I take part in clinical trials for some respite from ‘real life’ as it were, and to experience something new.

4 min to read

It truly is such a unique and fun opportunity to enjoy some free time, relax, and have some fun.

Hi! I’m Carrie, I’m a twenty-three-year-old student who works remotely as an admin assistant. I live in beautiful (but not sunny!), West Wales with my mum and our two little dogs.

I registered to be a part of Quotient’s panel of volunteers having seen an advert online – the idea of participating in a clinical trial really interested me, so I signed up as a healthy volunteer. Being a part of Quotient’s panel meant I received an email notification of a study that I may be eligible for – a thirty-three-day study taking place in the Spring of 2024. I quickly registered my interest for this and was happily enrolled onto the trial.

Before coming to Quotient, I’d done another trial a couple of years ago in London. Although I enjoyed my time there, and it formed the basis for my wanting to participate in more trials in the future, I was reluctant to go back to the London-based company as there was unfortunately no travel allowance offered; travel to and from London for screenings and follow-ups can really make a sizeable dent in an inconvenience allowance! Quotient Sciences’ generosity towards their volunteers, reflected in their willingness to offer a travel allowance and their more-than-reasonable inconvenience allowances, really sets them apart from other similar organisations, in my opinion.

I take part in clinical trials for some respite from ‘real life’ as it were, and to experience something new. Similarly, getting to know people from all walks of life so well is an opportunity uniquely afforded to you when you’re participating in a clinical trial, particularly in a longer one as I did. Having been somewhat afflicted by burnout with the combination of work and university, I was delighted to be able to take a month off whilst still being paid for my time.

I had initially wanted to spend my payment on a new car (a bright yellow Fiat 500 to be specific, despite protestations from my fellow volunteers!), however, having heard the wonderfully exciting stories of other volunteers’ travels, I’ve now found myself bitten by the ‘travel bug’ too, and am browsing holiday destinations across Europe and Asia based on their recommendations.

I have heartily recommended becoming a volunteer to friends and family alike. It truly is such a unique and fun opportunity to enjoy some free time, relax, and have some fun. I recognise that the process won’t be for everyone, however, with trials at Quotient varying in duration from just a few days to over a month, I really believe there is something for everyone and do urge the people that I speak with about clinical trials to give it a try and see how they find it.

I befriended the fellow volunteers in my cohort early on; with so many opportunities for socialising, whether that’s in the common room, dining area, outdoor area over a game of pool or table tennis, or during the fabulous country park walks, it’s very easy to make good friends while you’re on a trial. With endless patience, the other volunteers on the study taught me how to play poker and pool, and inducted me into the world of sports and football. The fact that, even after spending over a month together and away from our families, we breakfasted at a nearby Ruddington café upon discharge evidences the strength of the friendships you can make.

Speaking of food, I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food offered at Quotient. The variety and tastiness of the meals offered is especially laudable when you consider the various dietary restrictions necessitated by the study design (such as no caffeine, cruciferous vegetables, or barbecued meats). My personal recommendations would be sausage and mash for the main evening meal and the ginger sponge with custard for dessert – delicious! Not only this, but being able to have jacket potatoes for lunch, a cereal and croissant for breakfast, as well as digestive biscuits in the evening, meant I never went hungry during the trial; I was always satiated and well-nourished.

Whilst in the clinic, I was able to spend time socialising with other volunteers in the outdoor space (which comes equipped with picnic tables, table tennis, and a pool table) as well as, whenever I fancied it, relaxing in bed catching up on some shows (and reluctantly catching up on university work when necessary!). The ward we stayed in was modern, clean and a really liveable space overall, with plentiful shower and toilet stalls and a great common room complete with a television, X-box, board games, and books. I cannot overstate how enjoyable I found the activities organised by Quotient’s lovely volunteer liaison officer. We regularly participated in bingo, quizzes, and killer pool, which were entertaining in and of themselves, but also came with the opportunity to win great prizes which added a competitive atmosphere that made these activities all the more fun.

I am lucky enough to work remotely on a casual contract and can therefore take off as much time as I need to participate in clinical trials. Additionally, my university work, by and large, can be completed from home (or, more aptly, from a clinic ward), and so I was able to take just over a month off with minimal disruption – the notable exception being that my mum had to wrangle two feisty chihuahuas on walks by herself! An added bonus of working remotely was that I was actually able to work a few shifts whilst at the trial: earning money whilst earning money was a uniquely satisfying experience for me!

Thanks for reading, I hope this account of my experience has helped you if you’re currently considering taking part in a trial at Quotient Sciences!