Life Was Hard, but Research Went On

Old Cheng's real name is Cheng Haonan. He's not old; he's only a few years older than Shen Qi.

It's not shameful for Cheng Haonan, who's in his thirties, to go to Dongguan for the first time in his life.

Embarrassingly, Old Cheng was arrested by government officials involved in the crackdown on prostitution and illegal publications.

Fortunately, Chairman Old Shen had some connections and resources in the southern coastal area, Cheng Haonan quickly returned to Nangang City.

"Director Shen, I have disgraced you and Chairman Shen..." Cheng Haonan was filled with regret and shame. As an intellectual and a technician, he really shouldn't have done such a foolish thing.

"Old Cheng, I know you've left your hometown for the South and are under a lot of work pressure, plus your spouse isn't around. It's understandable that you need to vent. You don't need to apologize to me. Just be more careful next time." Shen Qi didn't say anything harsh, focusing mainly on comforting him.

"There won't be a next time, absolutely not a next time!" Cheng Haonan patted his chest and promised, "That Big Treasure Sword is harmful, I'll never touch it again from now on."

Cheng Haonan's wife used to work in the World Trade Center area of the capital. Every day she dressed in office attire and went up and down twenty-something floors of office buildings. She looked glamorous and fashionable, but in reality she didn't earn much money and it was tiring and quite miserable.

Later, Shen Qi arranged for Mrs. Cheng to work in a public institution in the logistics department. Her income didn't increase much, but it was stable and easy.

Mrs. Cheng was very grateful to Shen Qi. She would send Shen Qi blessing text messages and various festive emojis during holidays.

Shen Qi is not only Cheng Haonan's boss, but also knows Cheng Haonan's wife and has evidence that Cheng Haonan was driving.

From now on, Old Cheng will be determined to work for the Shen Family father and son without complaint or regret, devoting himself wholeheartedly to their cause.

Driving under a real-name system is too risky. Therefore, never leave any evidence while driving.

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, Shen Qi and his family of three, along with Cheng Haonan and Old Yan, flew together to the capital.

This shows that Shen Qi did not treat Cheng Haonan and Old Yan as outsiders, but rather as family.

The Shen Qi family and the Ou Ye family reunited in the capital; this was the first time the two families had eaten New Year's Eve dinner together.

Shen Qi's conclusion from experience is that it's best for the two families' parents not to eat together too often.

After the New Year, Shen Qi's parents and Ou Ye's father returned to their respective hometowns.

The couple's peaceful life returned to normal.

A Phase I clinical trial for LPJK1 has been scheduled.

The applicants are Ou Beiqi Pharmaceutical and Shen Qi Research Center, and the clinical trial institution involved is Yanjing University People's Hospital.

The next step is to wait for the CFDA to issue approval allowing you to conduct Phase I clinical trials.

According to the latest GCP guidelines, drugs undergoing clinical trials in China must submit a Chinese drug name.

LPJK1 is the project code for the preclinical laboratory research stage. In order to meet the requirements of GCP, Shen Qi gave it a standard Chinese drug name - Triazatrisiloxanes.

It's a rather tongue-twisting name for a drug.

If Triazatrisiloxanes can be successfully launched on the market, it will also have a catchy brand name.

The CFDA approval came quickly, Triazatrisiloxanes officially entered Phase I clinical trials.

The next step is clinical trial design and volunteer recruitment.

Phase I clinical trials for new drugs primarily confirm the safety and reliability of the drug in humans, involving a small number of participants, typically a few dozen healthy individuals. Starting with Phase II clinical trials, patients will be selected as the participants.

Qu Jingzhao, a professor at Yanjing University School of Medicine and a senior physician at Yanjing University People's Hospital, became the leader of the Phase I clinical trial group for Triazatrisiloxanes.

Professor Qu Jingzhao recruits health volunteers in a very traditional way—by posting small advertisements.

There's a designated area on the bulletin board of Yanjing University People's Hospital for posting small advertisements.

Professor Qu's recruitment advertisement is posted here:

"Applicants must be male or female, aged 18-45, with no history of severe mental illness, physical illness, or substance abuse. Those with normal laboratory tests, physical examinations, and electrocardiograms will sign a clinical trial volunteer agreement with our hospital. Accommodation and meals are provided; the remuneration is considerable, and a nutritional allowance is included (negotiable). Interested parties please contact Doctor Lin at 133XXXXXXXX or scan the QR code."

Upon seeing the recruitment ad for health volunteers, Shen Qi was both amused and exasperated. "Old Qu, you're too stingy! Not to brag, but our project has some connection to the Nobel Prize. For a Nobel Prize-level research project, can't you at least post a recruitment ad on a respectable platform?"

"Director Shen, you're used to being high and mighty, so you may not understand the real situation in the hospital." Old Qu put his arm around Shen Qi's shoulder and looked at a group of people in the open space outside the inpatient building. Some of them were walking around, while others were sitting or squatting. They didn't look like patients.

Professor Qu slowly said, "A hospital is a complex place. There are all kinds of people there: doctors and nurses, patients and their families, and outsiders who don't work as doctors or nurses but make a living from the hospital."

"I know that, so there are people who make a living as clinical trial volunteers?" Shen Qi couldn't help but glance at the outsiders not far away.

Nobody wants to get injections or take medicine.

Even fewer people are willing to conduct human trials for a new drug.

These volunteers have it tough too; frankly, they're all just trying to make life a little better.

"Yes, there is such a group of people, most of whom are from low-income groups. As a medical worker, I respect these volunteers," Lao Qu said sincerely.

Shen Qi asked with concern, "After the volunteers are selected, how much financial compensation will your hospital provide them?"

Old Qu replied, "That's equivalent to a month's salary for an average Xiao Bai in the World Trade Center."

"That's not much, really not much." Shen Qi looked again at the group of men and women not far away. To be honest, becoming a clinical trial volunteer for a new drug is much riskier than selling blood.

Although Shen Qi Team developed Triazatrisiloxanes according to FDA standards, he cannot guarantee that Triazatrisiloxanes is 100% safe during clinical trials.

"There's no explicit standard for how much financial compensation volunteers should receive. I can only say that compared to other clinical trial institutions, our hospital's compensation isn't small. You ask me why we post small ads here? Why not post recruitment information on some high-end platform? Now you understand, posting small ads here is the most efficient way." Professor Qu answered Shen Qi's questions about small ads by explaining the most realistic situation in the hospital.

"Life is tough," Shen Qi sighed.

Professor Qu is right; posting small advertisements in hospitals to recruit health volunteers is indeed very efficient.

Professor Qu needed 60 healthy volunteers, but more than 200 people signed up.

It's quite heartbreaking to think about; you have to compete for a position to participate in human trials.

Life may be tough, but scientific research must continue.