(Photo Source: nih.gov)

NIH is conducting a new flu study

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is paying people to get sick. The NIH is looking for healthy volunteers, age 18 to 55, who are willing to be exposed to the flu virus and spend a week in the hospital for monitoring as part of a clinical trial.

“Participants will be asked to make one visit to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, for a blood draw, medical history, and physical exam. If eligible for and interested in future studies, the participant will return to NIH and may need to stay in the inpatient unit,” the NIH said in a press release announcing the study.

The purpose of the study is to give researchers a chance to observe how the flu affects the body in real-time. By studying human subjects who are actively sick with the flu, from the time of transmission until they begin to recover, health experts can better formulate treatments and vaccines.

Participants will be compensated for their time–although the NIH isn’t saying exactly how much it will pay volunteers.

“Yes, you will be compensated for your participation in the screening, and additional compensation will be provided if you participate in future studies. Transportation and other expenses may also be covered,” the NIH said.