About Featured Research

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

CURRENT STUDIES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU


Aptamer Study

Are you a healthy, HIV-negative adult? If so, you may be able to participate in a study to help develop a urine test (similar to a urine pregnancy test) designed to measure drug levels of medications used to treat HIV. Researchers hope this test may be able to show if people with HIV infection are taking their medications. This study requires 11 visits over 1 month. Compensation is provided.

Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  1 month
VISITS:  11
Location LOCATION: 

Magee-Womens Hospital Clinical Translational Research Center (MWH CTRC) - Oakland
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Up to $460

MTN-039

Are you an HIV-negative adult who has had receptive anal sex at least once in your lifetime? If so, you may be able to take part in a research study to help find out if an investigational product is safe and acceptable when used inside the rectum, and to better understand how the product works in the body. Eligible participants must be willing to undergo HIV testing. Compensation is provided.

Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  3-5 months
VISITS:  10 visits
Location LOCATION: 

UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Up to $1,265 - $1,390

KINETIC Research Study for Breastfeeding Women

Are you planning to wean your baby and stop breastfeeding? You may be able to participate in a research study to help find out if low doses of the non-opioid painkiller ketamine transfer into breastmilk. Participation involves one overnight visit with a 12-hour ketamine infusion and providing samples of breastmilk, urine, and blood. Compensation provided.

Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  24 hours
Location LOCATION: 

Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC) at UPMC Montefiore Hospital – Oakland
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Up to $1,500

ACTIV-2 COVID-19 Research Study

Did you test positive for COVID-19 within the past 7 days? Are you currently experiencing some symptoms of illness? You may be able to participate in a study that is evaluating the ability of various experimental medications to improve health outcomes for people with COVID-19. Participation involves up to 8 planned visits over 24 weeks. Compensation is provided.

Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  6 months
VISITS:  Up to 8 planned visits
Location LOCATION: 

Kaufmann Medical Building - Oakland
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Yes

COVID-19 Immunity in Healthy Adults

Are you over 18 and healthy? Do you think you had COVID, but did NOT get tested? You may be able to participate in a study to help determine how many people in the area have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). The study involves eConsent, a survey, and an at-home blood sample collection performed via finger prick.

Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  10 minutes
VISITS:  No in-person visits required
Location LOCATION: 

At home
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

None

Sweat Chloride and ADHD Medications Study – Ages 18-21

Are you aged 18-21 and currently take a prescription medication for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? If so, you may be able to participate in a 1-visit research study to help find out if people who take ADHD medications have elevated salt levels in their sweat (called sweat chloride levels). Compensation provided and parking will be validated.

Age Range
AGE:   18 - 21

Duration DURATION:  1.5 hours
VISITS:  1
Location LOCATION: 

UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh - Lawrenceville
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

$20 & parking validation

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.

Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  About 45 minutes
VISITS:  No in-person visits
Location LOCATION: 

By phone
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

None

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 study to help understand changes in the retina that can distinguish normal aging from early age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This study involves providing a health history, and undergoing a voluntary blood draw, vision exams, and vision imaging. 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

WELL Study – COVID-19

Are you 60 or older? Did your spouse or partner pass away as a result of COVID-19 in the last 3-12 months? You may be able to participate in a research study about health behaviors and mood in bereaved older adults. Study participation 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.

NO IN-PERSON VISITS REQUIRED
 
Age Range
AGE:   60 and up

Duration DURATION:  15 months
VISITS:  7 virtual visits or phone assessments
Location LOCATION: 

Online or by phone
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

$250

NeuroHIV MIND Study

Are you 19-72 years old and living with HIV? You may be able to participate in a study to identify how the brain differs between healthy participants and those living with HIV. Participation involves 2-3 visits with MEG and MRI scanning. Compensation is provided.

Age Range
AGE:   19-72

Duration DURATION:  About 4 hours each visit
VISITS:  2-3
Location LOCATION: 

University of Pittsburgh - Oakland
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

$75 per visit

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

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.

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

Pyoderma Gangrenosum Study

Have you been diagnosed with an ulcerative form of pyoderma gangrenosum? You may be able to participate in a study to see if an investigational study drug called IFX-1 is safe and effective to treat pyoderma gangrenosum. This study involves 19 visits over 9 months. Compensation is provided.

Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  9 months
VISITS:  19
Location LOCATION: 

Falk Medical Building - Oakland
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

$175 for baseline visit & $75 per visit for all other visits

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

Pregnancy Options Counseling Study

Did you become pregnant before age 20 and are now 18 to 26 years old? You may be eligible to participate in a research study to help to learn more about the experiences and communication preferences of people who became pregnant as a teen or young adult. This study involves a 1-hour interview that will take place by telephone or video call. Compensation is provided.

NO IN-PERSON VISITS REQUIRED
 
Age Range
AGE:   18-26

Duration DURATION:  1 hour
VISITS:  1
Location LOCATION: 

By phone or videoconference
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

$50 gift card

KINETIC Research Study

Are you pregnant and plan to have a cesarean delivery (C-section) at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study to find out if ketamine is safe and effective for controlling pain after a C-section, and if ketamine given in this way is transferred into breast milk. Participation takes place in the hospital after you give birth. Compensation is provided.

Age Range
AGE:   18 and up

Duration DURATION:  About 36 hours
Location LOCATION: 

UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital & Online
Compensation COMPENSATION: 

Up to $1,500