Welcome to the Other Brain and Nervous System Studies Page
Are you between 65 and 85 years old? Have you been experiencing more difficulties with memory or managing daily tasks than 10 years ago? If so, you may be eligible to participate in a study examining the effects of magnetic brain stimulation on sleep and cognitive function. Involves 2 consecutive overnight stays in the sleep lab. Compensation and parking are provided.
Do you have aphasia from a stroke or other brain injury? If so, you may be eligible to participate in an aphasia treatment study. Researchers are testing the effects of a computer-based treatment game designed to improve the speed and accuracy of language processing in the brain. Approximately 15-20 visits over 3-4 months. All visits will take place at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.
Do you have aphasia caused by stroke or another brain injury? If so, you may be eligible to join a speech/language registry to help researchers identify volunteers for future studies, including brain imaging, aphasia treatment, and language and communication assessment studies. There is no compensation for joining the registry, but studies that recruit from the registry 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 power wheelchair? Do you weigh 180 lbs. or less, fit in an 18-in. wide and 16-in. deep seat, and do not require complex postural supports? 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.
Did you have a traumatic brain injury in the past year? Do you live in your own home or in a residential community? You may be able to participate in a research study to help learn more about community and social participation following a traumatic brain injury. Participation involves completing questionnaires over the phone or in person at a location of your choosing. Compensation provided.
Do you take a prescribed opioid medication for chronic pain and are age 21-70? Do you have trouble swallowing pills? If so, you may be able to take part in a research study to find out if a pain medication called Xtampza ER is easier to swallow. Participants must be current patients of a UPMC Pain Medicine Clinic, or be willing to schedule an appointment with this clinic. Compensation 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.
Are you a UPMC Pain Medicine patient with chronic pain that has lasted more than 6 months? If so, you may be eligible to complete a 5 minute online survey to help researchers gather feedback about the usefulness of smartphone apps designed to help manage chronic pain. Participants will be entered into a random drawing for a gift card.
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 a cervical spinal cord injury that occurred more than 1 year ago and resulted in decreased or absent feeling in your right hands/fingers? If so, you may be eligible to participate in a study using fMRI to map arm and hand-related brain activity in the part of the brain that generates movement signals and feels touch. 1-2 visits to UPMC Presbyterian. Compensation and parking 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.
Are you between 18-70 years of age? Have you had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) within the last three months? If so, you may be eligible to participate in a study to help researchers evaluate High Definition Fiber Tracking (HDFT), an MRI-based diagnostic method. Participants will undergo a MRI scanning and neuropsychological assessments. Compensation 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 use a wheelchair full-time? Are you an adult with a spinal cord injury at T2 or lower? Or do you have a neurological impairment from a spinal cord injury/disease at T2 or lower? You may be able to take part in a research study to find out if vibration dumbbell resistance training can improve upper limb strength, function, and pain in wheelchair users with paraplegia. Compensation provided.
Are you experiencing emotional distress and are between the ages of 18-25? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study to learn more about the brains of people who are experiencing severe emotional distress. This study involves a clinical evaluation, questionnaires, and performing computer tasks during an fMRI scan. 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 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.
Do you have anorexia or bulimia and are you between the ages of 18-55? You may be able to participate in a research study looking at the relationship between cognitive function (mental processes like thinking and learning) and eating disorder symptoms. Study includes interviews, questionnaires, computer tasks, and an MRI scan. Compensation provided.
The University of Pittsburgh Departments of Radiology and Psychiatry are seeking adults ages 18-55 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.
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).
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 have an Autism Spectrum Disorder and are age 18-45? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study to find out how your brain works during social interactions. Study involves wearing a safe and painless device that measures brain activity while interacting with another person. Compensation provided.
Are you a healthy man ages 24, 25, 28, 29, or 43 or a healthy woman ages 27 or 29? If so, you may be eligible to participate in a research study investigating the brain during social interactions. Participants wear a safe, painless device that measures brain activity using infrared light while interacting with another person. Involves 1 visit lasting about 1-2 hours. Compensation provided.
Researchers are looking for volunteers to share a personal story about their experience as an individual facing a health problem or accessing the health system. Individuals could also share their experience as a caregiver for someone who is ill.
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 use a wheelchair or scooter as your primary means of mobility? Can you transfer to and from your mobility device by yourself? If so, you can participate in a research study that involves taking an online survey. Researchers want to know how different areas of the community help or hinder the needs of wheeled mobility device users.
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.
Are you an adult male aged 65 to 80? Do you have trouble staying asleep at night? If so, you may be eligible to participate in a research study to see how sleep affects cognition and brain function. Participation involves two overnight sleep studies, cognitive tests, and 2 MRI scans. Compensation is provided.
Are you an adult with multiple sclerosis (MS) or a related disorder who is seeking treatment or already being treated at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology? You may be able to take part in a research Registry, which is a list of individuals interested in having their medical information included in research studies and being contacted about future research studies.
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.
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.
Are you at least 18 years of age? Do you either have a genetic diagnosis of Autosomal Dominant Leukodystrophy (ADLD), or symptoms that fit ADLD but you have not yet undergone genetic testing, or do you have symptoms that fit ADLD but your genetic test for ADLD mutations turned out to be negative? If so, you may be eligible to participate in this study to help find the novel genetic causes of ADLD.