, medications for diabetes, and pacemakers. Clinical trials happen in four stages. Each stage, called a phase, serves … Read more

What is the Role of a Principal Investigator in a Clinical Trial?

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What is a Principal Investigator? A principal investigator (PI) is the person responsible for overseeing a clinical trial, research grant, or other sponsored research project. In clinical trials, also known as medical studies, principal investigators generally are physicians that carry out the study plan, known as the clinical trial protocol. The principal investigator also analyzes the data and reports the results of the research study. The Roles Principal Investigators play in Clinical Trials Depending on the clinical trial, principal investigators can be contributors or medical experts that help … Read more

How to Find a Clinical Trial Near You

Participating in clinical trials is a great way to help advance medicine and, often, earn extra money. Most clinical trials at Meridian pay from $75 to $4,500 depending on several factors. But to take part in a clinical trial, you must first find clinical trial opportunities near you. In this article, you’ll learn of some great places to look to find paid medical studies in your area. 1: ClinicalTrials.gov Clinicaltrials.gov is a great resource to find clinical trials near you. The website is maintained by the National Institutes of … Read more

What are Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria in Clinical Trials?

Without clinical trials, it would be impossible to develop new medicines, cures, vaccines, and other medical products. These research studies test investigational products with human participants to ensure products are adequately safe and effective before they can be offered to the general public. Medical products with broad use, like over-the-counter medicines or vaccines, tend to be tested in a wide range of people with few restrictions as to who can participate in later phases of clinical trials, while medications or devices designed to help people with specific illnesses … Read more

Understanding Placebos in Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are intended to test the safety and effectiveness on investigational therapies. So why are placebos used, particularly in vaccine trials? Placebos are particularly useful for helping researchers assess safety, efficacy, and actual side effects among control and treatment groups. What is a placebo though? Placeboes are inactive pills, injections, or procedures that have no effect on humans. Placebos are commonly called ‘sugar pills’ or ‘saline shots’. Placebos are used in some clinical trials to help researchers determine if an investigational therapy is effective. In a placebo-controlled … Read more

Can I Get Paid for Participating in a Clinical Trial?

“Can I get paid for participating in a research study?” This is the most common question people ask Meridian online when considering signing up for a clinical trial. The answer is yes, you can get paid for study-related time and travel for participating in most clinical trials. While not all research studies pay participants, most clinical trials at Meridian pay from $75 to $4,500. To get a better idea of what a specific trial might pay, keep reading. How Pay is Determined in Clinical Research Trials Almost every study offers … Read more

Checklist: Questions to Ask Before Joining a Clinical Trial

Participating in a study is an important decision, and you should be comfortable with your decision. Each study is different, but the informed consent process ensures you understand what will happen. You’ll learn about the product being studied, your role in the trial, potential side effects, and the visits required. You can ask the following questions to make a more informed decision about joining. What is the goal of this study? How will the medicine, medical device, or test be given to me? How many times will I … Read more

What is a Clinical Trial?

Clinical trials are research studies of medications, vaccines, medical devices, procedures, and diagnostics (tests). These studies involve people (a.k.a., participants), and are meant to determine whether certain experimental products are safer and/or more effective than currently approved products. Without clinical trials, it would be impossible to develop new medicines, cures, vaccines, and other medical products. Examples of products for which clinical trials are conducted include: Vaccines: Influenza, Ebola, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Medications: Topical creams for eczema, oral tablets or injections for multiple sclerosis, liquid cough/cold medications for children Medical … Read more