| If you've ever wondered how companies know | | | | particular women attractive or not. |
| whether a new drug really works or where scientists | | | | If you happen to have any diseases, you might be |
| find out whether coffee is truly good or bad for your | | | | able to earn even more. Demand for participants with |
| health, paid medical studies are the answer. And | | | | common afflictions like high cholesterol, diabetes or |
| individuals can make a decent amount of pocket | | | | arthritis is fairly high and can earn you both money |
| change working for these scientists as a human | | | | and free experimental medicines. |
| "guinea pig." | | | | If you aren't quite ready for a full-blown clinical trial, |
| As anyone who's had to pay the pharmacist knows, | | | | maybe you might consider donating plasma for |
| medicine is big business. In order to make sure their | | | | research and blood transfusions. Most major cities |
| claims are accurate, companies pay volunteers to | | | | have plasma donation centers, where you can earn |
| donate their time and bodies as the "normal" control | | | | $10-20 for an hour or so sitting in a chair while your |
| group when they test new medicines and | | | | blood is drawn. You can even watch tv or read a |
| treatments. Some of these clinical trials are complex | | | | book while you're donating. |
| long-term projects requiring hundreds of volunteers | | | | If you're interested in trying your hand (or brain, or |
| who visit the clinic for weekly blood draws or take | | | | stomach) at being a medical research participant, |
| an unnamed pill every day for a month to study the | | | | check with local universities and hospitals or look on |
| effects. Projects associated with universities often | | | | Centerwatch's website for current open trials across |
| involve things like sleep studies, where you stay on | | | | the U.S. Companies like Benchmark Research also |
| campus for a week and sleep in a booth with | | | | coordinate trials with multiple hospitals, so check their |
| monitors taped to your head to study your nighttime | | | | website for potential opportunities. |
| brainwaves. Other trials are short one-day affairs, | | | | Donating your time and body to medical research |
| where scientists might measure your blood pressure | | | | doesn't just do good for your pocketbook. You can |
| before and after eating a high-salt meal they provide | | | | also feel good knowing you have contributed to |
| or asking you to fill out a survey about your drinking | | | | people's health and maybe even assisted scientists in |
| behavior and whether you find photographs of | | | | finding a cure for something! |