09/Feb/2009
Research Studies at Pennington: Saving Your Own Life and Theirs
By Emily Faget
We have all heard that if you eat right and exercise, you can save your life. But what if doing so could also help save the lives of hundreds or even thousands of other people?
This is the mission of Pennington Biomedical Research Center, the LSU-affiliated medical research facility located on Perkins Road between Essen and College (or Starring and Lee).
“When people participate in a study with us, they feel good knowing the research isn’t just for them – it’s for everyone with the same problems,” according to Ami Parks, recruitment coordinator. Pennington has more than $20 million in state-of-the-art equipment and patient facilities. But all of this advanced technology and sophisticated architecture means nothing without people who are willing to take part in the research studies.
“We have a lot to offer here, but we can’t do it if the community doesn’t participate,” Parks said.
The Blueberry Study
Pennington is pursuing a long list of research projects at any given time. Each study is unique and important to the medical community. For example, doctors at Pennington are currently researching whether blueberries can have a positive effect on diabetes. Studies can take anywhere from a few months to over ten years to complete. The Look Ahead program, a study that looks into the effects of diet and exercise on Type II Diabetes over the course of 11 years, is about four years away from completion.
Arthur Lamm, a Look Ahead participant, explained that Pennington saved his life. “I was destined to eat myself to death,” he recalls. “Pennington gave me an opportunity to learn while giving back to their research that could save so many more.”
Lamm is not the only participant to describe the life-changing techniques introduced to him at Pennington. Patricia Pinsonat, clinical coordinator and project manager, described many patients who found the same results.
“Many people come to make changes in their life and meet people with the same problems and experiences,” Pinsonat said.
Group Meetings
Some of these lifestyle techniques include group meetings in which study participants or former participants can gather and discuss their eating and exercise habits.
“I was introduced to people like me. It helps to be in a program with people experiencing the same difficulties. You’re held accountable,” Lamm said. Lifestyle changes can include healthy diet and exercise techniques. But these changes don’t always come easy. In fact, it often means tearing apart beliefs known since childhood.
“I always remember as a boy, my mother would tell me to eat everything on my plate. I learned it and followed it into my adult life. Now that I realize adults shouldn’t eat that way, I hardly ever finish everything on my plate,” Lamm said. Parks emphasized that one of the most astonishing facts patients learn at Pennington is that they have diabetes and never realized it. Many were previously told they had diabetes but not given any information about the condition.
“You know, it’s surprising how many people walk around with diabetes and don’t even know it. But it’s even more surprising to hear about people who were diagnosed with diabetes and then just pushed out the door,” Parks said.
This is the mission of Pennington: to treat each patient with care and teach them how to live healthy lives in our community.
The Clinic Experience
It isn’t easy to decide whether you should participate. In fact, Pinsonat describes the decision as extremely difficult.
“People never know what to expect. That’s our job though, to sit down with them and explain exactly what will happen during the study,” Pinsonat said.
The research process is usually different for each participant. Sometimes patients simply go to Pennington once a week to have their blood drawn. Other times, patients are asked to stay overnight once or twice during the course of the study. On rare occasions, patients are asked to sleep in a hyperbolic chamber overnight. This may sound scary, but Pinsonat describes it as a home away from home.
“There is always someone right outside the door and the room has a TV, DVD player, everything you’d have at home. It’s just the name of the room that sounds scary,” Pinsonat said.
For exactly that reason, many participants don’t even call Pennington whenever they see an advertisement for a study. “People mistakenly think they will become our human pincushion, but that’s not the case at all,” Pinsonat explained.
Don Arceneaux, another Looking Ahead participant, described his Pennington visits every six weeks as anything but unpleasant. “Pennington is by far the best place I’ve been to. They’re always so nice and right on time when I go in,” he explained.
Pennington and the Community
Pennington recently had a groundbreaking ceremony for their newest clinical research center. The new center will keep Pennington’s research initiatives and equipment up to speed with the rest of the nation.
Governor Bobby Jindal attended the ceremony, praising the new facility as “a new cylinder in the economic engine that is Pennington.” Jindal estimated that for every $1 put into Pennington by the Baton Rouge economy, it returns over $3.
But with a new center comes a renewed effort for participants. Parks emphasizes that they need more people to make the first step and call.
“Honestly, not all people qualify for the study they call about. But they may qualify for another study either now or in the future. We love to talk to everyone who calls, but we need people to pick up the phone first,” Parks said.
What Kind of People?
So what kind of people does Pennington look for?
“We look for people from almost every group, no matter their age, gender or weight,” Parks said. She estimates that for every 100 people who undergo initial screening, only half of those actually participate in the study. Many do not qualify, cannot make a commitment or drop out during the study. Because of these setbacks, Pennington makes great efforts to increase the number of initial calls.
Pennington offers a monetary reward for participation as well, but Parks explains that is usually not the deciding factor for people. Instead, they choose to commit to a new lifestyle that will change their lives.
“Sometimes people will say, ‘I was on a course to disaster but you saved my life.’ When you see people who really decided to take this journey, you can’t help but smile,” Parks said.
