By Rita Staples, BA, CCRC
As a research coordinator, nothing is better than seeing your patients become happier and healthier because of their participation in a clinical trial. So, with August being National Psoriasis Month, I’d like to say that some of the most gratifying moments in my career have come from working with patients with psoriasis. When they have found the right treatment and start to have clear skin, I have seen the joy radiating from them.
Prior to treatment, many of these patients with moderate to severe psoriasis had withdrawn from the world. They were often self-conscious – and in some cases even depressed – because they felt their psoriasis kept people from getting to know them.
One such patient refused to leave the house because of her psoriasis. She said she was embarrassed by people staring and felt like her psoriasis controlled her life. Once she started using the trial drug, her skin cleared up within 12 weeks, and she became a whole new person. She started a new job and began joining local groups, such as book clubs, She even wore a skirt for the first time in 20 years because her legs were finally free of psoriasis.
This is just one example of how treatment received as a clinical-trial volunteer can change a person’s life for the good.
The drug used in this study is called a biologic, a newer medication designed to target more specific immune-system cells that are growing at a hyperactive rate, which causes or contributes to psoriasis. Biologics can be used in combination with topical treatments if necessary. The biologic medication used in this trial, Cosentyx®, was eventually approved by the FDA.
Changing people’s lives for the better, along with seeing your hard work pay off when a drug gets approved, is a constant reminder to me of why research is so vital.
The Clinical Research Center is currently seeking volunteer patients in studies for meningococcal vaccine, Alzheimer’s disease, Type 2 diabetes, and those with very high triglyceride levels.
If you are interested in learning more about clinical trials, contact the Clinical Research Center at 541-766-2163, or send an email to research@corvallisclinic.com or fill out our Research Study Information Request form. And, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/corvallisclinicresearch.
– Rita Staples is a Research Coordinator at The Corvallis Clinic Clinical Research Center.
