Issue Two Autumn 2012
it all starts with you
Q&U
Quotient’s newsletter for volunteers
www.weneedyou.co.uk
Welcome to the autumn edition of Q&U –
our newsletter that keeps you up to date on
what’s happening here a Quotient Clinical.
As the recruitment team at
Quotient Clinical it’s our job to let
people know about us and what
we do. We’re here to help everyone
understand what’s involved in
taking part in clinical trials with us.
We do this in a number of ways –
advertising in the press, on the radio or
online, or via our website - to raise
awareness of Quotient Clinical, clinical
trials and how people can help to
develop medicines for everyone.
As a team we’re here to support you
through the application process and
answer whatever questions you have
along the way. So whether you’re
wanting to take part in your first study with us, or are an experienced
volunteer, we’d love to hear from you. Feel free to drop us a line at
[email protected] or visit our website,
www.weneedyou.co.uk, for more details on what we have
available.
Quotient Clinical is growing and we now employ more than
130 staff. We have more trials for you now than ever before
and there’s more choice, so keep an eye on our website
(www.weneedyou.co.uk/study list) for details of our forthcoming
studies to find one to suit you.
As many of you will know we recently carried out some independent
research asking for your views on Quotient Clinical and our trials.
You can read more about some of the results below. Based on some
of the feedback you gave us we have included an interview with our
Medical Director, Dr Stuart Mair, which will give you an idea of what
his job involves as well as his enthusiasm for furthering medical
development.
We hope this newsletter gives you further insight into the work we
do here at Quotient Clinical and how you play a vital role in
developing the medicines of the future.
Thanks for being a volunteer; we couldn’t move medicine
forward without you.
We look forward to working together with you soon!
Quotient Clinical, Nottingham
Your opinions count
Earlier this year we carried out an independent research
project with our volunteers. Quotient Clinical hosted a
number of focus discussion groups in June and, based on
the findings, we then developed an online survey to gain
more insights into your experiences.
We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone
who took part in the project, whether that
was participating in person at one of the
discussion groups, or completing the
online survey. And a big
congratulations to Andrew
Cressdee who won an iPad in
our prize draw following the
completion of our online survey.
We’ve had a full report of the
findings from the research and
RECEIVE BETWEEN £200 AND £3000
INCONVENIENCE ALLOWANCE
we’ve gained more insight into how you see our trials.
Here are just a few highlights:
• We now understand more about the specific challenges
that volunteers experience trying to fit trials around work
and study commitments. We’re currently exploring
where we can be more flexible in our approach
• You told us that you’d like to know more about the science
behind the clinical trials and the medical team who will look after
you during your trial. So we’re giving you more insight into the
science and our people - check out an interview with our Medical
Director in this newsletter
• You told us more about what you’d like to see on our website.
We’re currently redeveloping www.weneedyou.co.uk and will
incorporate as many of the changes as we can, so keep an eye
out for the new site due to be launched later this year.
Meet our Medical Director,
Dr Stuart Mair
Stuart Mair is
the Medical
Director at
Quotient
Clinical. Stuart
has been
working in the
medical
profession for
over 20 years.
After graduating
in 1990, he spent time as a GP and
worked across a number of areas
including Accident and Emergency,
ENT and Infections. He always had a
strong interest in how medicines
actually work and the science behind
them.
Here he answers some of our questions
about his role at Quotient.
What does your role involve?
I am ultimately responsible for the safety of
all our volunteers on all our studies at
Quotient. I oversee all the trials and work
with my team of experienced doctors and
nurses to ensure that our volunteers receive
the best possible care. Quotient produces
non-biased research that benefits the
development of medicine as a whole. We
feedback to the pharmaceutical companies
independently on how a drug performed
during our research trials. We can then help
the company predict how it will perform in
the marketplace and what changes may
need to be made in order for it to succeed.
Where does Quotient fit in within the
development of leading medicines and
treatments?
A drug can take over ten years to come to
market. There are increasing regulations
and tests before they can be available.
Here at Quotient Clinical we are involved in
the beginning of this process as we carry
out Phase I trials on both healthy volunteers
and sufferers of a particular condition.
In some cases we actually make up the
drugs on site during a trial. We truly do
understand what ingredients go into them.
What are the biggest changes you have
seen during your time working within
medical research?
There has been an increase in regulation,
which is a good thing. All our trials are
regulated by the Medical and Healthcare
Regulatory Agency (MHRA).There has also
been a marked improvement in getting the
drug to patients much quicker, as the
industry becomes more advanced in
techniques. There are many more
treatments coming to market, addressing
more varied conditions. Every area of
medicine is now involved in drug research.
Recommend-A-Friend and
earn up to £100
If you know anyone who is 18 years or over and interested in taking part in our
clinical trials, simply log on to www.weneedyou.co.uk and complete our short
Recommend-A-Friend online form.
When they have successfully completed an induction with us you will receive £25
AND when your friend completes the first study you will be able to
claim an additional £75.
Forthcoming studies
Study
list
online
We have studies coming on board all the time, so
keep checking the ‘study list’ section of our website,
www.weneedyou.co.uk, for details.
Contacting us
If you are looking to book a place on an individual study, please either email or call the
dedicated recruitment contact for that trial. This direct dial will be included on the
study summary sheets you receive. It will be quicker for you than calling our very
busy switch board.
We’re
improving
2012 has been a busy year for us.
Our Nottingham site has seen a
refurbishment to make it more
comfortable. We have introduced
more amenities to ensure we
provide you with a much more
welcoming environment.
We regularly review all your feedback
and comments and where we can we
will make changes to improve things
for you.
A few examples of how your recent
feedback has made a difference to the
volunteer experience:
• Menu choices – The menu is now
on a 3 week rotation, so most
volunteers will have different meals
when they come back for a second
period or during a long stay. The
choices available have also been
extended.
• Lunches – You now have the option
of filled wraps instead of filled rolls
for lunch.
• Drink choices – Wherever the study
allows it, flavoured cordial is now
available in addition to water, decaf
tea and coffee.
If you have any feedback that you
would like to share with us;
Email us at
[email protected]
Call us on 0115 974 9000