You can contribute to medical advancement

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/06/2022 (1284 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If seeing an advertisement for a clinical research study has you conjuring images of gruesome drug side effects and weird experiments, that’s understandable. In movies and TV shows, clinical studies are typically depicted as having less-than-desired outcomes.

But research studies are actually an important tool in better understanding humans and the world around us. In the past, large studies have helped researchers determine the connection between such things as smoking and lung cancer, and obesity and heart disease.

Studies rely on human participants who may or may not benefit directly from participating. Some studies are brief and require little effort from participants, while others are longer-term and more complex. Participation is always voluntary, meaning you can withdraw at any time.

Over the past several months, I’ve participated in a few research studies focused on a chronic condition called fibromyalgia (I was diagnosed with it several years ago), as well as general chronic pain. One study was conducted through the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, one through Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., and another through a university in Ireland.

These studies were conducted online and involved daily, weekly, or one-time surveys about my experience with fibromyalgia/chronic pain. They were simple to participate in and I was excited about the opportunity to contribute to something that could lead to a better understanding of fibromyalgia and chronic pain in general.

If you’re interested in taking part in a study or two yourself, you can check with the University of Winnipeg, the University of Manitoba, or local hospitals to see if they have any active studies for which you might be eligible.

As well, a large, interesting study called The Manitoba Tomorrow Project is currently looking for 10,000 participants between the ages of 30 and 74 from all walks of life (intake closing Aug. 31, 2022). It is being conducted by CancerCare Manitoba as part of a Canada-wide initiative called the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath).

It will be taking place over the next 50 years and will be used to gather data about how lifestyle, social factors, genetics, and environment can affect cancer and chronic diseases. The study will involve a questionnaire, an optional 45-minute health assessment, and periodic follow-ups over the next several decades.

If you’re interested in participating in one of the largest studies of its kind, you can learn more about it here: www.cancercare.mb.ca/Research/research-institute-at-cancercare-manitoba/research-programs/manitoba-tomorrow-project