A new website launched this month by Salt Lake City-based Optimum Clinical Research offers new ways for those suffering from diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and other health conditions to learn about medical studies under way in Utah.

Study participants are reimbursed for their time and receive treatment and medications at no charge. Click the new “Participants” section at ocresearch.com to learn more about clinical research and eligibility requirements for participating in the studies.

“When they come to our website we hope they will become interested in what is happening in research,” said Jared Shields, recruitment coordinator for Optimum Clinical Research. “Conditions like heart disease and diabetes have devastating effects on people’s lives. … I am thrilled about the launch of our new website because it has so many new ways for people to learn how they can improve their health by participating in clinical research.”

With the new website, Shields said he hoped to make it easier for visitors to learn about the latest research being conducted at Optimum Clinical Research. Click here to visit the website to learn more about studies currently under way or call 801-363-7353.

“When looking for research on the Internet, it was difficult to find. When you did locate companies like ours, the websites were tough to navigate,” Shields said. “If you did find a study that you were interested in, it was also difficult to find out who you needed to talk to.”

The website for Optimum Clinical Research now has study details, videos and general information about clinical research and how the studies benefit the community, Shields explained.

“Even if somebody’s not interested in something we’re doing at the moment, there is a lot of information about what may be happening to them,” he said. “We hope to spark even more curiosity when they visit our home page. We really want to show them what possibilities are available.”

The new website also includes a community calendar where visitors can find out about health-related events in Utah. The calendar currently features classes about diabetes and a camp for children who suffer from asthma.

“We’re striving to be the clearinghouse for health-driven events in Utah,” Shields said. “We’re trying to get together all of those resources that are either low cost or no cost, and put them in one place.”

Participants are needed at Optimum Clinical Research for studies exploring new ways to treat heart disease, diabetes, gout, high blood pressure and emphysema.

“We wanted to make it very, very simple,” Shields said, adding that pages on the site include contact information for Optimum Clinical Research and forms to request more information.