test

Top 10 Facts About Volunteering For A Medical Trial

Posted: 14 Aug 2012 09:05 PM PDT

Top 10 Facts About Volunteering For A Medical Trial photo

Despite the rapid advances of the last century, the medical profession still doesn't know everything about the human body's response to disease, so it's vital to continue studying how disease impacts the body and to develop the drugs that will fight disease and prolong life. The way this is done is through medical trials. Every drug must be rigorously tested before being granted a licence. Part of that process is to carry out trials with healthy human volunteers and this is how it works.

1. Applying is Simple

The process of applying for the Volunteer Panel involves a few forms and takes about six weeks. You'll be invited to a medical screening and once your application is approved, you will be contacted

2. Free MOT

As part of the application process, volunteers receive a thorough medical screening to identify any obvious or underlying problems, prior to being accepted on to the panel, or into a specific trial.

3. Paid

Those participating in a Healthy Volunteer trial are paid an honorarium for between £50 and £2000, depending on the length of their commitment. Travel expenses are also paid. In cases where volunteers leave the trial early, their honorarium is reduced.

4. Second Income

With an opportunity to participate up to four times a year, some people use paid medical trials as a second income.

5. Access to New Drugs for your Condition

If you are invited to participate in a condition specific trial – say, for asthma, or diabetes – you won't receive payment, but you will have access to new and perhaps better treatment which could bring marked benefits to your condition.

6. Highly Experienced Staff

Trialling new medicines is a long and detailed process conducted by highly trained doctors. Before you agree to a trial, you must give your consent. This happens during or after a Consent Talk, during which potential participants learn about the drug and the process they will undergo. They are also invited to ask questions that may inform their decision. If a volunteer is unsatisfied, they can decline to participate; there is no obligation.

7. State of the Art Facilities

Inventing the drugs that will fight disease tomorrow is a multi-million pound process governed by strict legislation. Organisations such as GSK have invested in the very best facilities in which to conduct their research. Volunteers stay on comfortable wards, with a variety of entertainment facilities and meals cooked to restaurant standards. You can find out more on the benefits of drug trials and well equipped units here at http://volunteers.gsk.co.uk

.

8. Watch Science in Action

Most people take the things that make life easier for granted. How often have you thought about how the humble aspirin came to cure your headache? Participating in a drug trial will give you insight in to a small part of that very rigorous and detailed process.

9. Altruism

They say it doesn't exist, but many volunteers feel a sense of pride for participating in something that may benefit people they will never meet.

10. It's Safe

Clinical trials within the EU are governed by strict legislation. Within the UK an independent Ethics committee must review and approve each proposed clinical trial before it can go ahead. This puts the wellbeing of the volunteers and the validity of the trial at the top of the agenda.

Sally Shaws writes about volunteering for paid clinical trials. You can visit sites like http://volunteers.gsk.co.uk

, which offer opportunities and more information on taking part.

Top 10 Facts About Volunteering For A Medical Trial photo

Top 10 Fantasy Novels

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 09:03 PM PDT

Top 10 Fantasy Novels photo

Thanks to the success of “Game of Thrones,” HBO is grabbing hold of the fantasy reins and steering the network toward another adaptation of a best-selling fantasy novel. This time, the network is developing a series based on Neil Gaiman's best-selling novel “American Gods.” While we’re anxious to see this sci-fi-fantasy-horror blend fleshed out on screen, we have a list of other adaptations we’d like to see. Here are our top 10 fantasy novels/series we’d most like to see adapted into a television series

.

1. “The Wheel of Time” series by Robert Jordan

It goes without saying that this sprawling epic tale should hold the number on slot of fantasy series we’d like to see adapted into a TV series. Robert Jordan’s “The Wheel of Time” series is one of the greatest epic fantasy series of all time, with over 50 million copies sold internationally. Considering Jordan’s in-depth storytelling that spans across 14 books and includes over 2,000 named characters, any network would have their work cut out for them to make this a digestible series.

2. “Dragonlance Chronicles” by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

While the “Dragonlance Chronicles” is one the most popular shared-world concepts out there, with close to 200 novels in the franchise, the series is ripe with possibilities. We’d like to see a show that focuses on the Chronicles trilogy so we can see the world of Krynn come to life. Oh, and dragons. We want to see lots of dragons.

3. “The Elenium” series by David Edding

With just three novels in the series, it wouldn’t be too difficult for a network to adapt these books into a worthwhile television series. Filled with splendidly flawed characters, this modern fantasy has enough substance to create an immersive world filled with plenty of swords, thieves, and hypnotically beautiful queens.

4. “Farseer Trilogy” by Robin Hobb

This emotionally rich trilogy would make an excellent television series that’s packed with a carefully constructed plot, realistic dialogue, and a fresh take on the fantasy genre that doesn’t leave you feeling like you already know the story. What we find so compelling about this story is Hobb’s ability to break free from many of the clichés crowding this genre.

5. “The Saga of Recluce” by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

While “The Saga of Recluce” follows familiar ground as a coming-of-age good vs. evil fantasy, the treatment of magic feels fresh and the characters are entertaining. The best part about this book being adapted into a series would be our ability to enjoy the story without drowning in the author’s tick of using an ocean of ellipses.

6. “Dark Elf Trilogy” by R.A. Salvatore

We would love to see the dark and mythical world of Menzobarranzen light up our television screens. Don’t let the title fool you. There’s more to this story than dark elves. Filled with various creatures and races, this high-fantasy series delivers non-stop action and satisfying message that would easily translate to visual media.

7. “The Dark Tower” series by Stephen King

It’s Stephen King… What more do we need to say? Our favorite story-teller brings a macabre world to life while creating a powerful protagonist, The Gunslinger, to ground us. The various themes contained in this series – horror, sci-fi, fantasy and western – are what captivate us the most about seeing this novel realized on the small screen. Who wouldn’t want to see a fantasy series that draws upon Arthurian Legend, “The Lord of the Rings,” and “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” as inspiration?

8. “Artemis Fowl” by Eoin Colfer

While “Artemis Fowl” may not be as mature as “A Song of Ice and Fire,” it is an insanely witty and entertaining series filled with ridiculously awesome plots and a great deal more sophistication than the Potter franchise. Although we would like to see Artemis on the big screen, with the right studio and a large budget, it would fare well as a series.

9. “Chronicles of Amber” by Roger Zelazny

Focusing on the relationship between two dimensions, the ill-fated souls who meddle with magic and are transported to new and frightening planes of existence, and the gifted few who can travel between dimensions, this series is chocked-full with material that spans across decades of time. While this series could easily become the poster child for a campy Syfy channel specials, in the right hands “Chronicles of Amber” would be a fascinatingly entertaining series.

10. “The Riftwar Saga” by Raymond E. Feist

This series is the quintessential fantasy tale complete with ancient magic, good vs. evil, bickering kingdoms, fatal beauties, deception, and war. The central character, Pug, is an orphan who starts out as a magician’s apprentice and later changes the fate of two worlds. What would make this adaptation so successful is the compelling characters, including elves, dwarves, and dragons, of course.

Tell us what you think. What other series would you like to see adapted into a television series?