Introducing Aggie Research Volunteers: New platform for recruiting study participants

At long last, a solution has arrived for Texas A&M investigators seeking a new way to reach volunteers for human-subjects research. Aggie Research Volunteers (ARV), a dynamic new platform from the Division of Research, connects investigators with potential participants from campus and surrounding communities.

To kickstart this initiative, Aggie Research Volunteers is calling for investigators to populate the site with entries that describe their studies and how volunteers may participate. Whether clinical trials, online surveys, experiments or other research opportunities, Aggie Research Volunteers provides a platform to attract participants.

Interested researchers may post their studies  by completing the ARV Recruitment Website Submission Form. The Division of Research plans to launch the site after it reaches approximately 50 entries.

Designed as a user-friendly platform, Aggie Research Volunteers serves as a centralized hub that organizes the entries by categories and includes a search function. This new resource is tailored specifically for study volunteers, enhancing the recruitment process and cultivating collaboration with the local community.

“Our goal with Aggie Research Volunteers is to bridge the gap between researchers and the volunteer community, facilitating the advancement of scientific knowledge while providing opportunities for individuals to contribute to meaningful research,” said Dr. Jack G. Baldauf, vice president for research.

Here’s how it works:

• Investigators complete the ARV Recruitment Website Submission Form.and submit it to the IRB for approval as part of their overall recruitment plan. The form describes the nature of the study, eligibility criteria for participants, study contacts and any other pertinent information.
• Aggie Research Volunteers attracts potential volunteers, including students, faculty, staff and residents of the surrounding communities, through a combination of email, publicity, marketing, social media and search optimization.
• Interested volunteers contact research teams to begin the enrollment process.
• Complete instructions can be found by visiting the Human Research Protection Program website at News and Updates – Division of Research (tamu.edu).

By facilitating engagement between researchers and volunteers, Aggie Research Volunteers fosters a sense of community involvement and promotes the importance of scientific research in advancing knowledge and improving lives.