May 2007, Volume 4 Issue 2

Three Initiatives: Reaching out to the public about clinical research participation

Education. Information. Outreach. Empowerment. It takes just a few words to summarize CISCRP’s vision. Yet the message has great impact and meaning.

As we strive to become the public’s primary and most trusted source for education about clinical research participation, CISCRP continues to make progress on three initiatives. First, we are informing and empowering the public and clinical research communities about issues in clinical research participation through our ongoing Aware for All educational programs. Since June 2006, 1,100 people have engaged in public discourse about clinical research at Aware for All events in Boston, Indiana, Philadelphia, and most recently, Dallas. The numbers continue to grow as we kick off our third year of programming at Aware for All – Boston on June 16, 2007.

Second, we are launching a large-scale public education campaign to build consumer awareness of clinical research and the “Everyday Heroes” whose generous participation is crucial to its success. Developed with a grant from Eli Lilly and pro bono collaborative support from Fast4wD Ogilvy, this groundbreaking series of public service announcements will heighten awareness of the value of clinical research and the volunteers who make it happen.

Third, we have established a website for one-stop shopping and information about clinical trials at www.SearchClinicalTrials.org (SCT). This easy-to-use site allows users to scan the Internet for information about clinical research participation and provides tools for making informed decisions about them. With clear navigation and access to information on clinical trials, SCT is sure to become a valuable public and professional resource in the days to come.

How You Can Help

If you would like to volunteer to plan an Aware for All Clinical Research Education Day program in your community or contribute financially to the delivery of a program in your community, click here.

If you would like to help underwrite a portion of the first-year campaign costs for Everyday Heroes, click here. Over time, provided that this campaign achieves the reach and frequency planned, we’re hopeful that ongoing public opinion will reflect a better-informed populace, greater appreciation of the value of clinical research to public health, and deeper recognition of research volunteers.

If you are looking to create a new marketing campaign or to increase awareness for your organization, consider sponsoring a page on SearchClinicalTrials.org. For more information, or to request sponsorship space, click here.

In the coming months, you will hear more about CISCRP’s efforts to educate, inform, reach out, and empower the public on issues in clinical research today. We invite you to get involved by contacting CISCRP at dianesimmons@ciscrp.org or 781-326-3400.

To view other articles in this issue, click here.