Experience: Yale's YCCI Clinical Research
Written by Crystal Ruizmun
This past summer, I interned at Yale’s Center for Clinical Investigation for their Clinical Research Exposures Program. We were mentored by many professionals in the medical field and partnered with official organizations and labs in connection with Yale to broaden our understanding and teach others about clinical research.
There is a misconception about what clinical research actually is, many think they’ll be treated like guinea pigs or that clinical research with ongoing trials is for those who are sick. Clinical research is a set of studies that seek to understand how or why certain conditions exist. They exclude treatment or testing cures and are solely meant to find better methods of diagnosing and treating health conditions. For your safety and ours, these studies are conducted according to strict regulations to ensure the well-being of participants. Through Clinical research improvements to the quality of life can be made whether that be through government resources or support groups.
In my group, I helped teach children and parents what clinical research was in order to get more research participants. It was directed to children as they are most likely not to know what clinical research is and why it is needed. It was to detect biomarkers in autistic children, mostly to help them with emotional regulation.
It was such an eye-opening experience as I learned so much from this internship, it helped remove a lot of misunderstandings I had related to this topic.
The program takes place all of July and applications for those who want to participate close mid-April. I will be including the application for those who are interested in expanding their knowledge in the field.
References
YCCI Exposures Program < Education, Training, and Career Development at YCCI (yale.edu)
Written by Crystal Ruizmun from MEDILOQUY