Oral and Vaginal Hormone Treatment Study

Menopausal women are needed to participate in a seven-month oral and vaginal hormone treatment study at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick. Volunteers must be between the ages of 46 and 65 with vaginal dryness and who experience pain during intercourse. Participants will receive a study related physical examination, Pap smear, mammogram and laboratory tests at no cost.

Monetary compensation of $175 will be provided to those who complete the study, and will be prorated for those who do not.

Gloria Bachmann, MD, Women’s Health Institute, is the principal investigator. For more information call 732-235-7353 or 732-235-7799, Monday thru Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM.

Sexual Arousal Disorder

A study of women with sexual arousal disorder (the persistent or recurrent inability to attain or maintain sufficient sexual excitement) is being conducted at the Women’s Health Institute in New Brunswick. To be eligible to participate in this eight-week study, participants must make three visits, be between the ages of 21 and 50 (pre-menopausal), should currently be using hormonal contraception or have been surgically sterilized, and be in a stable relationship.

Study related examinations, laboratory tests and an ECG will be provided at no cost. Upon completion of the study, participants will receive compensation up to $200.

Gloria Bachmann, MD, is principal investigator of the study. For more information call 732-235-7353 or 732-235-7925, Monday thru Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Contraceptive Study

Women between the ages of 18 and 40 who are having regular menstrual cycles are sought to participate in a seven-month barrier contraceptive study at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick. To be eligible, participants must be in good health and meet the entry criteria. Those who qualify will receive contraception and laboratory tests at no cost. They will be compensated for travel.

Charletta Ayers, MD, MPH, Women’s Health Institute, is the principal investigator. For more information call 732-235-7292 or 732-235-7799, Monday thru Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Research Study for Moderate to Severe Psoriasis

The Clinical Research Center at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick is seeking volunteers between the ages of 18 and 65 with moderate to severe psoriasis to participate in a research study. The goal of the study is to investigate the safety of a nonsteroidal, investigational, biologic drug in adult patients. The length of the study is approximately five months. Monetary compensation will be provided to those who complete the study.

Alice B. Gottlieb, MD, PhD, is the principal investigator. For additional information call Nancy Olesinski at 732-418-8484.

Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)

UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick is conducting a study on atopic dermatitis (eczema). To qualify, volunteers must be 16 years old or older and have been diagnosed with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis for a minimum of three months. The study lasts about 12 weeks.

Participants will receive study medication, examinations and laboratory tests at no cost. Monetary compensation will be provided upon completion of the study.

Alice B. Gottlieb, MD, PhD, is the principal investigator. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Nancy Olesinski at 732-418-8484.

Psoriasis

The Clinical Research Center at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick is seeking volunteers with psoriasis to participate in research studies being conducted at the school. Eligible participants will receive physical examinations by board-certified dermatologists, laboratory tests and medication at no cost. Some programs have monetary compensation.

This study is under the direction of Alice B. Gottlieb, MD, PhD. For further details, call Nancy Olesinski at 732-418-8484.

Type II Diabetes

The Department of Medicine at Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center in Camden is recruiting volunteers to participate in the Takeda Diabetes Study. This is a liver safety study using ACTOS (pioglitazone HCL) vs. Glyburide – used singly or in combination with other medications or with insulin – for the treatment of Type II diabetes.

Participants must have Type II diabetes, be between the ages of 18 and 80, and not be currently enrolled, or have participated, in another investigational trial in the past two months. They must have high blood sugar levels and not be taking ACTOS (pioglitazone HCL) or Avandia (rosiglitazone maleate). In addition, participants must not have a history of liver disease. Those who are eligible will receive free study-related medication, a physical examination, office visits and laboratory tests.

The principal investigator is Arnaud Bastien, MD. For more information contact either Dr. Bastien at 856-782-7121 or Patricia Niblack, MLT, research coordinator, at 856-968-7269.

Asthma

Nonsmokers between the ages of 15 and 65 with a history of asthma are needed to participate in a study to test a medication to treat asthma. Participants will receive free testing, examinations and generous compensation for time and travel.

