RIP Paul, welcome to reality

[puntkicker]

It's similar to the ongoing rumors about Jerry Garcia being dead that eventually came true.  After another member told me about Paul starring in a movie, I checked it out awhile back.  If I recall, it was quite depressing, and Paul was shown hitting a bottle of hard liquor pretty hard in Vegas, along with other sad stories.  May that have contributed to things, combined with the long term effects of many non-approved drugs?

It now says Kerri is the "Founder".  Owner I could live with, but unless Paul went to Trinidad, CO and got his package cut off and assumed a new gender role now that congress has passed special laws and the media has made a huge deal out of transgender themes, then this title is disingenuous.  Or I suppose Paul could have multiple personality dis.

Surprising, this comes at the same time that Study Scavenger is asking a lot of personal questions, with the lure of you being on a TV series.  Almost no information is given about the series, including(but not limited to) who is producing it, and what it is about.  I mean they can't film anything inside a clinic due to privacy issues, and study specific issues cant be discussed.  Heck, people claim Paul was too scared to even leave certain threads up that simply talk in general about a place...like the magically disappearing Spaulding thread.

Maybe I am just being "too careful" in my line of thinking, but why does Paul disappear and then some absolute stranger who now apparently owns Paul's stock/interest in Study Scavenger take over and immediately data mine all of this personal information?

Am I too inquisitive, or do other folks see this as "normal"?   Will Franz attack me yet again?  Will "Kerri"(like females ever post, let alone found message boards lol) BAN me and make me use new IP addresses and emails/start a site of my own?(Ive thought about it for awhile, due to the extreme lack of effort put into this site since sometime before I joined...although Im glad some of the illicit drug spam finally got erased after many months[bronx cheer]).  Will the mod who asked the chick to post a picture of her in a bikini do it again?  The one she replaced it with when I told her he wasnt being serious is even more ridiculous.

I was hoping to finally meet Paul, but it looks like that dream died along with him.  RIP Paul, I wanted to express my gratitude for you starting this site, and I even was happy defending you against the VCT conflict of interest accusations.  I hope history remembers you well.  I hope maybe this Kerri turns out to be ok, and will be more vigilant against illicit drug spam, or at least allow some folks who actually care to be mods.  Maybe the mod can make that same request, and it will be better than the sandwhich avatar?  

I considered making a poll about what happened to Paul, but just in case he really is dead, I decided not to.  Maybe he just got offered more money than the "double dipping" he was alleged to be doing?  

Most of this was in jest, kind of.  I hope Paul is alright, and would say so, if he is still able to.  Who knows, maybe some of you degenerates actually will end up on the TV! lol

[travelingrat]

Kerri: so interesting to learn about you. i never met Paul but i read a few or the articles about him over the last 10 or so years and was impressed that despite hardships, he made soing valuable and useful to so many.

Puntkicker has been a wonderful addition to the forum. he has answered so many questions and tried hard to provide useful info and insights. he has really kept the forum going! And he doesn't just give opinions, he does research on many of the topics that come up.

i hope that you two can meet someday as it seems to me you are both not only interesting persons but caring persons. and i would like to meet both of you someday myself!

[puntkicker]

Kerri, I tried to say most of my tone was joking...as are many of my posts. If you were around here, you'd know that. I just found it interesting that your name replaced Paul's on his posts at the top of each thread. I dont claim to know Paul, and clearly said I had looked forward to meeting him, he seems like he'd be fun to interrogate, as he's a man of few words(28 posts since the Great Purge(tm)?). I dont know, maybe I'm the only one this coincidence of these questions(such as lying to a CRU, guessing Paul's VCT could do well to market itself more with, as if it hasnt ruined things enough already) coming at the exact time you appear, is not lost on?

At any rate, I am glad to here Paul is allegedly still alive.  Your antics had me concerned.  Thanks for the introduction.

Yes, it would be great if we lived in an innocent world where these things were not a concern, I agree.  But we don't.  This is the metaphorical candy from strangers.   Some of us have had the misfortune of dealing with grifters, even though I am in no way suggesting you are the grifter.  Youve yet to respond to my query about who you are presenting this information on behalf of, which is a standard minimum to be shared in these situations.  Or are you this show's producer?

Maybe you are a partner of Paul's(VCT too?), but why have I not seen a single post of yours until I said soing, other than the ones where your name replaced Paul's? I mean that's a long time for you to be here without posting at all, wouldn't you agree? I dont mind if you call it untrusting, but I think these are reasonable questions, even if I didnt present them in a dry manner.

Again, a lot of personal questions were asked without a single ounce of information about who was asking them, and only the most vague bit of information about why they were being asked. For all I know I'm making a sacrifice trying to let my boardmates consider that before the herd is thinned out. To be fair, the show might be fun, if indeed real. Then again, I also already addressed some concerns about what could actually be shown. We already saw a preview of it in Paul's movie, where he looked dejected, alone in a hotel room with a large bottle of hard liquor. For a portion of one movie(mixed in with other tales of big pharma ruining lives) that's enough material, but I'm curious what they'd do to fill a whole season of TV. I mean, once outside the studies, we're human beings like anyone else.

