Welcome to the Featured Research Studies Page

About Featured Research

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

CURRENT STUDIES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU

Brain Imaging/Brain Stimulation Research Study in Young Adults

Are you 18-35 years old 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.

Featured Research

Healthy Volunteer

Age Range

Duration

DURATION: Up to 3 months

Location

LOCATION: UPMC Presbyterian Hospital & UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic - Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $607 & parking/bus fare

Brain Imaging Research Study - Social Smokers and Vapers

Are you aged 18–55 and smoke or vape nicotine-containing products at least twice per month? You may be able to participate in a research study to learn more about a protein in the brain that may play a role in substance use disorders. Compensation is provided.

Featured Research

Healthy Volunteer

Age Range

Gender List

SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH: Male

Duration

DURATION: 2-3 weeks

VISITS: At least 3

Location

LOCATION: UPMC Presbyterian Hospital - Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $1000 & parking reimbursement

Writing Interventions for Aromatase Inhibitor Medication Adherence Study

Were you prescribed an aromatase inhibitor (AI) in the past 4 weeks, or will you be prescribed an AI in the future? You may be eligible for a 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.

Featured Research

Age Range

AGE: 18 and up

Gender List

SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH: Female

Duration

DURATION: 1 year

VISITS: 1 in-person

Location

LOCATION: Carnegie Mellon University

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $310

Crutch Tips Study

Do you use crutches? Are you 18 years old or older? You may be eligible for a research study to provide feedback on a novel crutch tip. Compensation is provided.

Bones, Joints, and Muscles

Featured Research

And 4 more areas

Age Range

AGE: 18 and older

Duration

DURATION: 1 hour

VISITS: 1 in-person visit

Location

LOCATION: University of Pittsburgh - Main Campus

Compensation

COMPENSATION: $25

RESIST Study - Adult Arm

Are you between the ages of 18-25 years old? You may be eligible for a research study to help us learn how to improve emotional health in adolescents and adults. Compensation is provided.

Featured Research

Healthy Volunteer

Age Range

Duration

DURATION: 3 years

VISITS: 4 visits (in-person and remote) and questionnaires

Location

LOCATION: University of Pittsburgh - Main Campus

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $625

Reproductive Outcomes of Women with Rheumatic Diseases

Are you an 18-44 year old woman who is diagnosed with an autoimmune disease (also called rheumatic disease)? Do you take medication for your disease? You may be able to participate in a research study to learn more about reproductive decisions in women who have autoimmune diseases. This study involves completing a questionnaire once every three months. Compensation is provided.

Featured Research

Other Immune System/Infections

Rheumatoid Arthritis

And 1 more area

Age Range

Location

LOCATION: Before clinic visits, or by email, or by phone

Compensation

COMPENSATION: $50 for the first survey & $25 for each subsequent survey

Brain Imaging Research Study – Cocaine Users

Do you currently use cocaine or have you recently used cocaine? Are you aged 18–55? You may be able to participate in a research study to help learn more about two proteins in the brain that may play a role in substance use disorders. Compensation is provided.

Featured Research

Age Range

Duration

DURATION: 4 months

VISITS: At least 18 visits

Location

LOCATION: UPMC Presbyterian Hospital - Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $2460

Heterogeneity in Everyday Antagonism (HEAT) Study

Are you between ages 18-30? Are you the primary user of an Android or iOS smartphone? You may be eligible for a research study to better understand aggressive feelings and behaviors in young adults. Compensation is provided.

Featured Research

Healthy Volunteer

Other Wellness and Lifestyle

Stress Reduction

Age Range

Duration

DURATION: 22 days

VISITS: In-person screening and remote questionnaires

Location

LOCATION: University of Pittsburgh - Main Campus

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $265

Project HOME: Young Adult Arm

Are you age 18 with a restrictive-type eating disorder? Do you currently live at home with your family? You and your family may be eligible for a research study to learn better how eating disorder treatments and adaptations work when given in the home setting. Compensation is provided.

Eating Disorders

Featured Research

Age Range

Duration

DURATION: Up to 32 weeks

Location

LOCATION: Bellefield Towers - Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: YES

JAKPOT Study - Adult Arm

Were you recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes? Are you 18-35 years old? You may be eligible for a research study to see if two inhibitors can preserve insulin production in people recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Compensation is provided.

