FAQs

Anyone can volunteer for a trial however each trial has specific requirements for who is allowed to enroll. This will be discussed with you prior to your appointment and during your first visit.

There are many reasons that people choose to join a clinical trial. These include:

• Gain access to leading specialists and experienced investigators conducting our trials
• Medications and clinic reviews at no cost
• Receive payment for your travel costs and donated time
• Work with a dedicated clinical research team
• Make an impact on medicinal advancements

You may be paid for any time and travel costs that you incur as a result of your participation in a trial. The amount you receive will vary depending on the study. Talk to your study doctor for more information.

Your eligibility for a study will be assessed by phone calls and a Screening visit where you will see a dedicated study doctor. Once you have been determined to be eligible for a study, you will come in for your first dose of study medication. The study doctor and coordinator will be monitoring from any side effects that may occur. Your visits will then follow a schedule that is determined by the sponsor of the study. Your visits may involve things such as a physical exam, vital signs, blood tests, ECG or filling out questionnaires. Every study is different, so ensure to read your Participant Information Sheet for more information.

The length of the clinical trial will be outlines in your Participant Information Sheet. You can choose to stay on study for the duration of the trial, or you are free to withdraw at any time.

Your Screening appointment will help the study staff determine whether you are eligible to continue on the clinical trial.

The appointment often involves:

• Meet with the study doctor to discuss the study and ask any questions
• Answer questions about your health, including medical history and any medications you are taking.
• Measure your height, weight, and vital signs
• Undergo a physical examination by the doctor
• Have a blood and urine sample collected for safety testing
• Fill out some questionnaires or surveys on your symptoms

Your Participant Information Sheet will contain a list of all procedures performed at each visit. You can ask the study staff for more information at any time.

We try our best to determine your eligibility before you come in for your screening visit, but we can’t guarantee you are eligible until we see you in person. Each trial has strict criteria for who can and can’t participate. This is to help ensure your safety.  A screening appointment will help us decide your eligibility by looking at things such as your medical history, current medications, and lab results.

Many of our trials are placebo controlled, which means that some people will receive a placebo, and some will receive the study drug. Sometimes you will receive a placebo for part of the study, and then switch over to the study drug for the rest of the study. Your study doctor will discuss this with you during your Screening visit.

Whether you receive placebo or study drug is decided by chance (like flipping a coin). In some studies the study is double-blind, which that means neither you nor your study doctor know which treatment you are receiving.  However in emergencies your study doctor can find out which treatment you are receiving.

Your study doctor will monitor your health to make sure you are doing well. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time if you feel like your condition is worsening.

Medical procedures, medicine and tests often have side effects. Your study doctor will be looking out for any side effects that you experience during the study.

Your Participant Information Sheet will contain a full list of known side effects and the frequency that they are expected to occur.

Depending on the study, you may be invited to join a long-term extension study, or you may be given compassionate access to the study medication. For some studies there is no access to the study medication once your participation is completed. For more information please read your Participant Information Sheet or speak to your study doctor.

You may or may not benefit from the experimental drug. However, your participation in a clinical trial will help patients in the future by providing more information on the study drug and how it works. Many of our clinical trials have been successful at helping bring a drug to market in Australia and overseas.

We do our best to make you feel comfortable and welcomed at Emeritus. Our facilities are bright and recently renovated, with plenty of space for you to maintain privacy during your visit. Every study has a dedicated clinical research coordinator who will remain in contact with you throughout your time on the study. Our staff are experienced and friendly and will be able to answer any of your questions.

If you have a visit that lasts for more than a few hours, we have devices for you to borrow to connect to the internet, and depending on the study, we can also arrange for meal deliveries. Talk to the study team if there is anything we can do to make your experience more comfortable.

Emeritus Research conducts trials in many different therapeutic areas, including rheumatology, gastroenterology, dermatology and many others. We run trials in all phases of clinical development.

If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial or would like more information you can send an email to info@emeritusresearch.com or give us a call on 03 9509 6166 and we will be able to discuss your options with you.

Bring along a copy of your ID, and if you have it, a copy of your medical history and current medications.

In Melbourne, we are located at Level 2, 1180 Toorak Road, Camberwell, and Ground Floor, 1186 Toorak Road, Camberwell.

In Sydney we are located at Suite 2, Level 1, Building 2A, 2-12 Lord Street, Botany.

Your booking confirmation will contain more details. If you need help locating us you can call our reception staff on 03 9509 6166 or 02 8964 8186.