Reviewing IRB Documentation for Randomized Clinical Trial
Author: Parker Williams | Major: Psychology | Semester: Spring 2023
My name is Parker Williams, and I am a psychology major on the pre-medical track in the William J. Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. I began my research with Dr. Ellen Leen-Feldner of the PETAL Lab in the Fall of 2021, and I was awarded the Honors College Research Grant in Spring 2023 in order to pursue my honors thesis. My honors research is dedicated to examining the anxiety-reducing effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in the context of substance use. More specifically, my research aims to discern the effects of CBD on anxiety and substance cravings.
When I first began college, research was a foreign concept to me. I did not know where to start or what the process was like. However, during my Abnormal Psychology course, Dr. Leen-Feldner spoke about her experimental psychopathology research on anxiety and CBD. While I had always been interested in mental health processes, I was now fascinated by the idea of investigating a potential novel therapeutic, such as CBD. I jumped on the opportunity and became involved in various studies on the safety and efficacy of CBD. While conducting these studies and reading the surrounding literature, I saw that despite the dearth of empirical literature supporting CBD as a therapeutic for anxiety, the market is exploding with claims of CBD’s anxiolytic properties that science has not yet clarified or in some cases, even investigated. This fueled my curiosity to bridge the gap and contribute to the scientific understanding of CBD’s effects on anxiety and substance cravings. Simultaneously, my passion for psychology deepened, and I realized the profound impact research could have on addressing public health challenges.
Entering the world of research was not always easy. Initially, I found the fast-paced and highly-regulated environment of a randomized controlled trial difficult. However, through the help from my Dr. Leen-Feldner, graduate student mentors, and my peers, I was able to complete the necessary training and become more comfortable in the lab. We also encountered other hurdles along the way. Recruiting participants for a very specific, hard-to-reach sample proved to be an ongoing issue. To overcome this obstacle, my peers and I ramped up our recruiting efforts, posting as many flyers as possible and using social media whenever we could. Eventually, we increased participant matriculation and began making more progress.
Dr. Leen-Feldner has been an incredible mentor throughout my research journey. She has guided me in my undergraduate development, directing and refining my research ideas to ensure that I can reach my academic goals. My regular one-on-one meetings with her have given me ample access to her expertise, allowing me to ask questions and receive advice. Beyond that, however, she has aided in my personal development as a student. Despite my hesitations and doubts, she has continuously encouraged and inspired me.
After this past semester of funding, I look forward to continuing my research next semester. I plan to finish my data analysis and write my honors thesis, and I will be involved in several other studies investigating CBD. Once my undergraduate research journey has concluded, I plan to attend medical school. I hope to use my newfound appreciation for research in my future career as a physician.