About Featured Research

Please see newly added research studies and other select study opportunities below.

CURRENT STUDIES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU


Early Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Study – Normal Vision

Do you have normal vision? Are you 18-80 years old? You may be able to participate in a research study to help better understand the difference between normal eye aging and eye disease. This study involves providing a health history, undergoing an eye exam and optional blood draw, and having your eyes imaged. Compensation is provided.

Age Range
AGE:   18-80

Duration DURATION:  5 hours total
VISITS:  3 (all visits within 10 days)
Location LOCATION: 

UPMC Eye Center - Oakland
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

$25 per completed visit

The PREVENTABLE Study

Are you age 75 or older? You may be able to participate in a research study to help find out if taking a statin drug may help older adults live well for longer by preventing dementia, disability, or heart disease. Participation in the study may last up to five years. Currently, all study visits will take place by videoconference and phone. Compensation is provided.

NO IN-PERSON VISITS REQUIRED
 
Age Range
AGE:   75 and up

Duration DURATION:  5 years
VISITS:  During COVID-19, visits only via telehealth & Zoom
Location LOCATION: 

Online
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

$15 after completion of baseline activities

Brain Imaging/Brain Stimulation Research Study in Young Adults

Are you 18-35 years old, right-handed, and have no personal or family history of bipolar disorder? You may be able to participate in a research study to help find out how noninvasive brain stimulation affects brain function in people with and without bipolar I disorder. Compensation provided.

Age Range
AGE:   18-35

Duration DURATION:  Up to 3 months
VISITS:  5
Location LOCATION: 

UPMC Presbyterian Hospital & UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic - Oakland
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Up to $607 & parking/bus fare

Brain Imaging/Brain Stimulation Research Study in Young Adults with Bipolar I Disorder

Are you 18-35 years old, right-handed, and diagnosed with bipolar I disorder? You may be able to participate in a research study to help find out how noninvasive brain stimulation affects brain function in people with bipolar I disorder. Compensation provided.

Age Range
AGE:   18-35

Duration DURATION:  Up to 3 months
VISITS:  5
Location LOCATION: 

UPMC Presbyterian Hospital & UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic - Oakland
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Up to $607 & parking/bus fare

SLEPT Study

Did you give birth in the past 2-4 months? Are you age 18 or older? You may be able to participate in a research study to help learn more about sleep and physical activity changes in women who have recently given birth. Participation takes place online and by phone. Compensation is provided.

NO IN-PERSON VISITS REQUIRED
 
Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  9 months
Location LOCATION: 

Online & By Phone
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

$150

Heat-Not-Burn Tobacco Product Study

Are you a healthy adult smoker who is 21-65 years old? You may be able to participate in a 1-visit research study to find out how people who regularly smoke cigarettes respond to a new product that heats but does not burn tobacco. This new product is not a vaping device or e-cigarette. Compensation is provided.

Age Range
AGE:   21-65

Duration DURATION:  1.5 hours
VISITS:  1
Location LOCATION: 

UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic - Oakland
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

$30

CTN-0080 MOMs Study

Are you a pregnant woman who uses opioids or is currently prescribed Suboxone, Subutex, or Zubsolv? You may be able to participate in a research study to compare the safety and effectiveness of two different forms of buprenorphine for pregnant women and their unborn children. The study begins while you are pregnant and continues until 12 months after you have given birth. Compensation is provided.

Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  14-20 months
VISITS:  Between 63 and 102 visits
Location LOCATION: 

UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital - Oakland
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Between $1,690 and $2,710

Social Determinants of Health Study

Are you a patient at the General Internal Medicine Clinic in UPMC Montefiore? You may be able to participate in a research study to help better understand the social factors that may impact health. Participation involves completing one survey by phone or online.

NO IN-PERSON VISITS REQUIRED
 
Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  10-15 minutes
VISITS:  1
Location LOCATION: 

By phone or online
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

None

Measuring Meltdowns: Development of a New Questionnaire of Emotions for Young Children – Parents of Children Aged 2-5

Are you the parent of a 2-5 year old child? You may be able to participate in an online research study to help develop a new questionnaire for measuring emotion management in children. Compensation provided.

