We are often asked by volunteers: ‘’What happens to the drugs that I helped to trial during my time at Quotient Sciences?”

As all treatments go through many phases of development, we can’t always give an answer for several years as to whether a drug has become successful and is now helping patients.

However, we do have some exciting news – two clinical trials that we carried out at Quotient Sciences have played a key part in the introduction of new treatments.

If you were involved in the studies which took place during 2013 for a once-a-day treatment for Hepatitis or once-a-day weight management treatment for obese patients, then you played a big part in bringing them to market.

They both have been given the green light for use and are now available for patients, so a big thank you to you all. It goes to show you really do make a difference by helping to develop the medicines of the future.

Volunteers who participated in QCL113049, a human ADME study which we conducted back in 2012-2013, might be pleased to know that the molecule has just been approved as a treatment for Chorea associated with Huntington’s disease.

Chorea is the most visible feature of Huntington’s disease and it is characterised by abnormal, irregular, ‘dance-like’ movements. It is noted that nine out of ten people with Huntington’s disease will develop chorea at some point as their illness progresses.

As a volunteer in this study, you have played a major part in improving Huntington’s disease patients’ quality of life.

Thank you for your continuous support.

My name is Tim and I’m 26.
I live about an hour away from Quotient in Rugby with my partner and four cats and after seeing an advert online at www.weneedyou.co.uk,I clicked the link & my exciting journey began!

I started off by doing a short residential study, but more recently I have had the time for longer studies & have really enjoyed the time out of the pressures of the ‘real world’. The studies I’ve been on have been to help conditions including addiction, asthma and malignant hypothermia.

I tend to do a trial at least twice a year which fits in well with my life. I like to take part in studies for the inconvenience allowance which helped my partner and I to buy our first home in January 2021 and I now use the funds for home improvements - which is never ending!!!

The fact that the studies go on to help others is great too – a real win-win situation.

I’ve done about 6 or 7 studies now and have had a good experience on all of them – meeting great people each time. The other volunteers are friendly, and we regularly talk on group chats.

The food is nice and there is a wide range of choice. Whilst at the clinic you have some very busy days but some very quiet days, it helps to come well prepared with a few good boxsets and movies to watch. If you want to find out more, please follow the link and see how you can change lives forever!

When I thought about sharing my journey at Quotient Sciences in a blog, I was a little hesitant - would people relate, could people understand why I voluntarily enter an actual clinic with a clean bill of health? But as I currently reside on my bed in clinic, in Quotient Sciences' ultra-professional unit, while in my third year of doing studies at Quotient Sciences, I thought let’s give this a go!

I’ve been bitten by the travel bug and want to visit many places and see different cultures. I like my sports and music, especially Leeds United - but don’t hold that against me. I spent 2 years travelling in Australia where I first encountered clinical trials – so when I returned to England, I got online and found Quotient Sciences.

I have been a volunteer at Quotient Sciences for 2 years now and highly recommend it. I had previously taken part in clinical trials whilst living in Australia and then some inductions and screening in the U.K - but once I visited the clinic in Nottingham, I haven’t wanted to go anywhere else.

‘Why do you take part in them?’ most of my non volunteering mates ask. The main reason is the money of course and it helps me pursue my dreams in a way that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to working full-time.

Importantly, it’s also great that I can help contribute to medical science, giving back to the world and help changing it for the future.
Lastly, it sometimes feels like a little getaway from mundane life - albeit I’d prefer a beach and some - but it’s nice to have a little break from everyday life.

I’ve also made some amazing friends – people who have genuinely inspired me to travel, to seek new experiences, it’s very much a volunteering community at Quotient Sciences.

I have recommended Quotient Sciences to a couple of friends as we talk about what the work they do all the time and once they are on the panel, I have been paid just for recommending which is a win, win, as I also see my friends while on a study!

Telling people that I volunteer with Quotient Sciences isn’t an issue for me, I am always on their social media pages and ‘check in’ online whenever I am there.

Dosing for me is a small part of the clinical trial experience. For me,  the food here is the main reason I pick Quotient Sciences over the other clinical trials - the food makes it so much easier.

The second reason is the staff, as they always make you feel welcome and not just a number.

