Welcome to the Family Health Studies Page

About Family Health

Family relationships can play an important role in health and wellness. Study opportunities in the Family Health category typically involve more than one person, such as a parent and child, two spouses or partners, or two friends. Research for families may focus on identifying genetic links in mental and physical health conditions, learning about how relationships impact people living with diseases such as diabetes or cancer, or understanding how social interactions influence behaviors.

CURRENT STUDIES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU

The MEET Study - Parent of preschooler 3-4 years old

Are you the parent of a 3 or 4 year old? The Center of Excellence for Autism Research at Pitt is conducting a research study on how parents and children manage everyday emotional challenges. We hope this study will help us understand the challenges that parents and their children face managing big emotions. Compensation and travel expenses are provided.

Healthy Volunteer

Age Range

AGE: 18 and over

Duration

DURATION: 1 - 2 weeks

Location

LOCATION: Webster Hall and Participant's home

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Yes

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

Sharing Opinions about Relationships (SOAR) Study - Parent of teen 15-17

Are you the parent of a 15–17-year-old daughter that identifies as African American/Black? Your teen may be eligible for a research study to learn about Black female youths’ perceptions of and experiences with teen dating violence. Participation involves completing a survey, participate in a small focus group, or being interviewed by a member of our research team. Compensation provided.

Healthy Volunteer

Age Range

AGE: Parent of teen 15-17

Duration

DURATION: 60-90 minutes/session

VISITS: 1 or 2 sessions

Location

LOCATION: Online or in person

Compensation

COMPENSATION: YES

The MEET Study - Parent of a daughter with Autism - preschooler ages 3 and 4

Are you the parent of a 3 or 4 year old daughter that is diagnosed with autism? The Center of Excellence for Autism Research at Pitt is conducting a research study on how parents and children manage everyday emotional challenges. We hope this study will help us understand the challenges that parents and their children face managing big emotions. Compensation/travel expenses provided.

Healthy Volunteer

Age Range

AGE: 18 and older

Duration

DURATION: 1-2 weeks

VISITS: 2 visits

Location

LOCATION: Webster Hall and Participant's home

Compensation

COMPENSATION: YES

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.

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

Caregivers of LGBTQ+ Youth and Adolescent Relationship Abuse Study

Are you the parent, caregiver, or guardian of an adolescent 12-19 years old? Does you adolescent identify as a sexual and/or gender minority? You may be eligible for a research study to learn more about the experiences parents and caregivers of sexual and gender diverse youth (SGDY). Participation involves a one-on-one interview over Zoom. Compensation is provided.

Healthy Volunteer

Age Range

AGE: 18 and older

Duration

DURATION: up to 60 minutes

VISITS: One interview

Location

LOCATION: Online via Zoom

Compensation

COMPENSATION: $50 gift card

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

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.

And 155 more areas

Age Range

AGE: 18 and up

Duration

DURATION: 45 minutes

VISITS: 1 phone call

Compensation

COMPENSATION: NONE

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

Parents Promoting Early Learning Study - Parents of 2-year-olds

Are you the parent of a 2-year-old child? If so, you and your child may be able to participate in a research study to help better understand how children learn and think about the world. This study involves two video calls during which you and your child will play games and complete assessments. Compensation is provided.

Remote Research

Age Range

AGE: 18 and up

Duration

DURATION: 1 year

VISITS: 3 remote sessions

Location

LOCATION: By video call

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Yes

Threat Dysregulation in Adolescents at Risk for Psychosis – Parents of Healthy Teens

Are you the parent of a healthy 13-17 year-old teen who has no history of any psychiatric, drug use, or alcohol use disorder? You and your teen may be able to join a research study to learn more about why some teens experience symptoms such as hearing or seeing things that others do not, having beliefs that others do not share, and/or having other unusual experiences. Compensation is provided.

