Acurian Health Clinical Trials: An In-Depth Guide

This guide will focus specifically on Acurian, Inc. and their work in clinical trial patient recruitment. We’ll explore key questions around participation, compensation, risks and benefits.

Overview of Acurian Clinical Trials

Acurian partners with pharmaceutical companies, medical centers, and research firms to find eligible and willing participants for clinical trials. Their global patient database contains over 35 million patient records that can be screened based on protocol criteria.

Once potentially matching patients are identified, Acurian commences targeted outreach via mail, email, telephone, and online ads. This raises awareness of relevant clinical trials and encourages potential participants to contact Acurian to learn more and be screened for eligibility.

If enrollment criteria are met, individuals can choose to participate in the trial through the sponsoring organization. Acurian may also support patient engagement, retention, and data collection throughout the length of the study.

Participating in an Acurian Clinical Trial

Why Participate in a Clinical Trial?

There are a few key reasons why eligible patients may wish to participate:

• Access to cutting-edge treatments: Trials provide early access to promising new therapies that are not yet commercially available.
• Advancing science: Participants help medical researchers determine treatment safety and efficacy to bring new solutions to market for patients.
• Receive regular health monitoring and care: Frequent trial visits mean close oversight and no-cost medical care related to the condition being studied.
• Compensation: Many trials offer payment to participants for time and travel expenses.

Finding a Clinical Trial

There are a few ways to find ongoing trials that you may qualify for:

• Wait to be contacted by Acurian based on search criteria from their patient database
• Proactively reach out to Acurian to inquire about relevant clinical trials
• Search ClinicalTrials.gov for trials seeking participants with your condition

Once a potential match is found, you can opt-in for pre-screening by the trial sponsor to determine your eligibility.

Eligibility Criteria

Every clinical trial has established eligibility criteria that participants must meet for enrollment. Common requirements may include:

• Specific medical diagnosis
• Disease stage/severity
• Age range and gender
• Geographic proximity to the research site
• Ability to comply with trial protocol
• No conflicts with other medications/therapies

Eligibility is evaluated during an initial screening process consisting of interviews, examinations, and medical tests.

Informed Consent

If eligible, participants will be presented with an informed consent form outlining key trial details including:

• Background on the treatment being studied
• Trial design procedures and schedule
• Potential risks and benefits
• Compensation amounts and payment schedule
• Privacy protections for personal data
• Participant rights and the ability to withdraw

Enrollees must sign the form demonstrating that participation is voluntary and risks are accepted.

Participation Protocol

Once enrolled, participants adhere to the study protocol under the guidance of a clinical trial coordinator. This may involve:

• Frequent health examinations and lab tests
• Tracking symptoms or vital signs
• Avoiding certain medications/activities
• Following dosage instructions for investigational treatment
• Maintaining a symptom journal
• Completing quality of life questionnaires

Duration of participation my range from weeks to years depending on the trial. It’s critical to attend all study visits and report side effects immediately. Participants can withdraw from the study at any time without penalty, but compensation may be reduced/forfeited.

Clinical Trial Compensation

Most industry-sponsored clinical trials offer financial compensation for enrollee time, travel costs, and inconvenience. However, government and nonprofit trials rarely provide payment.

Payment Factors

Compensation varies based on factors like:

• Phase: Early safety-focused Phase I trials generally pay more given higher risk. Late stage Phase III efficacy trials pay less.
• Time Commitment: Longer study durations and more procedures warrant higher pay.
• Trial Type: Interventional vs observational trials have different compensation standards.
• Industry Sponsor: For-profit sponsors offer higher compensation than government or nonprofits.

Typical compensation ranges by phase are:

• Phase I trials: $1,000 – $5,000+
• Phase II trials: $500 – $3,000
• Phase III trials: $250 – $1,500

Payment Method and Schedule

Payment distribution approaches include:

• Per completed study visit or procedure
• Monthly payment installments
• Single lump sum payment after trial completion
• Reimbursement for travel costs like parking or mileage

Talk to the study coordinator to learn exact details on compensation method and amounts for a given clinical trial.

