Investigators at the University at Buffalo looking to recruit study participants nationally turn to ResearchMatch, a web-based tool that was established as a collaborative effort with participating sites in the NIH Clinical and Translational Science Awards Consortium and hosted by Vanderbilt University. The nonprofit program helps to connect people interested in research studies — an amount currently numbering more than 170,000 individuals — with researchers from institutions like University of Buffalo (UB).
“For studies that do not require an in-person element, ResearchMatch is a great way for researchers to cast a wide net for participants outside of Western New York,” explains UB Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Clinical Recruitment Coordinator Ashley Regling, M.A. “Whether they are looking for healthy participants or those with specific medical conditions, there is a large national database of people interested in learning more about research opportunities.
‘A quick, effective, and organized method of recruitment’
“Over time, Vanderbilt has continued to enhance the platform based on practical feedback from research teams and their recruitment experiences,” says Regling. In 2024, the ResearchMatch site is celebrating its 15th year, and recently rolled out a variety of enhancements. These include the translation of the platform to simplified Chinese and Researcher “office hours,” in which researcher training will be extended by 30 minutes to allow researchers to drop in and ask specific questions about their studies. (Sign-up for monthly researcher training can be found on the researcher dashboard)...
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