So being you want us to give a complete stranger immediate trust now that Paul is without internet(they dont have that in Alaska/Texas yet? I remember he did a video there before, one of my favorites of his), feel free to tell us about yourself. Are you a study legend like Paul? I didnt mean to get off on the wrong foot, but TravelingRat knows I care about people and have done my best to demonstrate it, even if it comes across as hypervigilance. Dont worry, there are plenty of study participants who dont even pay much attention to their informed consent, so I'm guessing they wont mind giving that sort of information to a complete stranger who mysteriously shows up one day out of the blue. I agree with TR, it is interesting to finally learn that Paul had a silent partner. Feel free to share your feelings with the group.

[puntkicker]

When life hands us lemons, may as well make lemonade. While you're here, will you answer if you sold the appropriately named "study scavenger" to the enemy (VCT), as has been discussed on here and at studies?  Maybe it wasnt Paul that folks should have been ridiculing?  You're right that we don't know you, so allow us the opportunity.

[David Grey]

This is SOOO perfect reality television !!! And of course the reality show producers ARE going to ask very personal questions - its a reality show for G-d sake !! But if you read the questionnaire its very basic and does not ask to divulge anything except basic questions. If its not for you - fine.... move on, but for some for you this could be a super cool opportunity. Puntkicker - I did not sell Study Scavenger to VCT. Study Scavenger and VCT are TOTALLY DIFFERENT. Study Scavenger posts studies to help with recruitment of healthy volunteer and patient studies. I partnered with Paul about 4 years ago to post Study Scavenger studies on the right side of his main page. I don't really want to get involved with posting as Paul created this site to be a website for the subjects - not for the management ( which sorry Puntkicker - that is me now ) CPUs or Sponsors. JALR is a completely different - subject driven website and I want to keep it that way. I created Study Scavenger and joined forces with JALR to bring you all hundreds of studies that are easy to find. I also tried to bring you the reality show casting process. Some will be pessimistic - some of you have already been great ! Enjoy the website, as you have for so long, if there are ways, in which we can improve it, then let us know. I have a bunch of great people working to get you all the information about studies you need.

[respect]

I'm confused. What is Kerri connection to VCT? Any connection could be a conflict of interest as data elements across the platforms could breach confidentially and certainly pose the issue of HIPAA violations!

[FloridaGirl]

I saw the post about a reality tv show last week . Was going to ignore it but Puntkucker is right.
I really do not think it would last a season and I think it is a crappy idea. I do studies for income and see a tv show as a way to in a way make fun of us "crazy" people. I dont tell but a few people that I do studies so why would anyone want to be humilitated on tv.
And what are they going to do have a "fake" in house study.
They need drama so they would need to make sh*t up to make it more interesting.
The part that is going to piss me off it making being a volunteer look like a lazy/crazy persons life.
I am a clinical trial participant. I eat healthy,I exercise regularly and feel that,though I do it mainly for the money, I am also helping bring better medication to people who need them.
I hope the reality tv idea dies.
Yeah lets all be made fun of on
Tv!!!#
Count me out.

[josue]

My main concern would be a reality show flooding the market with too many people trying to get in and driving pay outs down.

[respect]

Oct 30, 2017 11:09:12 GMT -5 josue said:

My main concern would be a reality show flooding the market with too many people trying to get in and driving pay outs down.

You made an interesting point.

[franz]

Oct 29, 2017 17:26:29 GMT -5 respect said:

I'm confused. What is Kerri connection to VCT? Any connection could be a conflict of interest as data elements across the platforms could breach confidentially and certainly pose the issue of HIPAA violations!

It's pretty simple, though she seems to have a lot of trouble answering the question.

www.verifiedclinicaltrials.com/management/

[David Grey]

I am the owner of Study Scavenger, JALR and partner at VCT. I have been involved in this website since 2013 and LOVE it. There is absolutely no issue with HIPAA but to be honest, after reading all your comments and messages I understand your hesitancy to trust me. As Puntkicker said, you dont know me and as I was a silent part of this website for the last 5 years, it was my mistake to just throw myself in to the mix. I wanted to be an active part of this community and bring you better, bigger studies, but I dont want to have anyone uneasy about my involvement with any of my companies. I am fine removing myself completely from any activity on this site but would like to have someone manage it as a paid position ( Puntkicker ?? people speak highly of you). I have a call scheduled with Paul Friday and am hoping we can reverse his position in the company. This site is AMAZING and gives you all a voice and a community - Im so sorry if I messed that up in any way.

[puntkicker]

Kerri, I do not think you need to leave. I actually was excited to see some management around here. It's almost like the difference between being a person of faith vs an agnostic, where you can never contact the higher power(just an analogy, I am not officially endorsing one or the other). Granted, your avatar doesn't make you look like a deity like Paul's did, so maybe that's why you seem more approachable(that, and you actually interact with us, which I find refreshing).