Benefits and Risks of Clinical Trials

Deciding whether to join a clinical trial is an individual choice that requires careful consideration of both pros and cons:

Potential Benefits

• Early access to innovative treatments
• Closer disease monitoring and medical care
• Contribution to advancement of medicine
• Compensation for participation
• Treatment at no cost (for uninsured patients)

Potential Risks

• Unproven treatment efficacy and safety issues
• Trial drug side effects
• Frequent testing and restrict procedures inconvenient
• No guarantee of clinical benefit to participant
• Chance of receiving placebo, not active treatment
• Limited choice of doctor/hospital

It’s critical to learn all you can about the treatment, evaluate your personal tolerance for risk, and consult your physician before committing to any clinical trial. Ongoing informed consent is required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is eligible to participate in clinical trials?

A: Each trial sets specific eligibility criteria. Generally, criteria relates to parameters like patient age, gender, diagnosis, disease stage, treatment history, plus ability to comply with trial protocols. Initial screening determines if requirements are met.

Q: Can I join any clinical trial I want?

A: You cannot join a trial unless all inclusion/exclusion criteria are met during the screening process conducted by the research coordinator. These standards ensure participant uniformity to support accurate trial results.

Q: What are the phases of clinical trials?

A: There are typically three main phases evaluating an experimental treatment:

• Phase I: Tests for safety and dosage on a small group (under 100 people)
• Phase II: Examines efficacy and side effects on up to 300 participants
• Phase III: Further evaluates efficacy and monitoring of adverse reactions in a large group of 300 to 3,000 enrollees. Required for FDA approval.

Q: How do I find a clinical trial to participate in?

A: You can connect with Acurian to inquire about relevant trial options. Also browse trial listings on ClinicalTrials.gov based on your condition and location. Contact sponsors of trials you are interested in to determine if enrollment is possible.

Q: Can I quit a clinical trial once enrolled?

A: Yes, you have the right to withdraw consent and quit participation in a clinical trial at any time without penalty. However, compensation may be forfeited or reduced depending on how early you depart the trial.

Conclusion

Participating in a clinical trial allows you to access potentially beneficial treatments while also helping medical researchers determine safety and efficacy. However, trials do carry risks given the unproven nature of investigational therapies.

Carefully weigh the pros and cons for your situation, learn all you can about any trial you are considering, ask questions of coordinators, consult doctors you trust, and make sure you meet all eligibility criteria. Ongoing informed consent about risks is imperative.

Acurian Health can connect patients globally to relevant clinical trials offering possible treatment options for their conditions. Their recruitment services raise awareness of research study opportunities that may help advance science while benefiting patient health.

FAQ

Q: Who runs clinical trials?

A: Clinical trials are sponsored and conducted by organizations like pharmaceutical companies, research universities, medical institutions, government agencies, or philanthropic groups. Acurian helps connect eligible patients to relevant trials run by such sponsors.

Q: What are inclusion and exclusion criteria for trials?

A: Inclusion criteria outlines the parameters participants must have to enroll (e.g. specific diagnosis, disease stage, age range, etc.) Exclusion criteria lists conditions that disqualify enrollment, like serious co-morbidities or conflicting medications.

Q: Can clinical trial participants get placebo?

A: In blinded trials, some participants randomly receive placebo (inactive compounds) rather than active treatments. This helps researchers discern side effects vs treatment effects when analyzing results. Placebo groups are critical to the control arm of reliable medical studies.

Q: Do clinical trials have out-of-pocket costs?

A: Typically no, the trial sponsor covers all costs related to investigational treatment, tests, doctor visits and monitoring associated with the study protocol. However, indirect personal expenses like transportation and lodging may not be covered.

Q: How do I know if a clinical trial treatment will be better than my current therapy?

A: Unfortunately, there are no guarantees when it comes to unapproved experimental treatments. They may prove more or less effective than available options. Carefully weighing potential benefits vs risks is key, knowing that safety and efficacy are still under evaluation.