CURRENT STUDIES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU


NO IN-PERSON VISITS

Movement Disorders Research Registry

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.

Assistive Devices
Balance Disorders
Huntington Disease
Mobility Aids
And 4 more areas
Age Range
AGE: 18 and up
Duration
VISITS: None Required
Location
LOCATION: By email or phone
Compensation
COMPENSATION: NONE
NO IN-PERSON VISITS

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.

ACL Tear
Acne
Alcohol
Allergy
And 155 more areas
Age Range
AGE: 18 and up
Duration
DURATION: 45 minutes
VISITS: 1 visit or phone call
Location
LOCATION: By phone
Compensation
COMPENSATION: NONE
NO IN-PERSON VISITS

MyPaTH Story Booth – COVID-19 Stories

Participants are invited to share how they are maintaining their health during the coronavirus pandemic, or to share what it is like being ill with COVID-19 and/or caring for a loved one who is ill with COVID-19. Participation in this research study involves one 45-minute session that takes place over the phone. Eligible participants must be able to read and understand English.

ACL Tear
Acne
Alcohol
Allergy
And 155 more areas
Age Range
AGE: 18 and up
Duration
DURATION: About 45 minutes
VISITS: No in-person visits
Location
LOCATION: By phone
Compensation
COMPENSATION: NONE

Sensorimotor Imaging for Brain-Computer Interfaces

Do you have a spinal cord injury that occurred more than 1 year ago? Did your injury cause decreased or absent feeling in your 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. Study involves 1-2 visits. Compensation and parking provided.

Assistive Devices
Mobility Aids
Other Brain and Nervous System
Other Physical Disability
And 2 more areas
Age Range
AGE: 18 and up
Duration
DURATION: 4 hours
VISITS: 1-2 visits
Location
LOCATION: UPMC Presbyterian Hospital MRI Center
Compensation
COMPENSATION: $150.00 Validated parking

Sensorimotor Imaging for Brain-Computer Interfaces – Individuals with ALS

Have you been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)? Has this caused a decrease or absent feeling in your 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. This study involves 1-2 visits. Compensation and parking provided.

Assistive Devices
Mobility Aids
Other Brain and Nervous System
Other Physical Disability
And 2 more areas
Age Range
AGE: 18 and up
Duration
DURATION: 4 hours
VISITS: 1-2
Location
LOCATION: UPMC Presbyterian Hospital - Oakland
Compensation
COMPENSATION: $150 & validated parking

All of Us Pennsylvania Research Program

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.

ACL Tear
Acne
Alcohol
Allergy
And 152 more areas
Age Range
AGE: 18 and up
Duration
VISITS: one in person visit
Location
LOCATION: Convenient locations near you including Altoona, Monroeville, North Hills, Oakland, Philadelphia, Shadyside, the South Hills and more!
Compensation
COMPENSATION: $25.00 gift card

Strategies to Promote Resiliency (SPRY) Study

Are you planning to have elective surgery at UPMC? Are you 60 years of age or older and do not have diabetes? You may be able to participate in a research study to find out if the drug metformin results in fewer complications and better outcomes after surgery. Compensation is provided.

ACL Tear
Arrhythmia
Arthritis
Assistive Devices
And 56 more areas
Age Range
AGE: 60 and up
Duration
DURATION: Up to 9 months
Location
LOCATION: All UPMC Hospital Locations
Compensation
COMPENSATION: Up to $200

Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL) Registry

Do you use an assistive device like a wheelchair, scooter, prosthesis (artificial limb), or cane? Are you interested in learning about research related to assistive technology? If so, you may be able to join the Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL) Registry. Participants will be informed of current and future research studies, but are not obligated to participate in a research study.

Assistive Devices
Mobility Aids
Age Range
AGE: 18 and up
Location
LOCATION: University of Pittsburgh
Compensation
COMPENSATION: NONE

Wheelchair Reliability Research Study

Do you use an ultra-light weight manual wheelchair with a rigid frame that is less than 5 years old? You may be able to participate in a study that aims to track your wheelchair usage to determine when maintenance is due. Participants will come in for 2 visits over 6 months to complete questionnaires and will have sensors placed on their wheelchair for one week. Compensation is provided.