As I mentioned, the trial drug is only a small part of my days at Quotient Sciences, if I need to study they have great WIFI so I can take my laptop and get my head down but also it’s a great place to socialise with other volunteers. The Volunteer Liaison Officer and Recruitment staff always look after us whilst we are on a study, with plenty to do to spend my time, whether it’s playing X-box, watching movies or reading books.

Picking a study to fit in with our lifestyles can be difficult for some, however thankfully for me, I have a very understanding boss. If you plan it right, it can fit perfectly into your schedule and you can still maintain a full-time job!

Clinical trials help save lives, but it has given me the ability to live my life to be the best it can be – thank you all at Quotient Sciences.

Click weneedyou.co.uk/applynow to see how volunteering could change your life too!

I thought it was about time I wrote something about Quotient Sciences and my experience of doing clinical trials. I’m always asked the reasons why I choose to do trials so here are a few of my reasons.  

I volunteer for a number of reasons, firstly after losing my father, mother and brother to cancer plus my only grandson to a heart condition, I can't help but look back and think what if there could have been tablets or medicine out there, developed by pharmaceutical companies? I like the fact that I can leave a legacy that I, Sean from the UK, may have helped so many people’s lives with illnesses and able to live a longer, more enhanced life.

I really do believe there has never been a safer time to volunteer. You are so closely monitored, especially after dosing with the test medicine, as you are put at ease straight away. The slightest adverse event, even a minor headache, is noted by the staff immediately and doctors check you over straight away and you're flagged up to be monitored even more closely.

So how did my volunteering journey begin?

I was appearing on a BBC documentary called Pay Off Your Mortgage in 2 years where the cameras followed my family and I over a 2 year period where we endeavoured to pay off our mortgage in 2 years by doing things other than our current jobs and also ways of saving money.

The then presenter had just written a book of money saving tips and finding ways to make money, one of which was to take part in Clinical Trials - this hit home straight away and I got very excited by the thought.

I was, at the time, working in a bank but already planned to resign and go back to being self-employed. Although we never paid off the mortgage we saved £36,000 which was rather good considering I quit my "safe job" and chose to become self-employed.

What is it like to be a volunteer at Quotient Sciences?

I was recommended to Quotient Sciences by a friend over 10 years ago and now I know so many volunteers that do clinical trials with Quotient Sciences. Some volunteers have been to other clinical research companies previously, but found that Quotient Sciences has a real community feel with the staff being extremely helpful, the doctors and nurses very professional and the facilities better than elsewhere.

I've met and have had some great laughs with so many wonderful staff and volunteers over the years, I am still in touch with volunteers I made friends with all those years ago.

I believe Quotient Sciences goes above and beyond to make our experience as pleasant as it can be and the food alone is a really nice hearty meal selection.

The lounges are comfortable and well equipped, you have everything you need from books, board games, magazines, Sky TV and X-Boxes.

Thanks to the inconvenience allowances I have received from doing clinical trials at Quotient Sciences I've had so many amazing holidays, not least my wife's 40th birthday present with a multi trip to Las Vegas, Hawaii and San Francisco.

I will continue to volunteer with Quotient Sciences, helping to develop medicines for the future. It takes minutes to see if you’re eligible for the healthy volunteer panel and if you want to become a part of the Quotient Sciences community visit: www.weneedyou.co.uk

Hi! My name is Jak and I never really considered doing clinical trials until I found Quotient Sciences!

Whilst searching the internet and looking at ways of making some income which didn't necessarily require a continuous commitment, I stumbled across clinical trials. I found Quotient Sciences to be relatively nearby and they offered numerous trials of different length, giving me the flexibility to do as I felt, was right for me.

After I applied, I was invited by Quotient Sciences to an induction with the chance to go through how a trial is conducted and to ask any questions I had. They also showed me the facilities in order to give me an idea of where I would be staying if I was to do a medical trial. It was a fairly rainy and bleak day, which they DID NOT put in the invitation! But all the rain was forgiven due to the positivity of the rest of my experience. Once approved to go onto the Quotient Sciences volunteer panel, I was then ready to roam their website in search of a trial that fitted my circumstance, they do also send an email for specific trials you’re eligible for.

I decided to ring to register my interest in a clinical trial and was greeted by a friendly voice on the other end of the phone. We booked a screening appointment, which followed the trend of being a pleasant experience, and later I received a detailed document about the trial I was going to be taking part in. The document gave me all the information I could possibly need and also turned out to be a very interesting bed time reading. Everyone involved in the screening process was lovely and made me smile. The receptionist, the doctors and the nurses happened to all be wonderful too.

