Research Trials
Biolife Health Center trials are research studies performed in people that are aimed at evaluating a medical, or behavioral condition. They are the primary way that researchers find out if a treatment, like a medical device or program, is effective in people. Often a trial is used to learn if a new treatment is more effective and/or has fewer side effects than the standard treatment.
Other trials test ways to find a medical condition early, sometimes before there are symptoms. Still, others test ways to prevent a health problem. A trial may also look at how to make life better for people living with a health-related problem. Clinical trials sometimes study the role of caregivers or support groups.
Trials advance through four phases to test appropriate program modalities to find it to be safe and effective, Biolife Health Center reports its findings in different ways and follows HIPPA laws and other medical standards to share the effectiveness of a health program, as well as sharing the study reports and conclusions with the medical community and research institutions.
Why Participate in a Trial?
There are many reasons why people choose to join a trial. Some join a trial because the treatments they have tried for their health problem did not work. Others participate because there is no treatment for their health problem. By being part of a trial, participants may find out about new treatments before they are widely available. Some studies are designed for, or include, people who are healthy but want to help find ways to prevent disease, such as one that may be common in their family.
Many people say participating in a trial is a way to play a more active role in their own health care. Other people say they want to help researchers learn more about certain health problems. Whatever the motivation, when you choose to participate in a trial, you become a partner in scientific discovery. And, your contribution can help future generations lead healthier lives. Major medical breakthroughs could not happen without the generosity of trial participants—young and old.
Trial Steps and Procedures
Study staff explain the trial in detail and gather more information about you. Once you have had all your questions answered and agree to participate, you sign an informed consent form. You are screened to make sure you qualify for the trial. If accepted into the trial, you schedule a first visit (called the “baseline” visit. The researchers conduct cognitive and/or physical tests during this visit.
You are randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. Sometimes you and your family members follow the trial procedures and report any issues or concerns to researchers. You may visit the research site at regularly scheduled times for new cognitive, physical, or other evaluations and discussions with staff. At these visits, the research team collects information about the effects of the intervention and your safety and well-being. You continue to see your regular physician for usual health care throughout the study.
How Does Biolife Health Center Decide Whom Will Participate?
After you consent, you will be screened by our staff to see if you meet the criteria to participate in the trial or if anything would exclude you. The screening may involve cognitive and/or physical tests. The inclusion criteria for a trial might include age, stage of the disease, sex, genetic profile, and family history. Exclusion criteria might include factors such as specific health conditions or medications that could interfere with the treatment being tested.
Many volunteers must be screened to find enough people for a study. Generally, you can participate in only one trial or study at a time. Different trials have different criteria, so being excluded from one trial does not necessarily mean exclusion from another.
Why Are Older and Diverse Participants Important in Clinical Trials?
It is important for clinical trials to have participants of different ages, sexes, races, and ethnicities. When research involves a group of people who are similar, the findings may not apply to or benefit everyone. When clinical trials include diverse participants, the study results may have much wider applicability.
Biolife Health Center researchers need the participation of older people in their clinical trials so that scientists can learn more about how the new therapies, medical devices, or tests will work for older people. Many older people have special health needs that are different from those of younger people. For example, as people age, their bodies may react differently to therapies, medical devices, or tests. Having seniors enrolled in trials helps our researchers get the information they need to develop the right treatment for older people in a safe and effective manner.
Researchers know that it may be hard for some older people to join a clinical trial. For example: do you have many health problems, can you participate in a trial that is looking at only one condition? If you are frail or have a disability, will you be strong enough to participate? Talk to our trial coordinator about your concerns. The research team may have already thought about some of the obstacles for older people and have a plan to make it easier for you to take part in the trial.
Current Trials for Biolife Health Center - Neuroscience Department
1. Biolife Neuroscience BFX - Four (4) hour Memory, Cognition, and Brain Function Testing (English) broken down into 2 sessions.
2. Biolife Neuroscience BC - Three hour (3) Memory, Cognition, and Brain Function Testing (English/Spanish) broken down into 2 sessions.
3. Biolife Neuroscience qEEG - One hour (1) qEEG (English/Spanish) in one session.
Please note that If you qualify for a trial according to the information you provide and the criteria fro the trail, you will be asked to participate in only one (1) trial.
Participation in Biolife Health Center Trials
Please fill out this form if you would like to be considered for Biolife Health Center - Neuroscience trials.