Age Range

AGE: Parents Ages 18+

Duration

DURATION: 12 months (baseline visit, 6 month, and 12 month)

Location

LOCATION: By Phone, Online, & 230 McKee Place - Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Yes

Play and Learning Across a Year (PLAY) Project - Mother of a child 8 to 24 months old

Are you the mother of a child 8 to 24 months old? You and your child may be eligible for a research study to learn more about the factors that affect human learning and development. Be part of the first large-scale study of what babies do at home. Compensation is provided.

Healthy Volunteer

Age Range

AGE: 21 and above

Gender List

SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH: Female

Duration

DURATION: up to 3 hours

VISITS: 1 home visit

Location

LOCATION: Home

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Yes

NO IN-PERSON VISITS

Urinary Microbiome in Children

Are you the mother of a newborn (up to 6 months of age)? You may be able to participate in a study to help a research team look at the bacteria found in the urinary tract and stool. This study involves collecting up to 7 urine and stool samples over up to 12 months. Study visits take place remotely via phone or video conference. Compensation is provided.

Remote Research

Age Range

AGE: Parents Ages 18 and up

Gender List

SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH: Female

Duration

DURATION: Up to 12 months

Location

LOCATION: By phone or videoconference

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Yes

The TAP Study - Tympanocentesis to Assess Pathogens Study - Parents of infants 6-35 months

Are you the parent of an infant between 6-35 months old? You and your child may be eligible to participate in a research study to help researchers better understand the bacteria and viruses that cause ear infections. Compensation is provided.

Healthy Volunteer

Age Range

AGE: 18 and older

Duration

DURATION: Up to 2 years

VISITS: One in-person study visits and remote nasal swabs

Location

LOCATION: UPMC Primary Care Center (Oakland) and Children’s Community Pediatrics (CCP) offices

Compensation

COMPENSATION: YES

Bias Experiences and Attention to Discrimination - BEAD - Mothers of Daughters Ages 13-15

Are you the biological mother of an African American teen girl aged 13-15? If so, you and your daughter may be eligible to participate in a research study that examines how exposures to discrimination and bias affect attention and emotional development in adolescent girls. Compensation provided.

Other Mental Health and Behavior

Age Range

Gender List

SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH: Female

Duration

DURATION: 12 months

VISITS: 1 in-person, 2 remote visits

Location

LOCATION: Oxford Building - Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: YES

Coping with Type 1 Diabetes - Partner

Does your spouse or partner have type 1 diabetes? Are you and your partner willing to participate in a research study? You may be eligible to participate in a research study that may improve the health and happiness of both partners. Compensation is provided

Healthy Volunteer

Age Range

AGE: 18 and older

Duration

DURATION: 6 weeks

VISITS: 2 visits

Location

LOCATION: Carnegie Mellon University or Online

Compensation

COMPENSATION: up to $200/person

Adolescent Attention to Emotion Study – Mothers of Daughters Ages 13-15

Are you the biological mother of a teen girl aged 13-15? If so, you and your daughter may be eligible to participate in a research study to help learn more about how girls pay attention to emotional information and how this is related to their risk for developing emotional disorders. Compensation provided.

Age Range

AGE: 21 - 65

Gender List

SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH: Female

Duration

DURATION: 3-4 hours per visit

VISITS: 3-4 (evening hours available)

Location

LOCATION: Oxford Building & Sennott Square – Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Yes

Adolescent Attention to Emotion Study – Mothers with a History of Depression

Are you the mother of a teen girl aged 13-15? Have you experienced depression during your daughter’s lifetime? If so, you and your daughter may be eligible to participate in a research study to help learn more about how girls pay attention to emotional information and how this is related to their risk for developing emotional disorders. Compensation provided.

Age Range

AGE: 21 - 65

Gender List

SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH: Female

Duration

DURATION: 3-4 hours per visit

VISITS: 3-4 (evening hours available)

Location

LOCATION: Oxford Building & Sennott Square – Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Yes

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.

