Have you ever taken part in a Mayo Clinic study?

This webpage offers more information about clinical trials at Mayo Clinic including the ability to search the database using keywords relevant to your condition or trial you are looking for.
- Mayo Clinic Clinical Trials https://www.mayo.edu/research/clinical-trials

You can also call Mayo Clinic to talk with a study coordinator to inquire about available trials and the eligibility criteria.
NON-CANCER CLINICAL STUDIES QUESTIONS
Phone: 800-664-4542 (toll-free)
Contact form https://www.mayo.edu/research/forms/clinical-trials

CANCER-RELATED CLINICAL STUDIES QUESTIONS
Phone: 855-776-0015 (toll-free)
Contact form https://www.mayo.edu/research/forms/cancer-clinical-trials

INTERNATIONAL PATIENT CLINICAL STUDIES QUESTIONS
Phone: 507-284-8884
Email: intl.mcr@mayo.edu

- More about clinical trials https://www.mayo.edu/research/clinical-trials/about-clinical-studies

- What does it mean to take part in a clinical trial?
https://www.mayo.edu/research/clinical-trials/deciding-to-volunteer

For those of you who have taken part in a clinical trial, what do you wish you had known? What tip would you offer others who are thinking of joining a clinical trial?

I took part in two clinical trials in the early 2000’s. I found out, after trying to give blood, that I had hepatitis C. When I went to a gastroenterologist they had no cure and could only watch my liver scar over time. Two clinical trials for a Hep c cure were offered and I took part. I am thankful to have been part of the group of patients that helped find a cure around 2015. I was able to rid myself of the Hep c in 2019. I am sure many others have now been cured and avoid progressive liver disease now. My take on clinical trials is they can be good to help people especially when there is no known cure for a disease.

I took part in a month or so long Rochester Mayo Clinic heart study when I was in my late 50s for my high blood pressure which started in my mid 40s. I met with the research team at St. Mary's Hospital for baseline blood tests and health exam and then left with a portable blood pressure cuff I had to wear a week that took my BP every 30 minutes or so. I had to stop whatever I was doing until it finished and recorded the info. After that I had an overnight stay at the hospital where they hooked me up to all kinds of heart monitoring stuff along with pressurized leg wraps that would gradually put pressure on my legs and then release it during the night. The next morning they gave me a weekly diet plan that I had to follow. The result of the study was a change in my high blood pressure medication along with a different diagnosis of primary aldosteronism. The only cost to me was the time going back and forth to the hospital.

My first study was such a great experience and opportunity to help with a study and then receive a more thorough diagnosis and treatment that I have participated in several studies through Rochester Mayo Clinic. I'm currently enrolled in a multiple year study on the RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) in elderly patients which has been a good experience so far. I had to go into Rochester Mayo for a baseline exam and was shown how to do nasal and throat swabs then sent home with a swab kit along with one of those devices you blow into to measure your breathing strength (I think). Anytime I have flu like symptoms, I contact the RSV study team and chat with them to determine if I should do the nasal and throat swab to test for flu or RSV. I've had to call them twice in the last 2 years. After doing the swab, I put it in the special vials in the kit and place them in a special bag and they send a courier to my house to pick it up. Normally I get the results the next day on my patient portal. My first test turned out to be the flu that was going around and the second one was actually Covid and tested negative for RSV and flu A or B. If you do use the test kit, they mail you a new one within a week. Again, no cost to me and hopefully a benefit to future treatment and diagnosis for Mayo and other patients.

Sadly the one clinical trial in Rochester that I really wanted to do before my right knee replacement was a stem cell therapy for knees but I was a few years past the cutoff age and could not convince them to change the criteria 🙂

Great to read all these positive responses to Mayo studies! I'm going to go ahead and join one for Clippers for sure.