Featured Research

Precision Medicine

Age Range

Duration

DURATION: 2 years

VISITS: 9 in-person visits and questionnaires

Location

LOCATION: UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh

Compensation

COMPENSATION: $50 per study visit

Sevoflurane & Neurocognition Study (SENS)

Are you a healthy adult 18-59 years old? You may be eligible for a research study to better understand the inhalational anesthetic sevoflurane prevents memory formation and affects of the experience of pain. Compensation is provided.

Featured Research

Healthy Volunteer

Age Range

Duration

DURATION: 4-5 hours total

VISITS: Screening, followed by 2 in-person study visits

Location

LOCATION: UPMC Montefiore & UPMC Presbyterian Hospitals - Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $250

Speech and Language Development in Adults Who Stutter

Are you aged 18-65 and currently stutter? You may be able to participate in a research study to learn more about how speech and language skills develop and change over time. This study will involve 1-3 sessions, each lasting about 1-3 hours. Eligible participants are native English speakers. Compensation is provided.

Featured Research

Other Brain and Nervous System

Speech and Language Disorders

Age Range

Duration

DURATION: 1-3 hours each visit

VISITS: 1-2

Location

LOCATION: Forbes Tower - Oakland & Online

Compensation

COMPENSATION: $15 per hour

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

Telehealth and Memory Study

Are you a breast cancer survivor who completed chemotherapy one to five years ago? Do you have problems with your memory, concentration, and/or attention? You may be able to participate in a research study to test two treatments that may help breast cancer survivors improve cognitive function. This study involves 8 weeks of therapy completed online or by mobile phone, and optional MRI scanning.

Featured Research

Other Brain and Nervous System

Remote Research

Age Range

AGE: 18 and up

Duration

DURATION: 14 hours over 9 months

Location

LOCATION: Online (optional MRI visits at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital – Oakland)

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Compensation provided for optional MRI scans only

Refinement of Brain Mechanisms Underlying the Development - Adult Arm

Are you a healthy 18-26 year old? You may be eligible for a research study to help us understand how the normal brain “grows-up.” Compensation is provided.

Featured Research

Healthy Volunteer

Other Brain and Nervous System

Precision Medicine

Age Range

Duration

DURATION: 36 months

VISITS: 6 in-person study visits

Location

LOCATION: Loeffler Building – Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $225

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

Veterans' Experiences of Abortion

Are you a veteran? Have you sought or had an abortion? You may be eligible to participate in a research study and share your experience about seeking and/or obtaining an abortion. Compensation is provided.

Featured Research

And 6 more areas

Age Range

Gender List

SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH: Female

Duration

DURATION: 20 - 45 minutes total

VISITS: Telephone call

Compensation

COMPENSATION: $50

Diamond 3 Brain Study - Adults with Family History of Major Depressive Disorder

Are you an 18-30 year old with a family history of major depressive disorder? You may be eligible for a research study to examine the structure and function of the brain in young people with and without family histories of mood disorders. Compensation is provided.

Featured Research

Healthy Volunteer

Precision Medicine

Age Range

Duration

DURATION: About 18 months

VISITS: 8 in-person study visits

Location

LOCATION: UPMC Presbyterian Hospital & UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic - Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $575 with bus/parking reimbursement

Diamond 3 Brain Study - Adults with Family History of Bipolar Disorder

Are you an 18-30 year old with a family history of bipolar disorder? You may be eligible for a research study to examine the structure and function of the brain in young people with and without family histories of mood disorders. Compensation is provided.

Bipolar Disorder

Featured Research

Healthy Volunteer

Precision Medicine

Age Range

Duration

DURATION: About 18 months

VISITS: 8 in-person study visits

Location

LOCATION: UPMC Presbyterian Hospital & UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic - Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $575 with bus/parking reimbursement

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

The Experiences of Self-Advocacy in Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer - Adult Arm

Have you been diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 18-29? You may be eligible for a research study to look at how adolescents and young adults with cancer self-advocate or stand up for themselves.

Cervical Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

And 11 more areas

Age Range

Duration

DURATION: 65 minutes total

VISITS: Online survey and interview (in person or remote)

Compensation

COMPENSATION: $25

ENACT Study

Do you have a schizophrenia diagnosis? Are you 18-50 years old? You may be eligible for a research study to examine whether transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can enhance cognition and connectivity in the brain to work alongside clozapine. Compensation is provided.