Within a week, once all of my results and GP report had been received by Quotient Sciences, I received a phone call informing me that I had passed screening, and I was confirmed for admission to the trial, along with some recommendations of what to bring with me for my time at Quotient Sciences and of course some restrictions that I had to comply with but nothing too tricky.

The inconvenience allowance I received is continuing to give me the opportunity to follow my passions. It has allowed me to travel around the world, meet beautiful people, explore magical places and further my passions in music.

In all honesty, everyone on the trial was lovely and unique in their own way, making the experience diverse and interesting. I spent most days playing pool, bingo, quizzing, playing ping pong or just talking to the other volunteers. I have since recommended my dad to Quotient Sciences and received a payment for recommending him. To date he has completed 3 clinical trials himself and is looking to do more.

I took part in the trial due to the money I would receive, but it would be unfair to suggest that this is the only ‘reward’ you gain. The staff within Quotient Sciences are extremely lovely and they made me feel so welcome and treated me in such a caring way. I will be doing another medical trial in the future knowing I am playing my part in research to help advance the world of medicine for those that need it and make this world a better place - for me, this is the reason I volunteer at Quotient Sciences. I feel like part of the family & I can’t wait to return.

Hi, I'm Jamie, and I have been doing Quotient Sciences’ clinical trials for the past 4 years now.

What got me started doing trials at Quotient Sciences? Well, I was actually sat in a bar down on the beach in Cambodia a few years ago and I got chatting to a man I had recently become friends with. He was telling me all about how he could receive payments for taking part in clinical trials - which sounded great - it was something that I had previously been curious about but never knew anyone that had ever done it or how to get involved.

When I got home later that year, the conversation I had with my friend popped back into my head and I searched online looking for 'Medical Trials' and came across Quotient Sciences.
I applied, attended an induction and after completion was given the details of the available trials - and I signed up to one; the whole process being pleasantly simple.

I'm self-employed, so taking the time off work is never an issue for me and so I do tend to choose the longer residency trials. Once the trial is finished and I've completed my last appointment, it's not long before the inconvenience allowance is in the bank and I make sure it goes straight into my savings.

I love doing trails at Quotient Sciences - it's a great way to meet new and interesting people. I've made lots of friends there, the staff are great and attentive. With me having quite a physical job, it's nice to be able to chill out, relax and still get paid for my time.

The food is always great, and I always get excited about filling out my personal menu with what food I want; the homemade pies are one of my favourite!

During the trials, once the busier first day or two after dosing are over, you often get a lot of free time. This is good, as it gives me a bit of 'me' time where I can entertain myself with my laptop using the free WiFi - whether I'm translating Asian songs into English, watching Netflix or surfing the net, I rarely get bored.

The clinics have great lounges where you can watch Sky TV, movies or play pool/darts/Xbox etc.
Me and a few lads even spent a few days completing "the hardest puzzle in the world" on my last study.
My favourite days are definitely when the Volunteer liaison officer comes around to do quizzes and bingo, where there are prizes to be won!

When I tell my friends and family about the trials I’ve taken part in, at first they think I am mad as they usually have the wrong impression of what actually goes on at the clinic, and then become envious when I tell them how much I get paid for taking part in them whilst helping develop new medicines too.

I'd encourage anyone who is unsure about what's involved to apply and book in for an induction and tour of the clinic - I'm sure you will be pleasantly surprised!

My name is Ryan, I am 27 years old and I have been doing trials with Quotient Sciences since 2013.

My first experience of clinical trials was on the other side of the world, in Australia, where I did a couple of trials to support me financially while I travelled around the country. As soon as I returned home to the U.K, I immediately started searching for a clinic near me and found Quotient Sciences just up the road on the outskirts of Nottingham.

I went to an induction and found it extremely informative, so I couldn’t wait to sign up for a trial. I was studying at University at the time and found I was able to balance the shorter 3 or 4-day trials around my studies.

This provided me with a much welcomed and necessary period to work on my assignments while disconnected from the distractions of the outside world. I even found my time in the clinic to be relaxing, as you are provided with lots of spare time to sleep, play games, watch movies and converse with other like-minded volunteers.

