Partners Research Studies Seeking Volunteers
1. If you are under a lot of stress and have stopped getting your period, you could
participate in a research study at Massachusetts General Hospital. Research volunteers
are needed for a study looking at the role of cortisol and other hormones on bone health.
The study includes a one-hour screening session, a two-hour outpatient visit, and an
overnight stay. Women who are 18-45 and have not had a period for at least three
months are needed as research volunteers. Volunteers cannot be on oral contraceptive
(birth control) pills. Research volunteers receive a physical examination, nutritional and
body composition analyses, hormonal evaluation, and bone density information at no
cost. Volunteers also receive up to $150 for their participation, as well as reimbursement
of local travel/ parking costs. For more information contact Janet Lydecker at (617) 7241838 or jlydecker@partners.org. IRB# 2003-p-000549
2. Medication Study of Learning and Memory in Schizophrenia
The Massachusetts General Hospital Schizophrenia Program is conducting a research
study to compare the effects of an investigational medication (MK-0777) versus placebo
(contains no active medication) on attention, learning and memory. We are seeking
volunteers diagnosed with schizophrenia ages 18 to 60 who are currently taking one of
the following medications: risperidone, risperidone microspheres, aripiprazole,
olanzapine, ziprasidone or quetiapine. The study involves taking either the study
medication or the placebo for a total of 6 weeks. Neither you nor your clinician will know
if you are taking the active drug or the placebo during the study. There will be 10 visits
over a period of 8 weeks, with additional follow up at 6 and 12 months. Remuneration of
up to $180 will be provided. Transportation reimbursement is available. Please contact
Jared at 617-912-7864 or via e-mail at jpwalsh@partners.org if you are interested in
learning more about this study. IRB # 2007P-000360
3. Are you healthy and between 30 and 60 years old?
We seek men and women to participate as healthy controls (comparison group) for a
diabetes research study. You must have never had diabetes. This study involves a single
visit to the Mass General hospital during which you will have a glucose tolerance test to
screen for diabetes. Recent normal results of this test can be used instead. You will also
have two small punch skin biopsies removed from your lower leg under local anesthesia.
Payment for participation is offered. For more information, please contact Max Klein of
the MGH Neurology Department at 617-726-9391 (mklein@partners.org).
IRB#1999-P-9042
4. PMS and Depression Study
Seeking women between 18-45 with PMS who have been diagnosed with depression.
If you are between 18 and 45 and:
 Suffer with PMS
 Currently being treated with an antidepressant
Posted 4/16/08
You may be eligible for a research study at Massachusetts General Hospital evaluating
how a birth control helps with premenstrual mood symptoms. Women who participate
will receive study medication and evaluations of their mood at no cost, and will be
compensated up to $450. For information, please call: (617) 724-6540 or email
afarrell2@partners.org IRB# 2007-P-002057
5. Are You Stressed?
Have you ever considered implementing a daily stress reduction technique into your life
to relieve your stress? If so, we may be able to help: Researchers at Massachusetts
General Hospital are conducting a study on the effectiveness of a stress reduction
program. Study participants will receive a FREE eight week stress reduction course to be
held at MGH (a $900 value). Classes are held one evening a week for 1.5 hours at
MGH. The study does not require the use of any medications. Study participants are
required to attend 4 laboratory sessions. Compensation will be up to $100 for completing
all testing. For more information or to enroll in the study, please call 1-617-643-5078 or
email the address above. IRB# 2008-p-000055
6. Healthy Adolescents Ages 13-17 Wanted for a Study of Brain Function, Structure
and Genes in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Is there a 13-17 year old adolescent in your family without any psychiatric or major
medical illnesses? If so, this adolescent could participate in a research study at the
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and McLean Hospital. The purpose of this study
is to learn more about OCD. We are interested in learning more about how the brain
functions and how certain genes affect the brain in people with OCD compared to people
who do not have OCD. Participants will be interviewed by a study doctor and will
undergo structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to take pictures of
their brains. We will also collect a saliva sample from participants to look at their genes.
This study will require two study visits, each lasting approximately 1-1.5 hours.
Participants will choose a $50 gift certificate for the first visit and $75 gift certificate for
the second visit. Note: MRI uses strong magnets and people with metal in their body may
not be able to participate. For more information on how to participate, please call the
study coordinator at (617) 855-2239 or email lmanning@mclean.harvard.edu. McLean
IRB# 2007-P-001894
7. Volunteers Needed for MRI Research Study on Depression:
Caucasian women ages 30-44 with a history of depression who are no longer depressed
are needed for a research study on hormone and brain activity in depression. This
research study involves two 4 1/2 hour visits, two weeks apart, to our imaging center at
Brigham and Women's Hospital. Both visits will include an MRI scan, blood draws, and
some questionnaires and cognitive (thinking processes) testing. You will receive up to
$250 compensation for your participation in the two visits. If you would like to learn
more about the research study, please call our depression study coordinator, Dr. Laura
Holsen, at 617-525-8772.
