Welcome to the Wellness and Lifestyle Studies Page

The Self-Assessed Pregnancy Acceptability (SAPA) Study

Are you pregnant and between the ages of 18 and 49? You may be eligible to participate in a research study to better understand how people feel and think about their options of parenting, abortion, or adoption once they find out they are pregnant. Compensation is provided.

Diet

Exercise

Pregnancy and Postpartum Health

And 5 more areas

AGE: 18-49

DURATION: 10 months

VISITS: 3 surveys

COMPENSATION: $30 per survey

Loneliness and Wellbeing in Older Adults

Are you 60 or older? Do you live alone or are you experiencing feelings of loneliness? You may be eligible for a research study to better understand the relationship between social isolation/loneliness and psychological wellbeing over time among older adults. Compensation is provided.

Depression

DURATION: 12-16 weeks

And 1 more area

AGE: 60 and over

VISITS: up to 14 visits

LOCATION: Zoom videoconference

COMPENSATION: $140

Mental Health as a Potential Contributor to Postural Instability in Glaucoma - Glaucoma

Are you 65-85 years old and diagnosed with glaucoma? The Human Movement and Balance Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh is conducting a research study to better understand balance, gait, mental health, and brain features of glaucoma and how they differ from features found in adults without glaucoma. Compensation provided.

LOCATION: Schenley Place, Biomedical Science Tower 3 and Home

COMPENSATION: up to $386 along with parking expenses

VISITS: 1 visit or phone call

MyPaTH Story Booth 2.0

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.

DURATION: 45 minutes

LOCATION: By phone

MyPaTH Story Booth: Amplifying African American Voices and Healthcare Experiences

In follow-up of Black History Month, the Story Booth team is putting a special focus on stories from African American storytellers over the next 90 days. We would like to invite patients, caregivers, and health care providers to share their experiences regarding accessing health care. Your voices can empower change to research, patient-centered care, and most importantly, your community.

DURATION: 45 minutes

VISITS: 1 phone call

RAW-The Effect of Rumination, Anxiety, and Worry on Aging and Dementia Risk (High Worry) Study

Are you over the age of 50 and interested in participating in a research study that will examine how anxiety and worry contribute to aspects of aging, including brain and body aging, as well as risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The results of this study will help us design therapies that address individual needs of older people with anxiety

DURATION: 2 years

VISITS: 5 visits

VISITS: one in person visit

COMPENSATION: $300

All of Us Pennsylvania Research Program

All of Us wants at least one million people to join. Your participation can help shape the future of health for generations to come. People who join will share information. This might be about their health, habits, and what it’s like where they live. It might also be about family history and genes. By looking for patterns, researchers may learn more about what affects people’s health.

LOCATION: Convenient locations throughout Pennsylvania

COMPENSATION: $25.00 gift card

Pregnancy and Postpartum Health

Mindful Moms Study

Are you less than 30 weeks pregnant and interested in learning mindfulness-based skills to better manage stress and mood? You may be able to participate in a study to examine the effects of an 8-week virtual mindfulness-based group on well-being among pregnant women. Eligible participants will meet once per week for 1.5 hours for group mindfulness sessions. Compensation is provided.

DURATION: About 6-12 months

VISITS: 3 & either weekly calls or 8 mindfulness sessions

LOCATION: By phone & HIPAA-compliant Zoom videoconferencing

COMPENSATION: Up to $120

IsoWalk Study

Do you have elevated blood pressure, or have you been diagnosed by your doctor with hypertension? Do you also find it difficult to adhere to current exercise guidelines as recommended by your doctor? You may be eligible for a research study to examine if it is reasonable and doable for older adults to complete a unique exercise intervention to lower 24-hour blood pressure.

AGE: 65 and older

DURATION: about 8 weeks

VISITS: 7 in-person

LOCATION: Physical Activity and Weight Management Research Center in Oak Hill Court – Oakland

COMPENSATION: up to $300

Digital Mindfulness for Adolescents with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) - Young adults 18-24

Are you 18 to 24 years old? Do you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? Carnegie Mellon University is currently recruiting participants for a research study testing whether a 2-week digital mindfulness program can be beneficial for adolescents diagnosed with IBS. Compensation is provided.