NO IN-PERSON VISITS REQUIRED
 
Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  Up to 1 hour
VISITS:  1
Location LOCATION: 

Online
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

$50

Measuring Meltdowns: Development of a New Questionnaire of Emotions for Young Children – Parents of Children with Intellectual or Developmental Disorders

Are you the parent of a 2-5 year-old child who has an intellectual or developmental disorder such as Down syndrome, Fragile X, Rett, Angelman, Prader-Willi, or Williams syndrome? You may be able to participate in an online research study to help develop a new questionnaire for measuring emotion management in children. Compensation provided.

NO IN-PERSON VISITS REQUIRED
 
Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  Up to 1 hour
VISITS:  1
Location LOCATION: 

Online
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

$50

COVID-19 Vaccine Multiple Sclerosis Survey Study - Participants with and without MS

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are seeking adults with and without a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis or other neuroinflammatory disease for a survey study to help understand your feelings about the COVID-19 vaccine. Participants in this research study may or may not have already received the COVID-19 vaccine. Participation involves completing multiple surveys over one year

NO IN-PERSON VISITS REQUIRED
 
Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  12 months
VISITS:  Multiple online surveys
Location LOCATION: 

Online
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

None

MIGHTY Study

Are you an HIV-positive, Black/African American adult who identifies as a woman? Are you the primary caregiver of at least one child under the age of 18? You may be able to participate in a research study to help better understand how Black mothers experience HIV medical care services in Allegheny County, PA. Participation involves one interview via videoconference. Compensation is provided.

NO IN-PERSON VISITS REQUIRED
 
Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  1.5 hours
VISITS:  1
Location LOCATION: 

Zoom videoconferencing
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

$55 e-gift card

Virtual BEaM Study – Parents with Bipolar Disorder or Major Depressive Disorder

Do you have bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder? Are you the biological parent of a child ages 11-14 who has mood swings? Your child may be able to participate in a research study to find out how a virtual mindfulness group works in adolescents with mood swings. The study involves participating in group mindfulness sessions via video. Compensation is provided.

NO IN-PERSON VISITS REQUIRED
 
Age Range
AGE:   18-60

Duration DURATION:  5-6 months
Location LOCATION: 

Online
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Yes

Virtual BEaM Study – Parents of Children ages 11-14

Are you the parent of a child aged 11-14 who has mood swings? Does your child have a biological parent or sibling with depression or bipolar disorder? Your child may be able to participate in a research study to find out how a virtual mindfulness group works in adolescents with mood swings. The study involves participating in group mindfulness sessions via video. Compensation is provided.

NO IN-PERSON VISITS REQUIRED
 
Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  5-6 months
Location LOCATION: 

Online
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Yes

START Smart Study – Adults with ADHD Enrolled in 2-year College or Vocational/Trade School

Are you an 18-21 year-old with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who is currently enrolled in a 2-year college or vocational/trade school? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study investigating the effects of tracking ADHD symptoms and receiving feedback on symptoms by smartphone. Compensation provided.

NO IN-PERSON VISITS REQUIRED
 
Age Range
AGE:   18-21

Duration DURATION:  3 weeks
VISITS:  2
Location LOCATION: 

Video calls
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Up to $335

Writing Interventions for Aromatase Inhibitor Medication Adherence Study

Were you prescribed an aromatase inhibitor (AI) within the past week, or will you be prescribed an AI in the future? You may be eligible for a remote research study to test whether a writing intervention improves medication adherence and reduces physical symptoms and stress. This study involves questionnaires, writing activities, and the use of an electronic pill bottle. Compensation is provided.

NO IN-PERSON VISITS REQUIRED
 
Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  1 year
Location LOCATION: 

Online & By Phone
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Up to $230

HCC 20-138: Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Study

Have you been diagnosed with early-stage or advanced triple-negative breast cancer? You may be able to participate in a research study to find out if a new combination of anti-cancer study drugs is a safe and effective treatment for people with triple-negative breast cancer. Participation in this study may last up to 21 months.

Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  Up to 21 months
Location LOCATION: 

UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital – Oakland & UPMC Hillman Cancer Center - Shadyside
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

None

HCC 20-195: HER2+ Breast Cancer Study

Do you have HER2-positive breast cancer that may have spread to other parts of your body? You may be able to participate in a research study to find out if the combination of two anti-cancer study drugs is a safe and effective treatment for adults with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer. Reimbursement for study visits is provided.

Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  Up to 48 months
Location LOCATION: 

UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital – Oakland, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center - Shadyside, and other UPMC Hillman Cancer Center community sites
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Yes

COVID-19 Contact Tracing App Survey

This survey study is looking to understand public attitudes toward Covid-19 Digital Contact Tracing smartphone apps. Eligible participants must have access to an internet-connected device to complete the 5-6 minute online survey.

NO IN-PERSON VISITS REQUIRED
 
Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  5-6 minutes
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

None

Language Use and Mental Health during Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

Are you currently pregnant or did you give birth in the past 12 months? Are you age 18 or older? You may be able to participate in a research study about maternal mental health. This study involves completing five weekly online surveys that will take about 15-25 minutes each. Compensation is provided.

NO IN-PERSON VISITS REQUIRED
 
Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  5 weeks
VISITS:  5 surveys
Location LOCATION: 

Online
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Up to $50 in Amazon gift cards

Pain in the Brain Study for Individuals with Suicidal Thoughts and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

Have you recently had suicidal thoughts and engaged in non-suicidal self-injury, such as cutting? Are you aged 18-24? You may be able to participate in a research study to help better understand why some people harm themselves on purpose and to learn more about how physical pain and emotional pain may be related in the brain. Compensation provided.

Age Range
AGE:   18-24

Duration DURATION:  4 months
VISITS:  1 in-person & 1 remote

Location LOCATION: 

UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, Online, and By Phone
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Up to $170

Pain in the Brain Study for Individuals with Suicidal Thoughts

Have you recently had suicidal thoughts and are aged 18-24? You may be able to participate in a research study to help better understand why some people think about suicide and to learn more about how physical pain and emotional pain may be related in the brain. Eligible participants have never injured themselves on purpose. Compensation provided.

Age Range
AGE:   18-24

Duration DURATION:  4 months
VISITS:  1 in-person & 1 remote
Location LOCATION: 

UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, Online, and By Phone
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Up to $170

NOD STUDY

Are you a UPMC patient who was newly diagnosed with diabetes or high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) in the past three months? Are you 50-85 years old? You may be able to participate in a research study to help learn more about the relationship between hyperglycemia/diabetes and pancreatic cancer. Study participation involves questionnaires and providing blood samples. Compensation provided.

Age Range
AGE:   50-85

Duration DURATION:  36 months
VISITS:  At least 4 in-person visits & 1 phone call
Location LOCATION: 

Shadyside Medical Building and other select UPMC outpatient locations
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Up to $200

Neuromodulation for Resilience Study

Are you a healthy 18-40 year old who exercises at least 2.5 hours per week? You may be able to participate in a research study to help find out if non-invasive brain stimulation can be used to adjust hormones associated with physical performance and resilience. Eligible participants are right-handed and must be willing and able to undergo MRI scanning and blood draws. Compensation is provided.

Age Range
AGE:   18-35

Duration DURATION:  Between 6 weeks and 12 months
VISITS:  Up to 9 visits possible
Location LOCATION: 

Neuromuscular Research Laboratory (NMRL) & Carnegie Mellon’s BRIDGE Center
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Between $200-$700

PROTECT Depression Research Study

Are you age 55 or older and currently depressed? 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, but others do not. At this time, all study visits will take place by phone or online. Compensation provided.

Age Range
AGE:   55 and older

Duration DURATION:  4 years
VISITS:  2-3 interview sessions with yearly follow-ups
Location LOCATION: 

This study has temporarily switched to remote visits, but participants will need to travel to Oakland for visits once stay-at-home orders are lifted.

Compensation COMPENSATION: 

$100 to $150