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At the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), there is a program known as Last Gift that enables patients who are facing terminal illnesses to contribute to the development of more efficient treatments. Their unique situation changes the typical risk-benefit analysis involved in participating in a clinical trial for an untested medication. Scientists can invite them to become research subjects in ways that they wouldn’t approach individuals who are healthier and have a longer life expectancy, and terminally ill patients might agree to this consent when others would be less inclined to do so.

The top U.S. research organizations, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health, have recently released powerful statements regarding shifting away from drug testing on animals. They now recognize that outcomes from these tests do not effectively apply to human situations. Patients who are dying can offer their own bodies to support this increasing initiative to make drug testing more focused on humans, producing data on how individuals, rather than beagles or mice, react to new therapies, while simultaneously decreasing the pain endured by lab animals.

Prior to the release of Last Gift, scientists from UCSD conducted a survey involving almost 500 individuals regarding end-of-life medical studies. Over half of the participants indicated they would be open to sacrificing four weeks of their life to take part in research, even if they had just six months remaining.

More than a third indicated that, in the event of a terminal illness, they would consent to being exposed to pathogens like streptococcus bacteria, hepatitis C virus, and malaria, in order to aid in the creation of new treatments and vaccines. A wish to “give back” was also mentioned by those receiving hospice care. For many, the notion of contributing to science provided a greater sense of purpose in their lives.

At present, the Last Gift program is dedicated to uncovering where HIV resides. Individuals involved in this research are living with HIV and are also facing terminal illness. They not only offer their bodies for study after death, but also take part in invasive procedures during their lifetime, such as biopsies, lumbar punctures, and blood sampling.

Davey Smith, the primary researcher for the Last Gift study at UCSD, states, “It’s amazing how much our study participants are willing to offer in terms of their time, effort, and even their physical bodies for science. They are strongly encouraging us to accelerate our work.” For the upcoming stage of the program, Mr. Smith and his team are working on ethically and scientifically valid methods for evaluating treatments and vaccines among Last Gift participants. Mr. Smith recognizes the significant benefit of testing medications in humans compared to nonhuman animals: “Our biology is simply different,” he explains, “Thousands of drugs that showed promise in animals have not worked in people.”

The study does not have to focus on a topic connected to the participant’s medical condition. For instance, someone suffering from advanced cancer could participate in a trial for a vaccine targeting an infectious viral disease. The trial would include controlled exposure to the virus to determine if the vaccine provides protection.

It’s not hard to envision a program that allows individuals with a limited lifespan to select from various ongoing research studies they wish to join, thereby letting participants determine which illnesses or health issues are most significant to them. Providing this option brings back a sense of control for those nearing the end of their lives and involves them more actively in a larger human initiative aimed at enhancing overall health.

In May 2023, Richard Scolyer, an Australian expert in melanoma treatment, was found to have glioblastoma, a severe type of brain cancer. Individuals diagnosed with glioblastoma usually face a short life expectancy.

Professor Scolyer, who was instrumental in the remarkable recent advances in survival rates for patients with advanced melanoma, decided to be “patient zero” in an experimental immunotherapy study, using a treatment that has shown effectiveness in melanoma but had not been tested in glioblastoma before. “The data we’ve gathered,” he stated, “I know it’s transforming the field, and even if I pass away tomorrow, I would be very proud.”

Anyone doesn’t need to be a scientist to have a significant impact on medical research. Numerous patients can assist in creating safer medications for treating human illnesses while also contributing to decreasing the reliance on animals in studies. Meaningful medical research collaborations with those who are nearing the end of their lives can save human lives and simultaneously provide purpose to the final days of patients with terminal conditions. Programs such as Last Gift hold the possibility of benefiting all conscious beings—both humans and animals.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).