Anxiety

Other Digestive System

VISITS: 2 online surveys

AGE: 18-24

DURATION: 16 days

LOCATION: Online & At home

COMPENSATION: up to $110

Autism Suicidality Inventory - Adults 18 and older

Have you been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? You may be eligible for a research study to create a new measure of suicide risk. This study will involve online surveys. Compensation is provided.

Remote Research

DURATION: up to 4 hours

VISITS: 1-2 remote sessions

COMPENSATION: up to $100

Other Physical Disability

Survey on Transportation and Mobility Needs among People with Disabilities

Do you self-identify as having a disability that affects your mobility and/or use assistive devices? You may be eligible for a research study evaluating the usability of transportation services. The survey requires approximately 45 minutes for completion and can be accessed through any device that connects to the Internet, but it is optimized to be taken on a computer/desktop.

Assistive Devices

Mobility Aids

And 2 more areas

VISITS: One online survey

DURATION: 45 minutes

COMPENSATION: up to $10

Work, Stress, and Health Study

Are you female or do you identify as female? Are you between the ages of 35-59 years old? You may be eligible to participate in a research study looking at how different experiences at work are related to women’s cardiovascular health. Compensation is provided.

Arrhythmia

Atherosclerosis

Heart and Circulation

And 5 more areas

AGE: 35-59

DURATION: up to 3 hours

VISITS: up to 2 visits

COMPENSATION: up to $80

Well-Being After Breast Cancer Surgery

Are you a breast cancer, DCIS, or LCIS survivor experiencing pain in the area of your breast surgery? You may be able to participate in a research study to compare three different informational programs to help you improve your long-term well-being after breast cancer surgery. Compensation is provided.

Breast Cancer

SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH: Female, Male

DURATION: 12 months

VISITS: Remote surveys and In-person visits (if feasible)

LOCATION: University of Pittsburgh - Main Campus, multiple UPMC Hillman Cancer Center locations

COMPENSATION: Up to $220

Ketogenic Diet Study

Have you been diagnosed with bipolar disorder? Are you 18-40 years old? You may be eligible for a research study to examine the effects of a ketogenic diet (high fat, low sugar diet) on the brain in people with bipolar disorder. Compensation is provided.

DURATION: Up to 1 year

VISITS: Up to 19 study visits, 2-3 hours each

LOCATION: University of Pittsburgh - Main Campus

COMPENSATION: Up to $1,190

MATCH Study: Mindfulness App Training for Cardiovascular Health

Are you age 45 or above? Are you feeling stressed? Have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure? You may be eligible for a research study to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a smartphone-based mindfulness training program for reducing stress and blood pressure reactivity to stress during daily life. Compensation provided.

AGE: 45 and older

DURATION: 5 months

VISITS: 7

LOCATION: Behavioral Medicine Research Laboratory - Oakland

COMPENSATION: Up to $300

MoLT Study: Mechanisms of Light Therapy

Are you between the ages of 18-25? Do you consider yourself a night owl? Do you feel down or depressed? You may be able to participate in a research study to learn about how light affects mood. Compensation provided.

Depression

AGE: 18-25

DURATION: 3 weeks

VISITS: 4 visits

COMPENSATION: $230 plus parking/transportation

TRIUMPH-3 Study

Do you have a cardiovascular disease (with or without Type 2 Diabetes)? Are you 18 years old or older? You may be able to participate in a research study to see the safety of study drug LY3437943.

Obesity

Other Lungs and Breathing

Precision Medicine

Weight Management

DURATION: 113 weeks (about 2 years)

VISITS: In-person injections with remote data collection

LOCATION: UPMC Presbyterian Hospital – Oakland

COMPENSATION: Study inconvenience fees & travel reimbursement

Research Study on Communication and Understanding in Behavioral Health

Are you 18? Have you had experience managing your mental wellness and/or interacting with behavioral health care providers? You may be eligible to participate in a research study to understand the communication between patients and their providers and how that interaction affects understanding and participation in behavioral health.

