Opportunities to Contribute to Science

January 31, 2025 · Baton Rouge, LA

---

To date, more than 65,000 people have been screened to participate in a clinical trial at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Kytara Gaudin Christophe and her daughter, Chloe, share their experiences as Pennington Biomedical trial participants.

Q: Why did you choose to become a participant at Pennington Biomedical?

A: (Kytara) You get to learn so many different things about yourself and your health based on what study you participate in. You get labs and MRIs and many things that insurance might not cover. Most of all, you help the experts gain important knowledge about health and medicine.

Q: How did you first hear about a clinical trial opportunity at Pennington Biomedical?

A: (Kytara) It was right before the pandemic that I learned about an obesity study, and I was excited to be a part of that. The study focused on semaglutide … some participants got a placebo and some got the drug … but no one knows which they’re receiving because it’s a double blind study. I actually lost weight during the trial, but I was on the placebo, so that told me that I was able to lose weight on my own.

A: (Chloe) Well, my mom encouraged me … at first I was apprehensive, but I researched the studies and found a lot that interested me. Now I’m very comfortable participating.

Q: What is most rewarding about being in the studies?

A: (Kytara) It’s personal for me. In that first study, I learned about the effects of my lifestyle habits … for instance, what I was eating too much of or not enough of. But beyond that, I liked the idea that I might have a part in changing things for the better. Maybe in the future, we might not have an obese society as we do now. And that would be partly because of the findings from the Pennington Biomedical trials. That first study was in 2020 and now, semaglutide medications are everywhere. It’s cool to think, ‘I was part of that research.’

Q: Describe the process.

A: (Kytara) Pennington Biomedical is a world-renowned research center, but it’s really just like going to your own family medical clinic or your own hometown health unit. You are not just another number, you are a person. The more often you participate, the more you’re recognized and people remember you. Your identity is private, and if you ever want to stop or if you’re uncomfortable with something, you don’t have to continue. It’s completely up to you.

A: (Chloe) Science can be intimidating, but it’s not like that at Pennington Biomedical. It’s a great environment to be in. You get all of your information upfront, and the staff and nurses are very transparent. They prioritize your comfort and describe everything they’re doing— from blood work to EKGs to cognitive tests, they communicate the studies in detail.

Q: What would you tell a friend who might want to sign up for a study?

A: (Chloe) Go for it. Do it to contribute to the future of medicine and to help yourself and others.

A: (Kytara) Look at the website, see what studies are available, what interests you, and sign up. It’s an amazing opportunity to contribute to science. That’s why I keep coming back. To discover information that can make us healthier and then share it nationwide or even worldwide … that’s exciting and it motivates me. In a small way, I can make a global impact and contribute to better health for everyone in the future.