Overnight stay

As a subject, we think it is extremely important that you can be yourself and feel at home with us. We uphold universal values such as mutual understanding, respect, and tolerance for each other's differences. Therefore, we ask you to be mindful of our house rules so that your stay is as pleasant as possible.

Upon your arrival at the facility, everything is carefully planned. First, there will be a luggage check, and you will get to know the other subjects from your cohort. You will then be assigned a bed in a mixed dormitory. Our doctors will check whether you are still medically fit to participate in the study. After that, you will receive a tour of the department. Our dormitories are comfortable, accommodate a maximum of 6 beds, and have separate toilets and bathrooms with showers. Each bed can be closed off with curtains for privacy and is equipped with technical measuring equipment. Additionally, each volunteer has their own closet and bedside table with a safe. 

 

Administration of medication

The study begins when our doctors administer the medication. This may be in the form of a drink, pill or other either on an empty stomach or after a high-calorie breakfast, for example. Your safety is our priority, and our medical team will closely monitor you. We will on regular time intervals check your blood and urine and monitor vital signs such as temperature, breathing, blood pressure, and heart activity. Our doctors and researchers will carefully observe the effects of the study medication on your body. You may not notice anything, but you could also experience side effects, which are usually mild and temporary.

Each study is unique, but often we compare new treatments to a placebo, also known as "dummy medication" without an active ingredient. Our results must be as reliable as possible. Who receives which treatment is determined randomly. As a volunteer, you cannot choose; this process is called randomization. Many studies are designed so that neither you nor the study doctor knows which treatment group you belong to. This is known as a double-blind study. This way, results cannot be consciously influenced by human factors. 

 

Free time

Between the studies, you have plenty of free time. You can spend it as you wish. You can relax with us, study quietly, or work remotely in our department. To help you unwind, we provide numerous options:

• Free high-speed Wi-Fi for all your devices
• Digital televisions, with extra sports channels, Netflix, and Streamz
• PlayStation 4
• Pool table and darts
• Puzzles and board games
• Daily newspapers and magazines
• iPad lending service (Feel free to bring your own laptop or tablet!) 

Our professional instructors organize voluntary workshops for our volunteers. Weekly, there are scheduled exercise sessions and creative afternoons. The sessions are very accessible and add value to your stay. Additionally, we have a cozy garden where our volunteers can relax outdoors, supervised and at agreed times.

 

Meals and Drinks

We offer drinks, snacks, fruit, and meals. For this, we rely on a catering company that delivers fresh dishes daily, tailored to the study protocols. Our staff will heat the meals for you, and the menu changes weekly. If you do not eat meat, you can choose a vegetarian option. For some studies, there are specific dietary guidelines, such as low-sodium, high-protein, or calorie-rich diets. Sometimes, you may be required to consume a meal entirely for the sake of the study. We always clarify this during the screening of our clinical trials.