Participation as a volunteer
If you want to take part in clinical trials, and are aged at least 18 or over, you can apply to become a volunteer at PRA. You will receive an extensive information pack with questions about such subjects as your health, your physical characteristics, any use of medicines, and your lifestyle. This information will then be used to determine whether or not you are suitable for participation in certain trials.

Choose the trial yourself
If the information in your application shows you are eligible for participation in clinical trials, we will get in contact with you. We will inform you about the trials you might be able to take part in. For each clinical trial, we will explain the medicines involved, the research procedure, and if there are any expected side-effects. Furthermore, we will of course tell you when the trials are being carried out, how long it will last, and what the compensation will be. You can then decide for yourself if you want to take part in one of these research studies.

Step 1: Introduction
As soon as you have chosen a particular trial, we will invite you to come along and meet us at our Medical Examination Centre, where our doctors and nurses will explain everything to you. This is also a good opportunity to ask any questions you might have. We will take the time to answer all of them.

Step 2: Decision
Only when everything is totally clear, and you are sure you have no more questions, then comes the time when you decide whether or not you want to take part in a clinical trial. If so, we will ask you to sign the informed consent declaration which is required by law. In this you state that you have given proper consideration to your participation, that you have understood everything, and that you are willing to take part in the trials. However, you can still change your mind later on if you want to. At any time you want – thus even when the trials have already started – you can decide to pull out. It is, and remains, your voluntary choice. Even after you have signed this consent form.

Step 3: Medical screening
The screening consists of a medical interview and a physical examination. We make a heart scan, take a blood sample, and you have to provide a urine sample. This will allow us to check if your heart, lungs, kidneys and liver are functioning properly. The rest of the screening will depend on the trials you are going to take part in. If that means a visit to a relevant specialist in a hospital is necessary, we will tell you beforehand. Finally – with your permission - we will write to your doctor and inform him or her about your participation, and ask if there are any further relevant medical details we should know about. This is a precondition for participation. If you do not want us to contact your doctor, then you cannot take part in clinical trials.

Step 4: Results
Within a few days you can find out the result of the screening by telephone so that you quickly know if you have been approved for participation. Naturally, you can always ask for a detailed explanation. Even if you have not been approved for participation, for example because you have a certain illness or because you do not match the required standards for the trials. In all cases, you will be given as much (or as little) information as you require.

Step 5: Going to the clinic
Approved? Then you will be more than welcome in one of our clinics.

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