Featured Research

Precision Medicine

Age Range

Duration

DURATION: 1-2 months

VISITS: 3-5 study visits with remote follow ups

Location

LOCATION: UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH) - Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $524

Evaluation of MIRA

Are you an amputee with a forearm amputation or wrist disarticulation? Did your amputation occur at least one year ago? You may be eligible for a research study to evaluate a new method to control a robotic prosthetic hand. Compensation is provided.

Assistive Devices

Featured Research

Other Physical Disability

Precision Medicine

Age Range

Duration

DURATION: Up to 2 years

VISITS: Surgical implantation of the MIRA device

Location

LOCATION: University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Presbyterian Hospital – Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: $6,600 total

The Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI)

Were you diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in the last two years and are not currently taking standard PD medications? You may be able to participate in a research study to help better understand how Parkinson’s disease progresses over time. Study participation involves having physical exams, undergoing brain scans, and providing biological samples. Compensation is provided.

Chromosomal Disorders

Featured Research

Parkinson's Disease

Age Range

AGE: 30 and up

Duration

DURATION: At least 5 years

Location

LOCATION: Kaufmann Building – Oakland & Online

Compensation

COMPENSATION: $100 - Screening visit; $200 - Baseline visit; $200 per annual visit

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

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. Initial study visits will take place by videoconference or in-person. Follow-up visits will be by phone. Compensation is provided.

Featured Research

Healthy Volunteer

Remote Research

Age Range

AGE: 75 and up

Duration

DURATION: 5 years

VISITS: In-person or by Zoom. Follow-up visits by phone.

Location

LOCATION: Online

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $225

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.

Featured Research

And 1 more area

Age Range

AGE: 60 and up

Duration

DURATION: About 9 months

VISITS: Multiple

Location

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

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $340 & travel cost reimbursement

NETI Research Study

Are you a person living with HIV? Have you been taking antiretroviral drugs that have been controlling your HIV for at least two years? You may be able to participate in a research study to find out if an investigational vaccine called Trimer 4571 is safe and well tolerated in people living with HIV and if it will help the body’s immune system respond to HIV. Compensation is provided.

Featured Research

Age Range

AGE: 18 and up

Duration

DURATION: About 50 weeks

Location

LOCATION: Falk Medical Building - Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: $425 & parking/travel-related expenses

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

KEYSTUDY – Parents with Bipolar Disorder

Do you have bipolar disorder? Are you the parent of a 12-17-year-old? You and your child may be able to participate in research study focused on early intervention and referrals for children at risk for developing mental health disorders due to their family history. This study involves assessments, interviews, questionnaires, and sessions with a study therapist. Compensation provided.

Bipolar Disorder

Featured Research

Remote Research

Age Range

AGE: 18 and up

Duration

DURATION: 18 months

Location

LOCATION: Videoconference or Bellefield Towers

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Yes

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

KEYSTUDY – Age 18

Do you have a parent diagnosed with bipolar disorder? Are you 18 years old? You may be able to participate in a research study focused on early intervention for young people who are at risk of developing mental health disorders due to their family history. This study involves assessments, interviews, and online sessions with a study therapist. Compensation provided/no in-person visits required.

Bipolar Disorder

Featured Research

Healthy Volunteer

Remote Research

Age Range

Duration

DURATION: 18 months

Location

LOCATION: Videoconference or Bellefield Towers

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $818

15104 Seniors Project

Are you or someone you know aged 65 or older and live in the 15104 ZIP code? Learn about a research project that is studying healthy aging and what factors allow people to preserve their ability to think, remember, and solve problems over time. This study involves a yearly interview of up to 3 ½ hours for up to 5 years. Compensation provided.

Featured Research

Healthy Volunteer

Age Range

AGE: 65 and up

Duration

DURATION: Up to 5 years

VISITS: Yearly

Location

LOCATION: The research office located at 501 Braddock Ave, Suite 101, Braddock, PA 15104

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $70

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

Are you 18-35 years old 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.

Bipolar Disorder

Featured Research

Age Range

Duration

DURATION: Up to 3 months

Location

LOCATION: UPMC Presbyterian Hospital & UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic - Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $607 & parking/bus fare

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

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