DURATION: up to 40 minutes

DURATION: approximately 9 months

The Effects of Fasting on Lipid Metabolic Profile and Bone Metabolism

Are you 25 to 45 years old? Do you have a family history of type 2 diabetes and/or personal history of gestational diabetes (diabetes that develops in pregnancy)? You may be eligible for a study assessing the effects of fasting for one day a week for 3 months. Compensation provided.

VISITS: 13 study visits

LOCATION: UPMC Montefiore Hospital Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC) – Oakland

COMPENSATION: up to $500

Sleep GOALS

Are you 18 years of age or older and recently given birth to your first baby? You my be eligible for a research study to develop and refine a weight loss intervention for moms who recently gave birth. Compensation is provided.

DURATION: approximately 18 weeks

VISITS: 2 in-person visits and online/at home activities

COMPENSATION: Up to $125

National Sports Brain Bank Study

Are you 18 years of age or older? Did you ever participate in contact sports and/or have a concussion? You may be eligible for a research study to create a comprehensive clinical dataset and tissue repository that will allow new insights into long-term brain health after head trauma.

Concussion

LOCATION: Online & By Phone

AGE: 18+

Alcohol Survey Knowledge (ASK) Study

Are you 18-50 years old and drink alcohol weekly? You may be eligible for a research study to learn more about how people describe their experiences related to alcohol use. Compensation is provided.

Alcohol

VISITS: Online survey or in-person if preferred

Remote Research

AGE: 18-50

DURATION: 30 minutes

LOCATION: Parkvale Building - Oakland & at your home

COMPENSATION: $25

DAYLight - Adults 18-30

Are you 18 - 30 years old and experiencing depression? You may be eligible to participate in a research study to test the effects of bright light on mood and circadian function. Compensation provided.

Anxiety

Depression

LOCATION: Online, Western Psychiatric Hospital, and UPMC Presbyterian Hospital – Oakland

AGE: 18-30

DURATION: Two Weeks

VISITS: 2 visits

COMPENSATION: up to $200

MIND Study

Do you sometimes feel disconnected from your body? And have you experienced trauma? You may be able to participate in a study to help understand how interventions change brain activity associated with feeling disconnected. Participation involves interviews, pre/post MRI scans, intervention visits, and internet follow-up visits. Participants will be compensated.

Other Brain and Nervous System

VISITS: 15 total visits (13 in-person and 2 virtual)

AGE: 18-65

DURATION: 6 months

COMPENSATION: $460

BEAM Trial -- Young Adults

Are you between ages 18-22 diagnosed with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes? You may be able to participate in a research study to help young people with prediabetes/type 2 diabetes increase their daily physical activity. Compensation is provided.

Exercise

Weight Management

AGE: 18-22

DURATION: Up to 17 weeks

VISITS: 2 in-person visits

LOCATION: UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh

COMPENSATION: Up to $223 with travel reimbursement

DRIVE - Healthy Adult

Are you a healthy young adult 18-22 years old? Have you never experienced depression or any mental health problems? You may be eligible to participate in a research study to understand the way depression develops in young people. Compensation is provided.

DURATION: 2 years

VISITS: 3 visits

COMPENSATION: $1500

REGISTRY

DURATION: 10-15 minutes

Pepper Center Research Registry for Older Adults

Are you at least 60 years old? If so, you may be able to take part in the Pepper Center Research Registry to help researchers learn more about aging, mobility, and balance.

AGE: 60 and older

VISITS: 1 visit

LOCATION: Over the phone

DURATION: up to 13 months

BEaM Study - Parent

Are you the parent of a child 11-14? Does your child have a biological parent or full biological sibling who has ever experienced symptoms of depression or bipolar disorder? You and your child may be able to participate in a research study to assess the effects of two group-based interventions on emotions and mood in adolescents with a family risk for mood disorders.

