Ethnobridging Trials

An ethnobridging trial is a clinical research trial that enrolls volunteers of specific ethnicities. Different ethnicities tend to have different genetic foundations that may interact uniquely with a pharmaceutical product. A Japanese ethnobridging trial allows our researchers in Las Vegas to collect the required data without traveling overseas to reach the Japanese population. 

Participating in a Japanese ethnobridging trial can accelerate effective treatment options for a variety of conditions present in people of Japanese ethnicity across the world. Approval processes for new treatments are often slowed as researchers conduct trials around the world to gather the required data for specific ethnicities. Ethnobridging trials in the U.S. allow researchers to gather this data more efficiently and get safe products to market so that the populations can benefit sooner. 

Primarily, researchers want to be sure that their product is safe and effective in all populations. Ethnobridging studies allow researchers to monitor how the product interacts with specific communities. This data may lead them to adjust their products or their recommended dosing regimens to improve safety and efficacy. This may also improve approval timelines from regulatory authorities, such as the FDA and its counterparts around the world. 

Both types of studies involve the same basic qualification process and study procedures, such as vital-signs collection, blood collection, ECG collection and excellent medical oversight. The primary difference between the two is the study population. A typical clinical research study will enroll volunteers of a variety of ages, backgrounds and ethnicities, and these volunteers will participate in the study alongside one another. Enrolling a more specifically defined group of volunteers for an ethnobridging study allows the staff and clinic to prepare more appropriate accommodations and amenities for those who will be participating. 

You can read more about our Las Vegas clinic here. In addition to the information there, the PPD team in Las Vegas has specific amenities and staff ready to make your clinical research volunteer experience as comfortable as possible. Amenities include fluent Japanese-speaking staff and meals catered by local Japanese restaurants. 

The process starts with a confidential phone conversation to discuss your pertinent medical information. You can call us or complete the form on this page and our staff will contact you at your preferred time. If you qualify for the study based on our phone conversation, you will be invited to our clinic for a screening visit. At the screening visit, you will be given many more details about the study and opportunities to discuss the study with our staff. If you are interested in proceeding into the study, we will complete your qualification assessment by performing a few procedures to ensure you meet the criteria for the study. Though each study will have unique qualifications, these criteria often include blood collection, vital-signs, ECG and physical exam results. 

Volunteers in our research studies receive monetary compensation for their participation. The stipend amount varies by study, but it is generally based on the overall commitment required by our volunteers. Some studies may require staying in our facility for a considerable length of time, while others are more outpatient focused. Participants are informed before the study begins on the commitment expectations and how and when they will be paid.