Welcome to the Other Brain and Nervous System Studies Page
Are you an adult between ages 18-60 years old who has Congenital Heart Disease? If so, you may be eligible to participate in a study to help researchers determine if differences in how the brain is formed and how it functions can predict behavior variations in different populations. Must be willing and able to undergo MRI scanning. Involves one study visit. Compensation provided.
Do you experience dizziness or light-headedness or feel like you are going to faint when you stand up? Have you been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, multiple system atrophy, pure autonomic failure, non-diabetic autonomic neuropathy, or dopamine beta-hydroxylase deficiency? You may be able to participate in a research study to see if a drug called droxidopa can help. Compensation provided.
The University of Pittsburgh Departments of Radiology and Psychiatry are seeking adults ages 23-55 who have a problem with alcohol for a brain imaging research study. Participation involves questionnaires, interviews, and brain scanning (1 MRI, 1 CT, and 1 PET scan). Compensation provided.
Do you have a movement disorder? If so, you may be able to participate in the Movement Disorders Registry. This registry is a list of individuals who are interested in being contacted about future research studies.
Have you had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the past year? If so, you may be able to take part in a study to help examine a new TBI assessment tool. This study involves completing questionnaires about your activities and symptoms. Eligible participants must live in their own home or a residential community and be willing to answer questions about their daily activities. Compensation provided.
Interested in sharing your story about health, illness, or research? Patients and caregivers are needed to participate in a research study to help learn more about topics that are important to you and that may improve health and health care. Participation involves one 45-minute session that takes place over the phone. Eligible participants must be able to read and understand English.
Are you between the ages of 55-80 and experiencing symptoms of depression? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study to help understand why some people become depressed and have thoughts of hurting themselves, while others do not. Compensation provided.
Do you have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and are between the ages of 18-35? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study to learn more about the brains of people with OCD. Compensation provided.
Do you have limited or no ability to use both hands due to a cervical spinal cord injury, or a brainstem or spinal stroke? Are you age 22-70? This study involves the implantation of multiple sensors in the brain for approximately 1 year. Once the sensors are placed, participants will undergo training to learn to use brain activity to control computer cursors, video games, and a robotic arm.
Do you use an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device or do you have ALS? If so, you may be interested in helping researchers by testing a newly designed dry electrode headset. Involves 1 session lasting up to 4 hours that will include communication tasks, such as copying sentences and describing a picture, along with completion of an online survey. Compensation is provided.
Do have a have a severe disability, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, or locked-in syndrome? If so, you may be interested in participating in a study that would provide an augmentative and alternative communication system with brain computer interface access that could be used in the home. Eligible participants require wheelchair assistive technology.
Are you age 60 or older and do you have difficulty managing daily tasks such as shopping, paying bills, managing medications, etc.? If so, you may be eligible to participate in a research study to help find out if regular sessions with a rehabilitation specialist can help older adults improve their performance of daily activities. Compensation is provided.
Do you have a spinal cord injury and do you use a wheelchair as your primary means of mobility? Have you had a pressure sore on your buttocks? If so, you may be eligible to participate in a 1-visit research study to help better understand how bone shape affects the development of pressure sores. Compensation is provided.
Do you have a traumatic spinal injury and use a wheelchair as your primary means of mobility (over 40 hours a week)? If so, you may be interested in a study to help researchers assess the effectiveness of using an online training program to teach wheelchair users how to improve maintenance techniques. You will be able to choose between 3 levels of participation. Compensation provided.
Are you aged 60-85? Are you experiencing difficulties with memory or managing daily tasks, or have you been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment? If so, you may be eligible to participate in a research study to examine the effects of magnetic brain stimulation on sleep and cognitive function. Involves one 48-hour overnight stay in the sleep lab. Compensation and parking are provided.
Do you have aphasia caused by a stroke or other brain injury? If so, you may be able to join a research registry to help learn more about speech and language problems and to identify volunteers for future communication disorders research studies. There is no compensation for joining this registry, but individual research studies you may be contacted about in the future may offer compensation.
Do you have a non-progressive spinal cord injury that occurred over 1 year ago, and do you use a wheelchair as your primary means of mobility? If so, you may be eligible to participate in a study to track wheelchair use, breakdowns and repairs through an app. Eligible participants must have a smartphone or tablet with internet access. Compensation provided.
Do you use a mobility device at least 3 days/week? Do you weigh 180 lbs. or less and fit in an 18-in. wide and 16-in. deep seat? If so, you may be eligible to participate in a study to help researchers evaluate how effective and usable a robotic transfer assist device (HERL-RATD) is compared to a commercially available manual hydraulic (Hoyer) lift. Compensation provided.
Do you have diagnosed or suspected dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), mild cognitive impairment that may progress to DLB, or Parkinson’s disease dementia? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study to help learn more about DLB and find better ways to identify and treat the disease in the future. Compensation is provided.
Do you have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are 18-21 years old? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study to help find out if a new program called Emotion Awareness and Skills Enhancement (EASE) can help young adults with ASD manage their emotions. Compensation provided.
Do you have multiple sclerosis (MS), but have not had any disease activity in at least the past 5 years? Have you been taking MS medications for at least 5 years? Are you age 55 or up? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study to help find out if it is safe to stop taking MS medications, since the risk of relapse decreases in people ages 55 and older. Compensation provided.
Do you have trouble with your memory or concentration? Are you age 60 or older? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study to find out if the medication lithium can prevent or slow down memory loss. Compensation is provided.
You may be able to change the future of medicine. The All of Us PA Research Program is enrolling adults 18 years of age or older. This may be your chance to improve how your children and your children’s children receive medical care.
Do you have a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis or a related disorder? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study to help better understand the factors that explain the differences among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Study involves answering questionnaires, reviewing medical records and participating in other optional research activities.
Have you been diagnosed with (or tested for) borderline personality disorder (BPD), and are aged 18-45? You may be able to take part in a research study to help learn more about brain function in people with BPD. This study involves interviews and an MRI scan. Participants will be compensated.
Do you have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are between the ages of 18 and 45? You may be able to participate in a research study to find out if two new non-drug treatments can benefit people with ASD. Compensation provided.
Are you the spouse, caregiver, or family member of someone affected by Huntington’s disease (HD)? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study that is collecting data in an effort to improve understanding and treatment of Huntington’s disease (HD).
Do you experience occasional “senior moments” with your memory? Are you an African American man or woman who is at least 60 years old? Do you have a family member or close friend who can accompany you on study visits? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study to help identify memory problems at the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
