Medical drug trials are one solution for students' money problems.
Young people are turning to clinical research to earn some extra cash while continuing to study for exam.
The Zentech facility, in North Dunedin, is used to test the behaviour of new healthcare items before they hit the market to make sure they work and are better than what is available.
Payment depends of the length of the study and the number of blood samples required, but the student guinea pigs can expect to receive much more than minimum wage - and all their meals for the entire stay are provided.
Physiotherapy student Kayne Bettridge participated in a trial last year.
He had to give a blood sample every morning for three weeks, and stay at the facility for two weekends.
Getting up early to do the blood test was the worst part and he would have preferred more food, but "it wasn't hard work'' and during overnight stays he was free to watch movies, or study.
Kayne said he would do it again, but "only trials that felt safe''.
Subjects are informed of the risks and potential side effects before they sign on, and undergo vigorous screening processes and medical checks.
For Otago University medical student Josiah Hodson, the idea of working towards medical advancement was a huge factor in deciding to do the trial for pulmonary hypertension, and it allowed him to really immerse himself in his field.
He said the study last month was "the easiest $700 ever made'' and all the medical trials are very appealing "because of the huge financial gain on offer''.
It felt safe because anyone can pull out at any time, but payment is only made if the study is completed.
He said the blood monitoring was the most draining part and became very "uncomfortable and annoying''.
The room he stayed in was filled with hospital beds around the perimeter, and a communal dining area and rumpus room.
Josiah said he used the downtime to work on his assignments because there was not much else to do.
Thomas Powell did the same trial "100% for the easy money''.
He has done four trials during his studies and said he would do more.
Even though the living conditions aren't great, "it's not so bad really'' .
Zentech has been in Dunedin for more than 30 years, and hosts up to 60 participants at a time in the facility.
It also recruits at the university with a stall at this year's tent city event.
Managing director of Zenith Technology Dr Cheung-Tak Hung worked as a pharmacy lecturer when he first came to New Zealand.
He said there was a high demand for innovation, so he started Zentech and has been expanding the Dunedin facility ever since.
His passion for pharmaceutical development came from "working with companies to find solutions, and if they come to fruition it becomes very exciting''.
When asked how many people have been involved in his trials, Dr Hung said it was a commercial secret.
More than 550 research groups across the country are recruiting nationally for clinical research programmes.
- Maddison Northcott
Drug trials
PROS:
• Earn money quickly
• Can study while working
• Limited skills required
• Meals and bed provided
CONS:
• Vigorous medical checks and regular blood draws
• Must stay inside building for duration of trial
• No food and drink can be consumed except what is provided
• Recruitments are paid only on completion
WHAT IT INVOLVES:
• Full medical screening of prospective participants
• Candidates receive all information about potential risk and side effects
• Participants must miss dinner night before
• Each person allocated a hospital bed in large shared room
• People can use the communal dining room and lounge, study or sleep
• Dinner and lights out around 10pm
• Early morning rise for initial testing
• Cannula inserted for blood testing
• Drug administration and monitoring through the day
• Most trials involve a full weekend stay
