I’ve worked in the life sciences industry for over 20 years, but I had never considered enrolling in a clinical trial.
That changed when I heard a local radio ad looking for healthy volunteers for a Parkinson’s disease study.
I have always admired those who volunteer for research, especially healthy people whose motivation often comes down to altruism. I decided to see what the process was like. I also had a personal reason. A longtime family friend, John, had been living with Parkinson’s, and I hoped my participation, however small, could someday help him or people like him.
Then came a surprise. During the screening, I was disqualified. Asked if I ever had a concussion or brain injury, I said yes.
When I was in sixth grade, I fell nearly 30 feet in a barn and suffered a major brain contusion, and bleeding. I was unconscious for about a week. Recovery was slow. I would clap and cheer like a much younger kid when my friends came to the hospital for a visit. “What’s today,” I asked my father one day. When he replied, I said, “It looks just like yesterday.” Profound!
Eventually, I returned to school and even won the Seiler Award that year for achievement.
A bit alarmed
I was a bit alarmed to learn that such a head injury is considered a risk factor for Parkinson’s. It was part of the trial exclusion criteria. The episode was a reminder of how much our past can shape our future, and it underlines for me why clinical research is such vital work.
Even though I couldn’t participate, the experience deepened my respect for volunteers and strengthened my commitment to support innovation in health, from the trial participant to the patients and families who benefit.
Through Foculus Marketing, my team and I are dedicated to connecting innovative companies and service providers, leveraging AI to make healthcare better for all.
Together, we open doors to new possibilities. One story, one breakthrough, and one connection at a time.
Please get in touch to discuss the opportunities.