Are there any benefits, costs or risks of joining ResearchMatch as a Volunteer?
As a ResearchMatch Volunteer, you might be able to get involved with research that helps improve the health and well-being of our society. Even now, many research studies end too early since there are not enough volunteers to take part. Also, there are many people who want to join research studies, but do not know how.
You may benefit from joining ResearchMatch as it may:
- Reduce the time you spend looking for research studies, or figuring out how to take part in research;
- Improve your chances of being matched with research studies that interest you;
- Help you learn more about your community’s the research and resources or about your area of interest; and,
- Help you be a part of a national group of volunteers that might help improve the health of others, and impact thefuture of research for everyone.
Benefits to society may be that research studies are completed sooner. This may increase general knowledge or improve access to new or different treatments or health practices.
There is a chance that there may be no benefit to you for joining ResearchMatch. Also, ResearchMatch cannot guarantee using this matching tool means you will be contacted by a researcher for any specific research study, either now or in the future.
There is a very small risk that some of your profile information, may be released without your permission, but ResearchMatch takes many steps to keep your personal information private, secure, and confidential until you allow ResearchMatch to release it. You may get frequent emails from researchers using ResearchMatch when your anonymous profile is ‘matched’ with their research studies. If you feel that you are getting too many emails, you may always remove yourself from ResearchMatch. There is no cost to join ResearchMatch.