Ron Brewer is a Public Research Champion for Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals and has been a clinical research volunteer for the past 30 years. Here, the former scientist explains why
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Ron Brewer, and I have been retired from (paid) work for over thirty years. I live in Old Buckenham and am deeply involved with village life, belonging to all sorts of clubs and societies but mainly as current editor of our village newsletter for some twenty-five years.
I spent my working life as a scientist at a government research station doing a wide range of jobs. Although I worked on the same Hertfordshire site for nearly forty years, I did four main jobs: the actual testing of building materials, publicity in all its forms including exhibitions, films and advertising, research into how to provide information for different audiences and finally running the publication unit that produced all the scientific publications.
I was introduced to Norfolk by coming for a holiday here with my parents when I was primary school age. Our honeymoon was spent on the North Norfolk coast and later we then brought our children here for their holidays. On retirement we took the plunge to move to Norfolk permanently.
What led you to becoming a clinical research trial volunteer and how many years ago?
I started on my first clinical trial just before I retired. It was a scheme called EPIC and involved over 30,000 people living in Norfolk and others living in locations across Europe. Thirty years later I am still involved and now serve on the committee which collaborates with the scientists to make sure the results are available to other research workers.
Twenty years ago, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and then took part in NOAR, the Norfolk Arthritis Register. Plenty more tests have taken place and again I am still involved with helping them disseminate their findings.
What has it involved in that time?
I have continued to take part in many other research programmes. Some were as simple as just sending off a postcard each month listing all the falls I had suffered that month. Another involved taking a small portion of chocolate as well as a fish oil capsule each morning for a whole year. Sounds easy but becomes rather boring, especially when you know that you could be amongst those 50% taking the placebos rather than the real thing.
I have also spent another year trying to keep to a Mediterranean diet. And all these tests involved having lots of blood samples taken, questionnaires and food diaries to fill in and memory tests being taken. There has been a lot of time spent in the Clinical Trial Unit’s rooms, originally at the UEA and now in the Quadram Building at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. You need good veins and no fear of needles!
What does your role as a public research champion entail?
It is just trying to persuade other people to take part as a volunteer in research. It could be on a stand at the Norfolk Science Fair in the Forum. Maybe giving talks to people in your own village. Recently I had a spot on the programme of the Annual Research Showcase at the Quadram Institute where I was reminding the scientists that their research depends on people like me being willing to take part and have tests done on us. Also getting in conversation with patients, their carers and hospital staff and handing them literature on the benefits of being a ‘guinea pig’ themselves.
What would you say to anyone thinking of becoming a volunteer?
Volunteer to be a volunteer now. You’ll meet lots of interesting people. You’ll get lots of information on your own health as a by-product. You can help many people in the future.
Visit The EPIC-Norfolk Study, Norfolk Arthritis Register, NNUH Research and the Quadram Institute.
Featured image of Ron Brewer – supplied
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