Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Site Visitors

There are different types of research studies. There are nonfunded studies, federally funded studies, not-for-profit or nonprofit funded studies, and industry sponsored (both investigator initiated and company initiated) studies. I'm sure there are other types as well, but I haven't done those.

At this job, I work mostly with nonfunded studies, but we do have a few industry sponsored studies...and I am actually most familiar with those, since that's all I did for the 12 years I did psychiatric research.

When we do an industry sponsored study, the pharmaceutical or device company has to send out a couple of people to look us over and make sure we have what it takes to do the study. It's always seemed a little silly to me -- after all, this is a university medical center -- but I suppose they want to be certain that we really, really do have access to a lab, and ECG machines, and MRIs, and surgery suites, and a centrifuge, and surgery imaging...you get the picture. Before they give us any money, they have to be sure that we can do the study.

They also ask about a million questions about the credentials of the people who will work on the trial, the Institutional Review Board, the Scientific Committee screening process, how we plan to find people to participate, how many similar trials we've done...and on...and on.

That's what I did last Wednesday -- some folks from a Canadian company came and looked us over. And I got to give 'em the tour...which explains a lot about why my leg got so much worse last Thursday.

Usually they give us a list of what they want to see -- and often a peek through the door is sufficient -- but these folks wanted a thorough, indepth tour of several facilities, none of which they'd asked for in advance. They even OPENED the lab freezers to make sure there would be space for their stuff, noted the last inspection dates on the MRI machines, and asked for the imaging equipment to be demonstrated. I had to make some frantic phone calls, call in some favors, and eventually they did see most of what they wanted, although the ECG people did NOT allow us to tour. Which is typical for cardiology...they need to get over themselves, really.

At any rate, we're approved for this study now -- which means we have something else to offer our terminal head and neck cancer patients. This treatment won't cure them, but might make those last months easier...and doesn't look like it'll detract from quality of life...and might help someone else down the line if it works.

Not only that, but I get to take a trip to Toronto in early July for the start up meeting.

7 comments:

Jodie said...

Glod, some of those cardiologists believe they are the Gods of Medicine.

Lita, I do like my job -- this one's not as interesting as the psychiatry job (which sometimes was much too "interesting", especially when patients with paranoid schizophrenia figure out where you live), but the hours are flexible, which is LOVELY, absolutely lovely.

Wyrfu said...

Your job does sound very interesting, Jodie (although I think I'd leave anal sphincter reconstruction to the experts). But I have to say this (I'm sorry, but it's just one of those "I know I shouldn't but I must, I must" moments):

I absolutely love Glod's comment!

Jodie said...

He IS fun, isn't he? :D

Wyrfu said...

Keef, there is indeed an underground group that are interested in Anal Sphincter Reconstruction. They are extremely secret and not much is known about them but I can tell you this: Their password is often heard in traffic jams, although many think it is just a general reflection on the state of society today - consider those who lean out of their windows and yell "Asshole!" at other drivers. We take it as an insult but it is actually members of the group recognizing each other and exchanging the password. Sorta like a secret handshake but different. :D

Jodie said...

WOW! There are a LOT of people in that secret society...

Wyrfu said...

Teacher: Aren't there enough assholes in the world already?

Jodie said...

I dunno, Gone, seems like there are more of 'em all the time! :D