The study is being conducted at Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center’s Department of Medicine in Camden. The principal investigator is Robin Gross, MD. For further information call Dr. Gross at 856-342-2407 or Patricia Niblack, MLT, at 856-968-7269.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School is currently conducting multiple studies to investigate the possible causes of medically unexplained fatigue and pain in disorders such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM). Patients who may have CFS or FM and healthy comparison subjects are needed to participate in the studies. Volunteers must be between the ages of 18 and 55. Medical evaluations and fitness tests are provided at no cost. Participants will be compensated for their time up to $200 per study. The NJ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Cooperative Research Centers are located at the UMDNJ-Newark campus and at the VA Medical Center in East Orange.

Benjamin H. Natelson, MD, is the principal investigator for the studies. For more information call 800-248-8005 or visit the Web page at www.umdnj/cfsweb/CFS.

Environmental Health Research Study

Women are needed to participate in a study at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway to evaluate the health effects of indoor air quality and stress. To be eligible, volunteers must be healthy nonsmokers between the ages of 20 and 45, and be available for a five hour morning session (once a week) for four consecutive weeks. During these sessions, responses to indoor air (typical of office environments) will be measured. Participants will also fill out questionnaires, be given tests of attention and concentration, and be asked to provide nasal and saliva samples. A medical exam will be provided at no cost and participants will receive $500 upon completion of the study.

Nancy Fiedler, PhD, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Institute, is the principal investigator for the study. For more information call 732-445-0123, ext. 625.

Women Needed to Participate in An Alzheimer’s Disease Study

Women are being sought to participate in a three-year research study todetermine whether estrogen replacement therapy reduces the risk of developing memory loss and maintains memory in older women who are not currently experiencing memory problems. Participants must be age 65 and older and have had a parent or sibling diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Related medical care, including study medications, will be prescribed at no cost while patients are enrolled in the study. Other screening and eligibility requirements must also be met.

The study is being conducted at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway and is funded by the NIH. Peter Aupperle, MD, University Behavioral HealthCare, is the principal investigator. For more information call Julie Coleman, RN, BSN, at 732-235-4907.

Down Syndrome

UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway is conducting a 12-week study on Down syndrome. The goal of the study is to determine if a drug which is FDA approved for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia of Alzheimer’s type will improve attention, language and memory in patients who have Down syndrome but no memory problems. To qualify, volunteers must be between the ages of 18 and 35 and have Down syndrome.

Partiipants and their caregiver or a family member are required to attend a total of four sessions during the study period. Patients will receive daily oral medication or inactive placebo. At the end of the study, all participants will have the option of receiving active medication for an additional 12 weeks.

The principal investigator is Peter Aupperle, MD, University Behavioral HealthCare. For more information call Julie Coleman, RN, BSN, at 732-235-4907.

Memory Loss

A research study is being conducted at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway. The goal of the 12-week study (a total of five visits) is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a drug that assists patients who have memory loss who are also experiencing agitation, restlessness or anxiousness. To be eligible, volunteers must be age 60 and older and in good health, with a diagnosis of memory loss due to some type of dementia. Related medical care, including study medications, will be prescribed at no cost while patients are enrolled. Other screening and eligibility requirements must also be met.

William Reichman, MD, University Behavioral HealthCare, is the principal investigator for the study. For more details call Julie Coleman, RN, BSN, at 732-235-4907.

Parkinson’s Disease

A group of neurologists from throughout the U.S. and Canada, known as the Parkinson’s Study Group (PSG), have formed a collaborative effort with Indiana University School of Medicine, University of Rochester, The Ohio State University, Children’s Hospital Medical Center at the University of Cincinnati and Emory University to study genetic and other risk factors which may be important in the development of Parkinson’s disease. The study is sponsored by the NIH and will involve 400-600 pairs of brothers and sisters throughout North America who are affected, or possibly affected, with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Participation is voluntary and will be limited to those individuals with living siblings affected or possibly affected with PD. To request additional information, contact Lisa Giffin, LPN, at 856-566-6356. Those residing outside the US should call 1-317-274-5734. Information through a Web site at http://www.medgen.iupui.edu/research/parkinson.