TrialNet: Now Online Sign Up, Local Blood Screening

TrialNet is an important way people can participate with clinical trials to study Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Previously participants needed to go to a participating facility. The recently the National Institutes of Heath (NIH) announced expanded ways to participate. You can sign up online and have blood drawn at a Quest lab close to the participant, at no cost.

TrialNet needs at least 20,000 relatives of T1D people each year to support research. So we all can play a part in finding better treatments and cures. The first step is to roll up our collective sleeves and participate. Now that is even easier.

If you are connected to T1D, this is a way to step up and be part of doing something about it.

https://www.diabetestrialnet.org/webapp/OnlineScreening/OnlineConsent.aspx

Adapted from their website:

How Does Screening Work?

• Step 1:
 First TrialNet will ask some eligibility questions.

• Steps 2-3:
 TrialNet will verify they have your permission to screen your blood sample and collect personal information.

• Step 4:
 The Online Screening will ask for some basic family history information and a mailing address.

• Step 5:
 TrialNet will mail you a screening kit. Take your screening kit to your local Quest for your blood test. 

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• Note: Screening at Quest facilities is only available for persons located in the US, If you are located outside of this area, but still want to participate, please click here for more information

See answers to common questions about screening >

Who is eligible?

Anyone between the ages of 1 and 45 years with a sibling, child or parent with type 1 diabetes. 

Anyone between the ages of 1 and 20 with a sibling, child, parent, cousin, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, grandparent or half-sibling with type 1 diabetes.

CGM Sensor Trials

Most folks in the diabetes online community recognize a need for better CGM sensors. Part of getting them to market is testing them in clinical trials. Medtronic has news today about a CGM trial:
  

MINNEAPOLIS – Nov. 9, 2011 – Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) today announced a new United States investigational device exemption study to evaluate the accuracy of six-day use in adults with diabetes of its Enlite™ Sensor, the company’s latest innovation in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology for people with diabetes. The study will evaluate Enlite, a glucose sensor for CGM designed to offer improved hypoglycemic detection and comfort compared to current CGM sensors. CGM provides a more complete picture of glucose control because it can reveal high and low glucose levels that periodic fingerstick testing might miss.

The first two patients in the study were enrolled at Rainier Clinical Research Center in Seattle, Wash., and at AMCR Institute in San Diego, Calif., by the sites’ principal investigators (PI), Ronald Brazg, M.D., and Timothy Bailey, M.D., respectively. 

Full press release info here 

Trials may or may not be your thing. Full consideration is needed for joining any study, but if you are interested in participating see: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01464346 

This is not the only CGM trial of interest.  For more on other CGM studies is also available at clinicaltrials.gov: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=CGM