Since those first trials, I have gone on to do a total of thirteen studies with Quotient Sciences, with the longest duration lasting up to 18 nights in the clinic. These trials have almost single-handedly given me the opportunity to continue my travels in my post-university life. So far, my studies have supported me with hiking adventures in the Himalayas, Andes and Alps, travelling around Central America, stargazing in Iceland, walking across Spain and most recently travelling around Vietnam on a scooter.

I can honestly say without Quotient Sciences, most of these adventures would not be possible. Next year, I am hoping to travel to Colombia with the money I’ve saved from participating in trials with Quotient Sciences. It has become my second home - a home that allows me to help advance the world of medicine (while taking me to the mountain tops).

Getting paid while saving the world!

So, everybody always asks ‘how did you get into clinical trials and testing medicines?’ For me, it happened years ago.

I was working in a pub in Sheffield, it’s where all the Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday players went for a drink, I was about 20 years old and I used to work with a few people serving behind the bar. I was talking to a new lad, he had been to America on holiday for a month and was telling me all about it - where he had been, what he had been up to.

I then casually said, ‘how can you afford to travel for so long if you’re just working here?!’ He told me he took part in a medical trial. My ears pricked up as I have never heard of it before.

He was telling me he had trialed new medicines or medicines that were already on the market but had a different brand name or new dosage - basically any medicine has to be tested through a rigorous clinic trial system. The great bit was not only are you doing a service to the medical industry, but you actually get paid for your time whilst you take part. This sounded right up my street, so I googled it.

It turns out the young lad was correct. There were a handful of clinics in the UK, but the one that stood out to me the most was Quotient Sciences as it was only a stone’s throw away from me. So I completed my online application form through the ‘We Need You’ website and answered a handful of lifestyle questions and pressed submit.

It wasn’t too long before I got a call from the Quotient team. We arranged for me to come down for an induction, this was a great chance for me to have a look around the clinic and ask the long list of questions I had. I arrived and was met by a really friendly team who instantly put me at ease,  all my questions were answered in full and the best thing was I wasn’t out of pocket as my travel was paid by allowance.

It was confirmed, I was a fit and healthy volunteer in the prime of my life as I later bragged to my friends. I was contacted about studies that I was eligible for and was more in demand than Elvis! I chose the study that suited my work schedule and I booked in for a screening.

I felt it was a full free valet, and it turns out I was a perfect specimen, still am at the age of 51! I have done many trials now, over a number of years and the rewards have been immense. Apart from helping medical science, I have been abroad many times with my payments, moved house 3 times and having the freedom and extra money has been amazing.

What has always surprised me was how straight forward it is to become a volunteer. However, what didn’t surprise me, but overwhelmed me, was the amazing the staff and how well they treat each volunteer from beginning to the end of the process. Whether it be a 2 week clinical trial or 35 days, nothing is ever too much for them. They really do their best to help make your experience at Quotient a great one.

If you don't mind staying away from home for a few days, then this is an amazing opportunity to help the world of science whilst benefitting your bank account. Being a part of the Quotient community is one of the best things I have done in life, apart from the kids of course. It’s given me so many opportunities and experiences, I am truly blessed and lucky to be a part of Quotient Sciences and improving the lives of others.

Just wanted to share my experience during my recent time on a 10-day paid clinical trial and to thank everyone involved.

Time went surprisingly quickly as the days are well structured around time points, procedures and mealtimes – and apart from on the first day of dosing, there was a lot of free time to relax.

It's a chance to make new friends and hang out, as everyone has a breathing space from the usual demands of modern life.

It's a great chance to meet folk from a totally different walk of life. There's a spacious TV room to relax in with an area for hot drinks. Some days there would be a quiz or bingo (l won a couple of gift vouchers) and a couple of times the group went out for a walk around the local scenic country park. I understand this is not always possible, but if they have the staff available, the clinic will try and arrange this for the group.

The staff are professional, but they also have a warm human approach. Procedures are explained with any questions and needs accommodated.

If you haven't done a trial before, l can reassure you that you are in good hands and encourage you to go for it.

It has genuine world outcomes.

Many of the test medicines go on to help many who struggle with health issues - which is a good feeling to think you played a small part in things.

Also, the inconvenience allowance received for your time is obviously a big help personally – it helps pays for the little treats in life! As it happens, I'm writing this on a warm November morning besides the pool in Sri Lanka.

If you are wondering who else does these studies and why we do it – check out the community of volunteers