For more information on current or future Pennington studies, visit pbrc.edu or call 763-3000.
By Emily Faget
We have all heard that if you eat right and exercise, you can save your life. But what if doing so could also help save the lives of hundreds or even thousands of other people?
This is the mission of Pennington Biomedical Research Center, the LSU-affiliated medical research facility located on Perkins Road between Essen and College (or Starring and Lee).
“When people participate in a study with us, they feel good knowing the research isn’t just for them – it’s for everyone with the same problems,” according to Ami Parks, recruitment coordinator. Pennington has more than $20 million in state-of-the-art equipment and patient facilities. But all of this advanced technology and sophisticated architecture means nothing without people who are willing to take part in the research studies.
“We have a lot to offer here, but we can’t do it if the community doesn’t participate,” Parks said.
The Blueberry Study
Pennington is pursuing a long list of research projects at any given time. Each study is unique and important to the medical community. For example, doctors at Pennington are currently researching whether blueberries can have a positive effect on diabetes. Studies can take anywhere from a few months to over ten years to complete. The Look Ahead program, a study that looks into the effects of diet and exercise on Type II Diabetes over the course of 11 years, is about four years away from completion.
Arthur Lamm, a Look Ahead participant, explained that Pennington saved his life. “I was destined to eat myself to death,” he recalls. “Pennington gave me an opportunity to learn while giving back to their research that could save so many more.”
Lamm is not the only participant to describe the life-changing techniques introduced to him at Pennington. Patricia Pinsonat, clinical coordinator and project manager, described many patients who found the same results.
“Many people come to make changes in their life and meet people with the same problems and experiences,” Pinsonat said.
Group Meetings
Some of these lifestyle techniques include group meetings in which study participants or former participants can gather and discuss their eating and exercise habits.
“I was introduced to people like me. It helps to be in a program with people experiencing the same difficulties. You’re held accountable,” Lamm said. Lifestyle changes can include healthy diet and exercise techniques. But these changes don’t always come easy. In fact, it often means tearing apart beliefs known since childhood.
“I always remember as a boy, my mother would tell me to eat everything on my plate. I learned it and followed it into my adult life. Now that I realize adults shouldn’t eat that way, I hardly ever finish everything on my plate,” Lamm said. Parks emphasized that one of the most astonishing facts patients learn at Pennington is that they have diabetes and never realized it. Many were previously told they had diabetes but not given any information about the condition.
“You know, it’s surprising how many people walk around with diabetes and don’t even know it. But it’s even more surprising to hear about people who were diagnosed with diabetes and then just pushed out the door,” Parks said.
This is the mission of Pennington: to treat each patient with care and teach them how to live healthy lives in our community.
The Clinic Experience
It isn’t easy to decide whether you should participate. In fact, Pinsonat describes the decision as extremely difficult.
“People never know what to expect. That’s our job though, to sit down with them and explain exactly what will happen during the study,” Pinsonat said.
The research process is usually different for each participant. Sometimes patients simply go to Pennington once a week to have their blood drawn. Other times, patients are asked to stay overnight once or twice during the course of the study. On rare occasions, patients are asked to sleep in a hyperbolic chamber overnight. This may sound scary, but Pinsonat describes it as a home away from home.
“There is always someone right outside the door and the room has a TV, DVD player, everything you’d have at home. It’s just the name of the room that sounds scary,” Pinsonat said.
For exactly that reason, many participants don’t even call Pennington whenever they see an advertisement for a study. “People mistakenly think they will become our human pincushion, but that’s not the case at all,” Pinsonat explained.
Don Arceneaux, another Looking Ahead participant, described his Pennington visits every six weeks as anything but unpleasant. “Pennington is by far the best place I’ve been to. They’re always so nice and right on time when I go in,” he explained.
Pennington and the CommunityPennington recently had a groundbreaking ceremony for their newest clinical research center. The new center will keep Pennington’s research initiatives and equipment up to speed with the rest of the nation.
Governor Bobby Jindal attended the ceremony, praising the new facility as “a new cylinder in the economic engine that is Pennington.” Jindal estimated that for every $1 put into Pennington by the Baton Rouge economy, it returns over $3.
But with a new center comes a renewed effort for participants. Parks emphasizes that they need more people to make the first step and call.
“Honestly, not all people qualify for the study they call about. But they may qualify for another study either now or in the future. We love to talk to everyone who calls, but we need people to pick up the phone first,” Parks said.
What Kind of People?
So what kind of people does Pennington look for?
“We look for people from almost every group, no matter their age, gender or weight,” Parks said. She estimates that for every 100 people who undergo initial screening, only half of those actually participate in the study. Many do not qualify, cannot make a commitment or drop out during the study. Because of these setbacks, Pennington makes great efforts to increase the number of initial calls.
Pennington offers a monetary reward for participation as well, but Parks explains that is usually not the deciding factor for people. Instead, they choose to commit to a new lifestyle that will change their lives.
“Sometimes people will say, ‘I was on a course to disaster but you saved my life.’ When you see people who really decided to take this journey, you can’t help but smile,” Parks said.
For more information on current or future Pennington studies, visit pbrc.edu or call 763-3000.
