Opportunities to Participate in Research | Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University

Cholinergic transmission abnormalities associated with smoking behavior in humans

The Multi-Modal Translational Imaging (MMTI) Lab is looking for volunteers aged 18-55 who are in good health and smoke cigarettes on a daily basis. This study is looking at how behavior, brain chemistry, and brain activity may be changed by addictive drugs and how these changes may affect how much people smoke. Participation in this study takes about 3 days to complete and involves confidential interviews, a physical exam (with vital signs, blood draw, urine testing, pregnancy testing, & ECG), surveys and questionnaires, cognitive testing and behavioral tasks, and both an MRI and PET scan. If you qualify, you will be compensated up to $540 for completing all study procedures. Participation in this study may result in eligibility for additional paid studies in our lab.

To learn more about our research, please click on the study title link above, visit our website at https://www.mmtilab.org/, contact us via email at mmtilab.sbu@gmail.com, or phone call at (631) 495-5441.

Emotion Regulation in Aging

This study investigates how problems such as cognitive dysfunction and depression symptomatology relate to the ability to regulate emotions during late middle and older age. Participants take part in an interview to gather information about medical and psychiatric history, a physical exam and blood draw, cognitive testing, a functional MRI scan, and questionnaires. Some parts of this study can be performed virtually, and we are enrolling people who are unable to attend in-person visits at this time due to the pandemic. The overall aim of this study is to use the knowledge that we gain from this study to develop better interventions for emotion dysregulation and depression in older people. We are enrolling participants with and without a history of depression.

Learn More: https://www.maca-lab.com/participate

MACALAB@stonybrookmedicine.edu

Guanfacine to reduce relapse risk in women with problem alcohol use

If you are a woman aged 18-60 years old and are having problems with alcohol, you may be eligible to participate in a medication research study at Stony Brook University. The study will consist of 10 weeks of free outpatient treatment for alcohol use. Volunteers may be paid up to $600 for participation. All information collected will be held confidential.

For more information, please call (631) 241-4072 or email: FL.research@stonybrookmedicine.edu

Neurocircuitry of clinical insight predicting relapse outcomes in opioid addiction

The Multi-Modal Translational Imaging (MMTI) Lab is looking for right-handed volunteers aged 18-55 with a current or past DSM-5 Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and/or ongoing use of medication-assisted treatment for OUD (e.g. Suboxone, Methadone, etc.) to participate in a brain imaging research study. This study is looking to increase knowledge about the role of “insight” in the addiction to heroin and opioids. We believe that long-term use of such substances changes how the brain works and, therefore, effects “insight” and contributes to how willing people are to enter and stay in treatment. Participation in this study takes about 6-7 visits to complete, spread across a 6-month span. Tasks include surveys and questionnaires, a physical exam (with vital signs, blood draw, urine testing, pregnancy testing, & ECG), confidential interviews, cognitive testing and behavioral tasks, and two MRI scans. If you qualify, you will be compensated up to $440 for completing all study procedures. Participation in this study may result in eligibility for an additional paid study in our lab.

Screening Protocol for Brain Imaging Studies in Schizophrenia

The Multi-Modal Translational Imaging (MMTI) Lab is looking for volunteers aged 18-65 with a diagnosis or symptoms of Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective disorder to participate in brain imaging research studies (PET and/or MRI). The initial screening involves up to 3 visits in about a one-week period, these visits involve confidential interviews and a physical exam (with blood/urine collection & ECG). You will be compensated up to $50 for the interviews and $30 for the physical exam. Participation in this study may result in eligibility for several additional paid PET and/or MRI studies.

Treating depression using an FDA-approved anti-inflammatory (nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drug, NSAID)

If you are suffering from depression and between the ages of 18 and 65, you may be eligible for a brain imaging research study at Stony Brook Medicine. The study involves Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain. PET and MRI brain imaging is performed before and after 8 weeks of NSAID treatment. This medication is FDA approved as an anti-inflammatory (not as an antidepressant), but may be effective to treat depression, especially if other treatments have failed. You will be screened for eligibility by phone, in-person and/or by video. You will be paid up to $480 if you are eligible and complete the study.

Learn more

If you are interested in participating, please contact our study coordinator at

Call: (631)638-HELP (631-638-4357) Text: 716-4BRIGHT (716-427-4448)

Email: imaging.study@stonybrookmedicine.edu

Pediatric Imaging: Measuring Neuromelanin Trajectories (PIGMENT)

We are conducting a research study for adolescents and their parents called the PIGMENT study. PIGMENT stands for Pediatric Imaging: Measuring Neuromelanin Trajectories. It is a research study focusing on teenagers ages 14-17 years old. It would involve your child visiting our campus three times over three years for a few hours each time, along with one parent or legal guardian, and both child and parent/guardian are paid for their time. For the teen, the visit will involve an interview about their emotional well-being, surveys about their personality and daily life, and an MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging). The participating parent/guardian would also complete surveys. All answers are kept completely confidential. The teen can receive up to $710 if they complete all three visits (plus any money and gift cards they win during the study) and their parent/guardian would be paid a total of $40.00. We hope the information we gather can eventually help psychologists to provide better guidance for teenagers and their families, and educators to design better school programs.

If you are interested in participating, please contact our study coordinator at

Call: (631) 371-2631

Email: sbpigmentstudy@gmail.com

Post-COVID Brain Inflammation Study

If you are 60 years or older and have been experiencing memory/cognitive problems for longer than six months after COVID infection, we invite you to participate in this imaging study (PET & MRI). If you are 60 years or older and have no history of COVID infection or memory/cognitive problems, you still may participate in the control group of this study. This will involve cognitive testing and blood sampling. And there will be one or two visits for PET and MRI scans. Participants will be compensated up to $280 for all parts completed.

If you are interested, please contact research assistant Daniella Taboada at: (631) 820- 7126.

Email: Daniella.taboada@stonybrookmedicine.edu

VAT, MDD & Nicotine

We are looking for research volunteers, ages 18 - 65 years, old to participate in a brain imaging research study.

For non-depressed research volunteers: If you are 18 or older and have no history of psychiatric illness, you may be eligible for a research study involving state-of-the-art brain imaging at Stony Brook Medicine. Your participation in this research study may help further our understanding of depression and other psychiatric illnesses. Payment for your time & effort: Up to $250 if you are eligible and choose to participate.

For depressed research volunteers: We are conducting a research study examining the use of nicotine, a potential new type of antidepressant, to relieve depression. Following this study, you will be offered antidepressant medication at no cost. Payment for your time & effort: Up to $450 if you are eligible and choose to participate.

Study involves:
• Online or in-person clinical assessments & psychiatric interviews
• Brain imaging at Stony Brook Medicine

If interested in participating, please contact our study coordinator at

Text: 716-4BRIGHT (716-427-4448) or

Email us at imaging.study@stonybrookmedicine.edu