IRB #: 2006P-001172
Posted 4/16/08
8. Do you want to know how your pregnancy, blood sugar, and heart are related?
If you are a healthy Black woman between the ages of 18 and 40 who has had a normal
pregnancy or a pregnancy complicated by diabetes in the past 5 years, you may be
eligible to take part in our research study. This research study is investigating the effect
of diabetes during pregnancy on heart disease risk. The one-day research study takes
about 5 hours and includes an oral glucose tolerance test, fasting blood tests and a noninvasive blood vessel study. To participate, you cannot be currently pregnant or nursing.
Payment for participation is $100. Principal Investigator: Rhonda Bentley-Lewis, MD,
MBA, MMSc. If you are interested, please call Ffyona at 617-278-0672 or e-mail at
fpatel1@partners.org. IRB#2007-P-0021406
9. Seeking Boys and Girls with Major Depression and Healthy Boys and Girls 12-18
years old for a Research Study
Includes bone density, blood draws and nutritional evaluation at no cost; one to four
visits to Massachusetts General Hospital; up to $250 remuneration and parking offered.
Please contact Nara Mendes at 617-724-6046 or nmendes1@partners.org. The
Neuroendocrine Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital. IRB# 2006-P-002441
10. Do you get out of bed to eat at night, after you have gone to sleep?
Do episodes of repetitive eating at night feel out of your control? You may have SleepRelated Eating Disorder, which can disrupt your sleep and health. Brigham and Women’s
Hospital Sleep Health Center in Brighton is conducting a research study on an
investigational medication for Sleep-Related Eating Disorder. Qualified participants can
receive up to $300 for 10 clinic visits over 4 months. If interested, please call Lisa at
(617) 783-1496 x115, or email SleepResearch@sleephealth.com IRB # 2007-P-002187
11. OVERWEIGHT? You may have High Blood Pressure
Men and women who are overweight are at greater risk for High Blood Pressure and
High Blood Sugar. You may qualify to take part in a clinical research study at Brigham
and Women’s Hospital. The main purpose of this study is to see if an approved blood
pressure drug can improve your blood sugar.
You may qualify IF you:
 Are between 18 and 75 years old
 Are overweight
 Do not have diabetes
 Do not take more than one medicine for high blood pressure
 Are able to attend 5-6 visits at Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Qualified participants will receive (at no cost):
 Screening for high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol
 Physical examination
 Research medication
 Modest compensation and reimbursement of parking/public transportation costs
Posted 4/16/08
For more information or to schedule a screening appointment (to see if you are eligible),
call the Vascular Medicine Research Center at (617) 525-7055. IRB# 2007-P-000490
12. Reversibility
The Asthma Research Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital is recruiting asthmatics
aged 18-75 who use asthma medication to control their asthma symptoms. The research
study involves 13 visits (2.5 hours) over a 13-week period. The study is looking at how
inhaled medicine, albuterol and placebo (contains no active medication) and acupuncture
improve lung function. Participants are compensated up to $750.00 at the end of the
research study, if all visits are completed. If interested, please call us at 1-88899ASTHMA or email us at ARC@partners.org for more information. IRB# 2005-P002045
13. Healthy Subjects Who Have Experienced Trauma Wanted For A Study of Brain
Activity in People with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Dr. Lisa Shin and colleagues in the Department of Psychiatry at the Massachusetts
General Hospital (MGH) are conducting a research study to examine brain activity in
individuals who have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as compared to those who do
not have PTSD. We are seeking healthy comparison subjects who have experienced
traumatic events in the past. Participation will take up to 5 hours of your time. It will
involve undergoing a psychiatric assessment, filling out questionnaires, providing a saliva
sample, and lying in a scanner while “pictures” of your brain are taken using functional
magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Participants will be paid $100 for their time.
Who is Eligible: Individuals who are:
Age 18-45
Right-Handed
Not Pregnant
Without metal implants, such as pacemakers and aneurysm clips
For more information: Please contact Lisa M. Shin, PhD at (617) 726-8120IRB# 2006-P000579/4
14. Are you a current or former cigarette smoker?
We are looking for current and former cigarette smokers to participate in a one-day study
(~3 hours) to help determine the risk factors for developing COPD (Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease). You may be eligible if you are:
 A current or former smoker
 Between 45 and 80 years of age
 White (Non-Hispanic) or African American
Compensation provided. For more information please call 1-866-328-9494 or email
copdstudy@partners.org. IRB# 2007-p-000554
15. Are You (Or Have You Been) A Research Study Participant? (Correction to
phone number)
New study seeks research participants for focus group discussion about your research
experience. Screening visit (can be done by telephone) and attendance at 2-hour Focus
Group required. $50 compensation for participating. Please contact Andrea at 617-7269541 or asaltzman@partners.org IRB # 2008-000499/1
Posted 4/16/08