At biopharma services your safety is our-priority covid 19 update for volunteers
With growing global concerns around COVID-19 or Coronavirus, we wanted to provide you with an update on BioPharma Services’ response to date and our commitment to your safety moving forward. The health and well-being of our employees and volunteers is always our top priority and we are following the lead of USA and Canadian public health authorities at this critical time. We are committed to providing a comfortable and safe atmosphere to our volunteers.
While the Public Health Agency of Canada has assessed the current public health risk associated with coronavirus as low, we continue to monitor developments very closely. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA, there are currently 1629 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (as of March 12th). From these 1629 confirmed cases, 1 resident of Missouri has been diagnosed and quarantined.
In the light of these developments, we have implemented several measures to ensure your safety as well as the safety of our team, including:
- Increased frequency of cleaning and disinfection in all high traffic areas
- Performing COVID-19 phone screening for all volunteers to be booked for screening or check-in into the clinic
- Performing COVID-19 screening and body temperature measurement for any volunteers entering the clinic at any time (screening visit, check-in visit, return visit, end of study visit, etc.)
- Performing COVID-19 phone screening for all our clients, monitors, visitors and vendors before entry to the clinic
To ensure safety, we request anyone feeling unwell to contact us before entering the clinic so we can maintain a risk-free and comfortable environment for everyone.
Rest assured, we continue to monitor this situation closely and will provide ongoing updates, as and when needed. We also encourage our volunteers to stay up-to-date through Canada’s Public Health website and US Health department website.
Should you have any specific concerns regarding COVID-19 and your clinical trial participation, please feel free to contact our Canadian recruiting line at (416) 747-5246 or our US recruiting line at (573) 447-7270.
For more information about taking part in clinical trials, visit our Volunteer Home page.
Available trials can be found on the Volunteer Hub or complete the Register Form to have a member of our Recruiting Team reach out to you.
BioPharma Services Inc. is committed to providing you the cleanest and safest environment in the community.
BioPharma Services Inc. is a contract research organization that conducts research studies across all medical disciplines. Our offices and study sites are located in Toronto, Ontario and Columbia, Missouri.
Popular Posts
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What are early phase clinical trials?
Clinical Trials are divided into 4 phases. Phase 1 and 2 trials constitute early phase trials, Phase 3 and 4 research studies are late-phase trials.
The primary objective of Phase 1 studies is to determine the correct drug dosage by evaluating drug safety and determining if there are any side effects. Phase 1 trials are conducted in healthy volunteers.
Phase 2 studies also study the safety of a drug but focus on evaluating its effectiveness. These studies can be conducted in healthy volunteers or in individuals who have a certain disease or condition.
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What is a clinical trial?
A Clinical trial is a process which is performed to determine whether an investigational drug, device or therapy is safe and effective. In early phase research (i.e. Phases 1 and 2), the safety and effectiveness of the drug will be evaluated in healthy volunteers.
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What is an investigational drug?
An investigational drug can also be called an experimental drug and is being studied to see if your disease or medical condition improves while taking it. Scientists are trying to prove in clinical trials:
- If the drug is safe and effective.
- How the drug might be used in that disease.
- How much of the drug is needed.
- Information about the potential benefits and risks of taking the drug.
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Why do you need to take blood draws and how many blood draws will be required?
In order to evaluate the drug profile, we need to understand its pharmacokinetics. This is essentially how the body reacts to a drug after its administration through the mechanisms of absorption, distribution, as well as the metabolic changes. Therefore, blood draws are collected at various time points to better understand this mechanism. Each study requires a specific number of blood draws and total blood volume. These values will be provided to you and clearly stipulated in the informed consent form (ICF). The amount of blood that will be taken is outlined in the ICF.
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Should I expect to experience any side-effects while doing studies?
As every study is testing an investigational product, there may be side effects. You will be provided with a list of side effects that have been reported in previous trials (if any), so you can make an informed decision whether or not to participate in the trial. During the trial you will be required to immediately inform clinic study staff of any adverse effects that you are experiencing. These side effects usually resolve upon discontinuation of the study drug.
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Will I be compensated for doing a clinical study?
Volunteers are compensated and the amount varies depending on the length of the clinical trial, length of stay and number of follow-up visits. The compensation is not specifically related to the risks or type of drug involved in the trials or studies. Every study is different and therefore, the compensation will vary. Study volunteers may receive between $1000 to $4000 for a trial (based on the factors listed above).
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Are food and accommodation provided over the course of the trial?
Food – Clinical trials are conducted in a controlled setting which means that all food is provided and trial volunteers receive standardised meals. Individual meal plans or meal preferences cannot be provided. If you have any food allergies or hypersensitivity to food product(s) that are clinically significant or life-threatening you may not be able to participate in a trial. Please contact us to discuss any food issues.
Accommodation – During your in-clinic stay you will share sleeping areas with other volunteers who are of the same gender. Similar to a hospital setting, supervision will be provided to ensure that your health and safety are being monitored.
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What is the length of a study and do I have to complete all the visits?
Details of the duration of a study can be found on the Volunteer Hub.
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What is informed consent and how is it carried out?
Before you decide whether or not to take part in a clinical research study, you will be required to read and understand the information provided in an Informed Consent Form (ICF). The ICF describes the clinical research study and the nature of the investigational product to be used, including:
- Your rights and responsibilities as a study participant.
- What you will be asked to do during study participation.
- The potential risks that you should be aware of.
During this process, you will have the opportunity to discuss and ask questions related to the conduct of the clinical research study with the study doctor/ study staff. You are under no obligation to participate and your decision to take part in a clinical trial is voluntary.
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Can I bring my own device?
Yes, we encourage you to bring items that will help to pass the time while you are in the clinic. You can use the time to study or work or catch up on the movies you’ve been meaning to watch.
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What do I need to pack?
Wondering what to pack before your site visit? Visit our Packing List page to learn more.
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When do I receive compensation for taking part in a study?
You will receive compensation as outlined during the Informed Consent process. Typically, you will receive compensation once all study visits have been completed. If, for any reason, you do not complete all study visits, your compensation will be on a pro-rated basis (i.e. for the time that you have participated in the trial)
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Where will I sleep during the clinical study?
We provide a clean, safe socially distance sleeping environment, in a dormitory of hotel room style. Watch video
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Can I bring my own food?
All aspects of clinical trials are closely monitored including the food and drink consumed by participants. While you are in the clinic, you will be provided with all meals as per the study guidelines. You will need to eat all the food provided to ensure the guidelines are met. Watch video
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Privacy
We respect and value the privacy of our volunteers. View our Privacy and Cookie Policy here.