Assistive Devices
Mobility Aids
Age Range
AGE: 18 and up
Duration
DURATION: 6 months
VISITS: 2
Location
LOCATION: Bakery Square – East Liberty or home visit if the participant cannot travel due to COVID
Compensation
COMPENSATION: Up to $150

SCS-90 Study

Do you have a leg amputation above the ankle and below the knee? Did your amputation occur more than 6 months ago? You may be able to participate in a research study to help develop a neuroprosthetic device that stimulates nerves with the goal of producing sensations that feel like they come from the amputated limb. Eligible participants are 22-70 years old. Compensation is provided.

Assistive Devices
Mobility Aids
Other Bones, Joints, and Muscles
Other Brain and Nervous System
And 1 more area
Age Range
AGE: 22-70
Duration
DURATION: Up to 9 months
VISITS: Up to 50
Location
LOCATION: University of Pittsburgh - Oakland
Compensation
COMPENSATION: up to $3,300

A Sensorimotor Microelectrode Brain-Machine Interface

Do you have little or no ability to use your hands due to a cervical spinal cord injury, brainstem stroke, or spinal stroke? Are you aged 22-70? If so, you may be eligible to take part in a research study involving brain-machine interface (BMI) technology. BMI technology uses signals recorded from the brain to control devices such as a computer or a robotic limb. Compensation provided.

Assistive Devices
Featured Research
Mobility Aids
Other Bones, Joints, and Muscles
And 2 more areas
Age Range
AGE: 22 - 70
Duration
DURATION: 25 months
VISITS: Multiple
Location
LOCATION: UPMC Presbyterian Hospital – Oakland
Compensation
COMPENSATION: Up to $14,810 & travel costs

Electrode Headgear Testing Study

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.

Assistive Devices
Mobility Aids
Other Brain and Nervous System
Speech and Language Disorders
Age Range
AGE: 18 and up
Duration
DURATION: Up to 4 hours
VISITS: 1
Location
LOCATION: Forbes Tower – Oakland or ICAN Talk Clinic – Carnegie, PA
Compensation
COMPENSATION: $50.00

Real World Testing of AAC-BCI

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.

Assistive Devices
Mobility Aids
Other Brain and Nervous System
Speech and Language Disorders
Age Range
AGE: 18 and up
Duration
DURATION: Up to 2 years
VISITS: Monthly visits to your home
Location
LOCATION: ICAN Talk Clinic – Carnegie, PA & your home
Compensation
COMPENSATION: NONE

WiSAT (Wheelchair in-Seat Activity Tracker) Study

Do you use a wheelchair as your primary means of mobility? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study to help find out if a new tool called WiSAT (Wheelchair in-Seat Activity Tracker) can help prevent the development of pressure ulcers. Eligible participants must have a smartphone. Compensation provided.

Assistive Devices
Mobility Aids
Age Range
AGE: 18 and up
Duration
DURATION: 2.5 months
VISITS: 2 visits
Location
LOCATION: University of Pittsburgh Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology - Bakery Square
Compensation
COMPENSATION: Up to $200
NO IN-PERSON VISITS

Remote Wheelchair Maintenance Training Program

Do you use a wheelchair as your primary means of mobility (over 40 hours a week) due to a traumatic spinal cord injury? If so, you may be interested in participating in a research study to find out if an online training program designed to teach people how to improve wheelchair maintenance techniques is effective. Compensation provided.

Assistive Devices
Mobility Aids
Other Bones, Joints, and Muscles
Other Brain and Nervous System
And 1 more area
Age Range
AGE: 18 and up
Duration
DURATION: Varies
Location
LOCATION: Online
Compensation
COMPENSATION: Varies based on participation

RELATED RESEARCH AREAS:
  Physical Disability and Rehabilitation