From Preclinical to Approval: How Clinical Trials Bring New Treatments to Market

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes Clinical Trials Explained Often, we hear of new treatments becoming available, but have you ever wondered what each new treatment has to go through to get approved by a regulatory body like the FDA? Before a new treatment is approved for commercialization, it needs to go through a meticulous trial… Continue reading From Preclinical to Approval: How Clinical Trials Bring New Treatments to Market

7 Ways to Feel Confident About Being Your Own Health Advocate

When you’ve been experiencing new symptoms or symptoms that have continued to get worse, going to the doctor can be nerve-racking. You may have even been a victim of medical gaslighting that is causing you to avoid going to the doctor. Or maybe you are scared of sharing such personal information about yourself with a… Continue reading 7 Ways to Feel Confident About Being Your Own Health Advocate

“We are all connected”: Check out this new video starring the 2018 Team of Advisors

Have you had a chance to meet the 13 members selected to join the 2018 Team of Advisors? Get a glimpse of the dynamic group in this new 2-minute video, and keep an eye on the PatientsLikeMe newsfeed and Facebook page for their individual videos and stories. This group will be collaborating with us in the next year to offer… Continue reading “We are all connected”: Check out this new video starring the 2018 Team of Advisors

Lupus flares: Stats and infographics based on the PatientsLikeMe community’s experiences

Lupus flares are hard to define. In fact, there wasn’t a clear clinical definition of flares until 2010 (and even that definition is pretty broad). If you’re living with lupus, how would you define a flare? What do you experience during one? To gain a deeper understanding of flares from the patient perspective, the PatientsLikeMe research team… Continue reading Lupus flares: Stats and infographics based on the PatientsLikeMe community’s experiences

It’s Clinical Trials Day, and patients are driving change

Today is Clinical Trials Day – celebrated to bring more attention to public health and also to recognize the contribution of the patients and healthcare professionals who make clinical research possible. At PatientsLikeMe, it’s members who are changing the way clinical trials are designed. Bringing the patient voice to clinical trials has long been part… Continue reading It’s Clinical Trials Day, and patients are driving change

“My expertise is as a person with Parkinson’s”: Member Lisa brings the patient voice to drug development

Member Lisa (lcs), a Team of Advisors alum who’s living with Parkinson’s disease, has found her advocacy niche: involving patients in drug development. Diagnosed with PD in 2008, Lisa served as a patient thought leader and co-author of a published journal article called “Increasing Patient Involvement in Drug Development.” She worked on the publication along… Continue reading “My expertise is as a person with Parkinson’s”: Member Lisa brings the patient voice to drug development

Loud and clear: The patient voice on the ACA

Have you had chance to check out that poll where 2,000+ PatientsLikeMe members shared their views on the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”)? It was the largest patient poll on potential changes to the health care law, and several media outlets are now listening up. A recent CNBC article called “The human side of the Obamacare debate”… Continue reading Loud and clear: The patient voice on the ACA

“Do not give up, find a reason to keep going.” – An interview with ALS member Lee

Humor and a passel of grandchildren keep Lee (slicky) going. He’s been living with ALS for nearly three decades and refuses to let his condition get the best of him. Now retired, he delights in his family and is very active in our forums – welcoming new members, doling out information and sharing his positive… Continue reading “Do not give up, find a reason to keep going.” – An interview with ALS member Lee

“You may not like it, but make the MOST of it.” – An interview with IPF member Nikki

When Nikki (Nimiha) was diagnosed with IPF in 2010, she was already a survivor of both ovarian cancer and a heart attack. Staying positive and up-to-date on new information is now this retired RN’s best defense – and she’s been sharing it with her IPF family on PatientsLikeMe since March. We had the chance to… Continue reading “You may not like it, but make the MOST of it.” – An interview with IPF member Nikki

“I feel as if I’ve been given more time to spread awareness.” – An interview with ALS member Lisa

Lisa (Ltbeauti) was studying to become a teacher in Richmond, VA, when she was diagnosed with ALS—the same type that affected both her sister and father. After joining PatientslikeMe in 2008, Lisa has made it her mission to stay proactive about her health and, like any good teacher, offer support and share her experience with… Continue reading “I feel as if I’ve been given more time to spread awareness.” – An interview with ALS member Lisa