After my catering jobs ground to a halt due to corona last year, I started looking for alternative ways to make some money. Last year’s tuition was 2143 euros, a sum I was able to pay in full by participating in medication research. Rent-a-body for science.
There are numerous studies, ranging from an hour in an MRI scanner to remaining inside a clinic for two months and everything in between. What I like about participating in these studies is that your entire day is scheduled. There is very little you are able to determine yourself. This makes it the ideal study environment, free of the normal student-life distractions. Some revitalise during a yoga retreat in Thailand; I prefer to participate in a medication study.
This is not for everyone. If you don’t like having blood drawn or value your freedom and privacy, this is probably not your cup of tea. I have never questioned the safety of the studies. There are so many medical committees that have to approve the studies, and a condition for medication research is always that it may never exceed the risks of daily life—a very comforting thought.
What I like about participating in these studies is that your entire day is scheduled
I have participated in five different studies. One of them concerned a drug for Parkinson’s disease. In addition to the healthy test subjects, there was also a group of patients. The research days left a lasting impression. A man younger than my father, for example, requested my help in cutting his sandwich into bite-sized bits. The discussions we had there during dinners are unlike any I could have had elsewhere as a student. It was nice to experience first-hand the difference such medication research can make.
Al in all, it is a great way to make a considerable amount of money while contributing to medical research. Should this column pique your interest, feel free to send me an email. I can probably answer most of your questions, and we may be able to split the bonus I receive for recruiting a new test subject.
