Healthy Volunteer Studies
If you would like to participate in health research as the healthy volunteer, below is a list of studies accepting healthy volunteers.
An EEG Study of Auditory Perception in People with and without Schizophrenia
Lead Researcher: Judy Thompson
The purpose of our study is to better understand how the brain processes sounds, including
speech. We are investigating this in people with and without psychiatric conditions.
One of our primary aims is to determine how these processes may relate to specific
experiences and symptoms in conditions such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder,
and schizophreniform disorder, with the goal of using this knowledge to develop more
effective treatments. In order to study how the brain processes sounds, we use a technique
called electroencephalography, or EEG. For EEG, a person wears a comfortable elastic
cap with sensors attached to it that are able to record brain activity. In these sessions,
subjects listen to short audio clips while EEG is recording; this allows us to measure
brain responses to sounds. This study also includes interviews about current and past
psychiatric symptoms and treatment, as well as a few short tasks, questionnaires,
and a hearing test. The study typically involves 4-5 visits, with each about 2-3 hours
long. Subjects are paid $30 an hour, as well as a $30 bonus if they complete all study
activities. Transportation costs are also covered, and free snacks are provided. People
between the ages of 18-55 with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder,
schizophreniform disorder, or no psychiatric diagnosis may be eligible to participate.
View Study Details
BABE
Lead Researcher: Kirsi Jarvinen-seppo
You are eligible if you are pregnant and 18 years old or older and give birth to a
healthy infant.
The purpose of this study is to compare a group of people at low risk for getting
allergies, the Old Order Mennonite, with a group of people at higher risk of getting
allergies, the average person living in Rochester. The immune system protects us from
diseases, working throughout the body, including in secretions such as saliva and
breast milk, and in the normal bacteria in the stomach and intestines. The way people
live, including the things they are exposed to, changes the way the immune system
develops. A baby’s immune system develops over time. The baby’s ability to fight disease
is helped by the mom’s immunity passed to the baby through breast milk. By comparing
biological samples like saliva, breast milk, and stool, we can study differences between
these two groups to see what’s different in a group at low risk and a group at higher
risk of getting allergies. Using questionnaires and biologic samples (stool, skin
cells, blood, etc.) we will evaluate the development of the infant microbiome, metabolite
composition and the immune system and how that relates to the development of allergic
disease. The microbiome is the collection of all microbes, such as bacteria, fungi,
viruses, and their genes, that naturally live on our bodies and inside us. A metabolite
is any substance produced during metabolism (digestion or other bodily chemical processes).
The term metabolite may also refer to the product that remains after a medicine is
broken down (metabolized) by the body.
View Study Details
BEGIN - A Breastfeeding Study
Lead Researcher: Bridget Young
We are looking for:
- Mothers who are exclusively pumping for babies under 5 weeks old
- Participation will last until your baby is 5 months old
- We will have you collect breastmilk, stool, urine, and saliva at home
- This study is totally remote – no need to ever leave your house!
Earn $100/month & receive breastfeeding support from our team!
View Study Details
Connection in Caregivers
Lead Researcher: Kimberly Van orden
Subjects will complete a baseline interview (phone/zoom and online) at the beginning
of the study. If eligible, subjects will complete 10 days of surveys that are texted
3 times a day (morning, afternoon, evening). Eligible subjects will also complete
a follow-up interview (zoom/phone and online) at 6 months. Subjects are paid up to
$400 for completing assessments. Inclusion: age 50 and older; caring daily for a
loved one with dementia; caregiving stress. Exclusion: Under 50 years of age; not
caring for a loved one with dementia daily.
View Study Details
COVID-19 Vaccine Studies
Lead Researcher: Ann Falsey
URMC is studying several variations of a COVID-19 vaccine. Compensation: $500-$900.
Participation Requirements: Age 18+; Have not been infected with COVID-19. To volunteer,
take our survey to find out if you qualify: https://redcap.urmc.rochester.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=XHH9MC8RMK
View Study Details
Fine Eye Movement Study
Lead Researcher: Brian Keane
This study will look at differences in eye movement as they relate to visual perception
and the way people think. The information collected in this study will aid in finding
ways to more accurately diagnose psychiatric disorders, namely schizophrenia, by using
eye scans. Also, results from this study may guide the development of more tailored
therapies to help people with psychiatric disorders in the future. Procedures include:
interviews about your medical and drug use history; a vocabulary test; review of your
eRecord data; visual perceptual tasks completed on a computer; and eye scans (like
those during an eye doctor exam). Some of these procedures may occur via Zoom, depending
on participant preferences. Eligibility: Ages 18-55; a diagnosis of schizophrenia,
schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder OR no psychiatric disorder with
no more than one lifetime major depressive episode.
View Study Details
Observational Study of ICU Patients with Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS)
Lead Researcher: Anthony Pietropaoli
This is an observational research study of subjects admitted to the ICU with severe
SIRS (and/or sepsis).
For ICU subjects enrolled: the study involves collecting up to 2 blood samples (3-5
days apart), data collection, and post-discharge follow-up questionnaires.
For healthy volunteers: Subjects age 65 and older are needed for a one-time blood
sample collection for comparison studies. A brief health questionnaire and set of
vital signs will also be collected at the study visit.
Volunteers must be age 65 or older and cannot be on antibiotics or antivirals for
current infection. Volunteers also must not have had an infection within 6 weeks prior
to the study visit.
View Study Details
PRG Contact Database
Lead Researcher: Brian Keane
This future contact database will facilitate contact with prospective subjects, giving
them greater opportunities to participate in behavioral and neuroimaging studies for
which they may be eligible.
View Study Details
Psychosis-Risk Outcomes Study (ProNET)
Lead Researcher: Steven Silverstein
The purpose of this research study is to collect information from individuals who
are considered at clinically high risk for the possible development of psychosis.
Information will also be collected from healthy individuals who are not considered
at high risk for psychosis. This information will be used to guide future treatments.
Participants will participate in interviews and cognitive tasks, provide blood samples,
saliva and DNA, and get a scan of their brain. You may participate up to 2 years.
You must be between 12 and 30 years old. There are other requirements to join the
study. The study team can review them with you.
View Study Details
Spoken Language Comprehension in Adolescents
Lead Researcher: Loisa Bennetto
In this online study, an adolescent will schedule a Zoom appointment with a researcher
and complete a computer-based listening study that may take up to 45 minutes. The
parent will then complete background information surveys, which may take up to 20
minutes. Participants will be compensated via an electronic gift card. We hope that
this research will lead to a better understanding of everyday spoken language communication
and social interactions in adolescents with and without autism.
We are currently recruiting adolescents aged 13-17 without autism.
Please make sure to add an email address so that we can contact you!
View Study Details