Question:
I would like more information about volunteering in studies

Highly interesyed in the new gastric Implant surgery which has less side effects and risks, and also is Outpatient surgey and has the same benefits of gastric bypass. I woujld like to sign up to volunteer for this surgery. Please advise asap.    — Sara S. (posted on November 3, 2003)

November 2, 2003
You might try doing a search on "clinical trials" on the internet. If there are some trials going on, you would probably have to live near where the trials are being done, and be selected to participate in the study, based on wheatever criteria the researchers set up. It is not as simple as volunteering to have this done. Best of luck!
   — koogy

November 2, 2003
It would seem like there aren't any clinical trials on this surgery since it's been around for a while, but the State of Louisiana is doing a study on weight loss surgery. They have a $1 million fund for this study and will perform the surgery free of charge for those selected to participate (I think they are using state employees). They are hoping to prove that is WLS is more cost effective than long-term insurance spending on morbidly obese patients. Here's a link to read about it: http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/101403/new_surgery001.shtml.
   — Amelia L.

November 3, 2003
You can also chek the NIH website http://www.nih.gov
   — M B.

November 3, 2003
I've never heard of this type of procedure before, does it have a specific name or is it just implant gastric bypass? I suggest you look into all the tyoes of surgery available before "volunteering" for anything. Euther way, goodf luck to you on your journey. Randee pre-op for 7 more weeks!
   — corkee

November 3, 2003
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2153901 I did a little searching and this is all I could find on it. Randee
   — corkee