Medical Research Heroes
Thanks for visiting TRI's medical research hero recruitment page. Here you can learn about and register for the most helpful job in the community! Your contribution could be as simple as a survey, giving saliva/blood or having your skin scanned, often with no medication or long term commitment.
Current & Upcoming Featured Studies
- PTSD Imaging Diagnosis Studies
- Asthma, Colds and Allergy Studies
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Studies
- Apply to be a medical research hero
Why do we need your help?
Medical researchers often discover interesting findings about diseases or learn something new about how our bodies react to viruses which might help to cure or treat the disease. But before the discovery can be published and put into practice, researchers have to prove it. Over and over again. Some studies are as simple as asking 10 people to complete a survey. Others require 100, 1000, or even tens of thousands of patients to provide samples or data which replicates the hypothesis.
For some studies, we need people who are sick with the specific disease being studied. In all studies, we need healthy control subjects to form a baseline for the participants who are being studied for their diseases or conditions. Healthy heroes help us to understand diseases better by investigating what is different in those who are impacted by diseases or conditions.
What's involved
Below we have featured a few of our main studies which are underway at TRI. In the description you'll see a list of what is required of you if you choose to become a medical research volunteer. For example, one study requires that you answer a 15 minute survey, donate 50ml of blood and fill a small tube with saliva. Another requires that you ride an exercise bike for a few sessions while your breathing is monitored. In UQDRC's skin scan study, your moles greater than 5mm are scanned to create a 3D avatar - learn more from this article "My experience in a clinical study".
One of our biggest upcoming studies is a PTSD diagnostic study, aiming to prove the existance of a biomarker showing chemical changes in the brain of those with PTSD. Healthy controls would be required to have their brain scanned using a MRI/PET machine at the PA Hospital.
Most studies which are recruiting healthy 'control' subjects are simply looking for samples to provide a baseline to compare against samples of the diseases being studied. Each study offers a contact point who you can call or email to discuss the specific and individual requirements. If you're uncomfortable with any aspect of the study for any reason, you can say no and consider your fit for a different trial.
> CLICK TO APPLY TO BE A MEDICAL RESEARCH HERO
Current Featured Studies
The following studies are underway currently or coming soon to TRI. Follow the links under each study for more details or to sign up...
HEALTHY 'CONTROL SUBJECTS' HELP US TO UNDERSTAND DISEASES BETTEr
Observation, samples and surveys make up the majority of clinical studies and trials
Asthma Studies
The Lung and Allergy Research Centre works with partners at the UQ School of Medicine, the PA Hospital and TRI to undertake research which involves the lungs, allergies and asthma. PhD students undertake research projects every year which lead to core science discoveries that feed the bigger translational projects being undertaken at the centre and within the TRI.
LARC researchers are working on a number of studies to better understand the lungs, allergies and the antiviral mechanisms that make asthmatic people more prone to catching a cold.
There are new students every year and they each need new participants for their studies. This means you could support medical research several times per year just by giving blood, completing a study, providing a saliva sample or riding an exercise bike.
> Medical research Heroes, click to sign up
PTSD Diagnostic Imaging Study
This study is currently undertaking ethics approval and will be formally released soon.
Currently Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is diagnosed via a mental health checklist and treatment is general. Researchers at TRI believe they have discovered a biomarker which shows a chemical change in the brain if PTSD is present. Now, they need to replicate their findings across a range of PTSD cases to show that this technology can clarify a diagnosis and guide personalized treatment for those suffering from this increasingly common but serious condition.
2 types of participant are required for this study. Those diagnosed with PTSD must be between 18 & 60 years of age and have an official PTSD diagnosis with a doctor's referral, but not currently be taking any medication. The second type of participant is a healthy volunteer to compare the brain activity against the participants with PTSD.
Participation requires a short psychological assessment (30 mins), an online questionnaire (30 mins), and scans/images of the brain using an MRI machine (90 mins).
If the findings of our researchers are correct, this data will be used to develop a software program which can be replicated throughout Australia and around the world to diagnose PTSD faster and more accurately.
> click for details about how to participate
> Medical Research Heroes, click to sign up
Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Study
The role of genetics in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is well established but other factors are also involved. A team, led by Professor Ranjeny Thomas from UQDI, have had much success understanding the family links that may lead to rheumatoid arthritis. The clinical study aims to understand the intricate relationships between rheumatoid arthritis, genetics and environmental factors.
We are recruiting:
- Healthy controls (anyone without RA)
- First degree relatives of people with RA (siblings, parents or children)
- RA Patients
> RA PATIENTS, CONTACT [email protected]
> Medical Research Heroes, click to sign up
Medical Research Heroes Application
Complete the form below to apply to our Medical Research Hero program to be a 'healthy control' volunteer. This means that you don't have any significant health problems and that you will consider giving blood or saliva to our studies or be available to answer some questions related to your health. You can remove yourself from our program at any time. If you have a specific condition please apply via the relevant study.