Healthy Volunteer

And 4 more areas

Age Range

Gender List

SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH: Female

Duration

DURATION: approximately 18 weeks

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

Location

LOCATION: Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $125

ABC-DS: Siblings of Individuals with Down syndrome

Are you the sibling of an individual age 25 or older who has Down syndrome? You may be able to participate in a study to identify those things that can predict which adults with Down syndrome are most likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Siblings with Down syndrome should be willing and able to participate in the study. Study participation will last 5-6 years. Compensation is provided.

Chromosomal Disorders

Healthy Volunteer

Age Range

AGE: 25 and up

Duration

DURATION: 5-6 years

VISITS: Up to 4 visits over the course of the study

Location

LOCATION: UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, UPMC Western Behavioral Health, & UPMC Presbyterian Hospital – Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $1200

ABC-DS: Participants with Down syndrome

Do you have Down syndrome? You may be able to participate in a study to identify those things that can predict which adults with Down syndrome are most likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Eligible participants must have a “study partner” who knows them well and is willing to provide information about their medical status and abilities. Compensation is provided.

Alzheimer's Disease

Chromosomal Disorders

Age Range

AGE: 25 and up

Duration

DURATION: 5-6 years

VISITS: Up to 4 visits over the course of the study

Location

LOCATION: UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, UPMC Western Behavioral Health, & UPMC Presbyterian Hospital – Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Up to $1400

BEaM Study - Parent with a history of depression or bipolar disorder

Have you ever experienced symptoms of depression or bipolar disorder? Are you the biological parent of a child aged 11-14 who has mood swings, but doesn’t have 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 among adolescents with a family risk for mood disorders.

Bipolar Disorder

And 6 more areas

Age Range

Duration

DURATION: up to 13 months

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

Location

LOCATION: Online, Oakland and Shadyside

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Yes

Threat Dysregulation in Adolescents at Risk for Psychosis - Parents of 13-17 year olds

Are you the parent of 13-17 year old teen who has symptoms that may include hearing voices or seeing things that others do not, having beliefs that others do not share, and/or having other unusual experiences? You and your teen may be able to join a research study to learn more about why some teens develop these symptoms, while others do not. Compensation is provided.

Age Range

AGE: Parents Ages 18+

Duration

DURATION: 12 months (baseline visit, 6 month, and 12 month)

Location

LOCATION: By Phone, Online, & 230 McKee Place - Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Yes

EDI-Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Study – Parents of 4-8 year olds

Are you the parent of a 4–8-year-old with autism spectrum disorder? You and your child may be able to participate in a study to help validate an assessment called the Emotion Dysregulation Inventory (EDI), through functional near-infrared spectroscopy technology (fNIRS). Participants will complete assessments and play computer games while they wear a cap on their head to measure brain activity.

Age Range

AGE: 18 and up

Duration

DURATION: 2-3 hours

VISITS: 1-2

Location

LOCATION: Webster Hall-University of Pittsburgh Campus

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Yes

Brain Development in Unborn Children with CHD

Are you a pregnant woman in your 3rd trimester whose unborn child has been diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD)? If so, you and your baby may be able to participate in a research study to help understand brain development in children with CHD. Study involves MRI scans of your baby’s brain and monitoring of your child’s development. Compensation provided.

Pregnancy and Postpartum Health

Age Range

AGE: 18 - 60

Gender List

SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH: Female

Duration

DURATION: Over 6 years

VISITS: Multiple

Location

LOCATION: UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Yes

UPMC Brain Study – Parents of 10-17 year olds

Are you the parent of a child who is 10-17 years old, has never had a brain injury, and has no personal or family history of mental health disorders? If so, your child may be able to take part in a research study investigating how the brain develops. Compensation and parking are provided.

Age Range

AGE: 25 and older

Duration

DURATION: Up to 9 hours

VISITS: 3 visits

Location

LOCATION: Loeffler Building, Biomedical Science Tower 3, Thomas Detre Hall – Oakland

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Yes

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.

Other Wellness and Lifestyle

Age Range

AGE: 18 - 19

Gender List

SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH: Female

Duration

DURATION: Follow-up for 1 year

VISITS: 5 weekly sessions

Location

LOCATION: Community Locations

Compensation

COMPENSATION: Yes