Discoveries that help millions of patients are made possible by those who participate in clinical research. These patient volunteers are researchers’ most important partners as they work to uncover new treatments for a variety of diseases. Many potential volunteers are unaware of what it means to participate in research and how rewarding it can be. The “Help Us Discover Heroes” series on the YCCI website profiles an array of patient volunteers who tell their stories, and why participating in research has been so meaningful to them.
If you would like to highlight a volunteer who has made a powerful contribution to your research in any area, YCCI can help. YCCI can also help you promote a study that is open for accrual and assist you with recruiting new volunteers.
Once you have confirmed the person’s willingness to participate, we will arrange to interview and photograph him or her; write a story describing his or her experience; and have the media consent form signed. You will be interviewed as well, and will have the opportunity to explain why the patient and his or her role in your research have been so valuable. You and the volunteer will have an opportunity to review the story before it is used.
We also publish stories on yalestudies.org to promote clinical trials that are accruing subjects in conjunction with the national health observance month calendar, or upon request.