Join me in a research study I’m currently enrolled in!
I participate in research studies for my own fun, but I also want to share these opportunities with you. In sharing, I’ll explain what motivated me to join each study and keep you posted on my insights along the way. This is all part of my personal mission to serve as a research guide, helping you find and assess study opportunities.
I’m currently enrolled in two studies, both sponsored by US universities. I’ll first share the one that is currently still enrolling female participants…
What drew me to this study? A few reasons: the research team, altruism, and nerding out.
First, the principal investigator (PI). Her name is Melissa Kramer and she has a personal connection to her research as a patient who has struggled with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Her story is inspiring. She’s also pursuing a PhD in Psychology, investigating the impact of patient recruitment on study progress. I love that she’s looking at these big picture questions.
Second, the research team passed my test! My test usually involves me emailing the team with my questions about informed consent. In this case, Melissa directly answered my questions, very thoughtfully at that.
Those two reasons are about the research team. The next reasons are more personal. There are women close to me who have struggled with recurrent UTIs and women’s health research is decades behind men’s. The chance to find solutions for my friends and family really tugged at my heartstrings. And the chance to drive women’s health forward already aligned with that mission of mine.
Finally, this study seemed so cool. The urinary microbiome?! I didn’t even know that existed! In this study, I’ll get my data back comparing my urinary microbiome to that of other study participants. I’ve never gotten a UTI before, so I’m super curious to see where I may have some microbiome superpowers compared to the other participants who get recurring infections.
Bonus fun fact: I briefly researched antibiotic-resistant UTIs as a chemistry intern back in my wetlab days. Check out my poster! I worked for BioAmp Diagnostics and I believe their work is mission critical– and not just to women! The most common source of sepsis is from UTIs acquired in the hospital. How are they acquired? Catheters! Plus, antibiotic resistance is a terrifyingly global issue. So, yeah, you could say this is an area of interest of mine.
What else might you want to know? The study doesn’t offer monetary compensation, but I think the data return, considering how little time the study takes, is totally worth it.
To join this study, you just need to be a female willing to answer a few surveys and pee in a cup at home! They need participants of all kinds, those who get UTIs and those who don’t! Take the study screening questionnaire to get started.
*Btw, I wasn't asked to promote this study and this article is not sponsored by the research team. I'm just sharing it because I think it's cool! I will always be 100% transparent about this when I share research with you!
The Stress & Resilience Study
This one isn’t recruiting anymore. It’s interesting that the government is funding it. You can read more about it here.
My reasons for joining: I found the topic interesting. I’d get some data back. They passed my “test” I mentioned above. And I recognized some familiar names among the list of PIs.
Oh yeah, I was excited to keep the SensOmics “smartwatch” they provide to participants. Turns out, that was a big disappointment. It is not a smartwatch. In fact, it’s quite lame. (I’m comparing this to my old Apple watch.) Lesson learned: When a study advertises some shiny new tech, it may not be that cool. I should’ve known. University studies are not as flashy as industry ones, since they’re operating on tighter budgets/grant money.
Looking for more research opportunities?
Subscribe to my blog! Some biotech startup founders I’m connected with will share their study opportunities with me, so– if you hear it from me– you could be among the first to hear about it! Being the first participants enrolled into a study can be cool, because the research team is really factoring in your input as they try to improve things before more participants flood in.
Now, there are some implications of study participants sharing their research experiences with others in the study. I’ll just say that I would never share a study opportunity if I thought that doing so would jeopardize the integrity of the science or the experience of the patient scientists involved. I’m looking forward to sharing a future blog post on this and how we can responsibly create community as patient scientists. Stay tuned!
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