VISITS: 1 virtual visit, >5 in-person visits

LOCATION: Online, Oakland and Shadyside

COMPENSATION: Yes

Caregiver Stress and Sleep Study (CARES)

Are you 60+ and currently providing unpaid care to a loved one with a dementia diagnosis? You may be able to participate in a research study to better understand how stress, sleep, and activity might impact caregivers’ mood and brain health. To examine these patterns, participants may be assigned to receive one of two evidence-based programs that are designed to support caregivers.

Alzheimer's Disease

Caregiver Health

DURATION: up to 8 months

Other Sleep Disorders

And 1 more area

AGE: 60 and up

VISITS: 2 visists

LOCATION: Oxford Building & Biomedical Science Tower III - Oakland

COMPENSATION: Up to $200

Smartphone Apps for Caregivers

Researchers at Pitt are looking for caregivers of those with spina bifida, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or cerebral palsy to participate in a research study. Caregivers will take part in group discussions and provide feedback on smartphone apps designed to support individuals with chronic conditions. Compensation provided.

Child Health

LOCATION: Multiple clinic locations in East End, or at home

DURATION: Varies

COMPENSATION: $25 per completed session

Craving and Smoking Behavior Study

Are you 26-55 years old and interested in quitting smoking? You may eligible for a study to test new methods aimed at helping individuals quit smoking. This is not a treatment study. This study includes 10 in-person visits. Study procedures involve completing questionnaires and undergoing an EEG (measures brain activity) and tDSC (non-invasive brain stimulation). Compensation is provided.

Smoking

Smoking Cessation

AGE: 26-55

DURATION: Approximately 2 months

VISITS: 10

LOCATION: UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH) - Oakland

COMPENSATION: Up to $350

FIT BOLD Research Study

Did you recover from depression in the past two years? Are you age 60 or older? You may be able to participate in a research study to help better understand how lifestyle modification affects the brain in recently depressed older adults. Participants will take part in one of two healthy lifestyle programs, each facilitated by a personal coach. Compensation and travel reimbursement is provided.

DURATION: About 9 months

VISITS: Multiple

LOCATION: Bellefield Towers, Kaufmann Building, Sennott Square, UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Oxford Building

COMPENSATION: Up to $340 & travel cost reimbursement

Smartphone Training for Attention Regulation for IBS Study

Have you been diagnosed with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)? You may be able to participate in a study to try to make life with IBS more comfortable! This study includes 3 sessions and involves completing a 14-day stress-reduction program on your smartphone at home and will track your IBS symptoms. Compensation is provided.

Other Digestive System

LOCATION: Carnegie Mellon University - Oakland

DURATION: 4 months

VISITS: 3 in-person

COMPENSATION: Up to $450

The EMBODY Study

Are you 20-35 years old? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study to learn how difficult and challenging childhood experiences may shape the brain and body. Eligible participants are right-handed, have no ferromagnetic metal in their body, are willing to have an MRI scan, and are not taking medication for any psychiatric disorders. Compensation and parking are provided.

LOCATION: McKee Place & Biomedical Science Tower 3

AGE: 20-35

DURATION: 2-4 weeks

VISITS: 2

COMPENSATION: Up to $135

WELL Study

Are you age 60 or older? Did your spouse or partner pass away in the past 12 months? You may be able to participate in a research study to help learn more about health behaviors and mood in bereaved older adults. This study involves 7 visits (online or by phone) over 15 months and includes recording daily activity, mood, diet, and sleep behaviors for 12 weeks. Compensation is provided.

VISITS: 7 virtual visits or phone assessments

Remote Research

AGE: 60 and up

DURATION: 15 months

LOCATION: Virtual or phone participation options

COMPENSATION: $250

Maikuru Project

Are you 18 or 19 years old and the mother of one child? If so, you may want to participate in a study that will pair you with a mentor, or Maikuru, to provide you with a support network. Participants will have 5 weekly 2-hour educational sessions, will receive dinner, child-care, bus tickets/parking at each session, and will also receive compensation for completing all sessions.

Child Health

Family Health

Women's Health

AGE: 18 - 19