I dont think removing yourself from posting would help with anything. If people have concerns about you being connected to JALR/StudyScavenger/VCT, theyre still going to be there whether you post or not...and as I mentioned strangers discussed the same concerns about Paul "double dipping" at the very first out of state study I screened for. It left an impression. People have known about this board's connection with VCT for quite some time, and have even said that "our posts are a great advertisement for VCT". I'm tempted to ask if that was purposeful.

I like that you ask for ideas, and actually have the decency to address our questions and concerns, I do not take this for granted. Even though the board generally does a decent job of running itself(being it's basically dead, now), I personally appreciate having someone around to answer occasional questions, remove the 3rd world pharmacy spam(occasional spam doesnt bother me, but when it's done in every thread and stays up for months, it's not as humorous), etc. I don't know how others feel, but I'd enjoy having someone around to answer questions like, "Where did the Spaulding discussion area go again?"

I'm an opinionated person, may have more concerns than some, so I'm just speaking for myself. It was a bit heartwarming so see Franz actually agree with me for once, so youve brought healing that no one else has been able to.    I think if you stay, it will make things look more transparent and make people more comfortable, not less comfortable.  Again, that's my opinion, I'm not sure what others think about that.  

As for the show, great overall idea in terms of entertainment in my opinion, but it seems like the devil is in the details.  I appreciate FloridaGirls's point about ridiculing our lifestyle.  Josue also thought of soing I didn't, about how the show could increase the pool of COMPETITION for all of us, lowering payment even more than has been happening, and filling up screening appointments before some of us can get in.   I think you said the magic words when you said you wanted to bring us better, bigger studies. Please do, this year has been very slow overall....payouts are not keeping up with inflation, and some are actually going down, even at PPD.  

[David Grey]

Wow Punkicker - Didnt expect that at all ! You really do keep me guessing !!! THANK YOU !!!! The show is in very early stages and as the production companies told me - its a 1 in 60 shot this will ever be filmed. They have been very clear that there will be a positive angle to this show !! I looked at the show a little differently than some of you here, as I guess I look at research a little differently. This show could highlight how much you have to do in each study to participate. It could highlight that you have to get PK blood drawn EVERY hour or multiple times an hour. For the hardcore phase I studies, I think the show could bring attention that for what procedures you go through on a daily basis, the compensation is FAR too low. I feel awful that FloridaGirl feels that it would make volunteers look crazy/lazy -- because you are everything BUT that. You risk your health for each study.

In terms of bringing you bigger, better studies - I'm on it, but whats the best way to communicate new studies? Is listing them on the home page sufficient? Do I start a post to bring extra attention? PPD will not allow me to list on this page but so many great companies DO. Below are a few studies that got posted in the last few weeks:

Clinilabs (NY or NJ ) has 5 new studies : www.studyscavenger.com/ClinicID/74240/CLINILABS
PRA HS Marlton NJ has a $10,500 study : www.studyscavenger.com/ClinicID/37655/PRAHS_NJ
Pharmatech in Englewood CO has a one day study for $200 : www.studyscavenger.com/ClinicID/74567/PHARMATECH
Covance Madison WI has a $5025 study : www.studyscavenger.com/ClinicID/35411/COVANCE_WI
ICON San Antonio has 2 healthy volunteers studies with compensation at $4225 : www.studyscavenger.com/ClinicID/13/ICON
Covance Daytona beach - Not sure this one is done yet, but one healthy volunteer for $4054 www.studyscavenger.com/ClinicID/36034/COVANCE_FL
Biotrial Newark NJ - $1750
Inventiv Miami FL- men with low testosterone $4000 www.studyscavenger.com/content/ViewStudy.aspx?SiteID=0a4e9033-de52-4f27-ad4f-fa783fbd1193
Covnace Dallas has two good studies - one for seniors with compensation over 7k : www.studyscavenger.com/ClinicID/35977/COVANCE_TX

I can post new study listings weekly if you feel it would help
Please keep advising -- I promise I will keep listening !

In terms of Spaulding - they lost their big marketing recruiter and things have been slow there - don't know about Spaulding discussion area on this page - but please restart it if it was beneficial

Inflamax got bought out by Hill Top

Thanks again Puntkicker !!

[supersayianjim]

so "kerri" first you said

"I partnered with Paul about 4 years ago to post Study Scavenger studies on the right side of his main page."

THEN YOU SAID

"As Puntkicker said, you dont know me and as I was a silent part of this website for the last 5 years"


just making sure which one it is?

[David Grey]

hi Supersayiamjim - I partnered with Paul 'about' 4 years ago - July 2013 to be exact - so if I count the years I have been active in getting studies to this page - its only half of 2013, then all 2014, 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017 !! So in my mind its about 4-5 years of being a part of JALR.