call for volunteers
Osteoporosis Study for Women
Volunteers are needed to participate in an osteoporosis study for women
age 65 and older at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick.
The study will evaluate the effect of a designer estrogen called Levormeloxifene
on the cardiovascular system and the bones, and its ability to lower cholesterol
and prevent heart disease. Levormeloxifene is a new class of drug that strengthens
thinning, fragile bones and reduces bone loss. The drug is designed to perform
like estrogen without stimulating breast or uterine tissue. Women who have
used prescription medicines for the treatment of osteoporosis in the last
six to 12 months or who have had a stroke, breast cancer or endometrial
cancer are not eligible to participate. Volunteers are required to take
oral medication daily for the length of the study. The participants' vital
statistics and overall physical and psychological health will be closely
monitored. Nine visits within the first three years of the five-year study
are required. Travel expenses will be reimbursed. For more information or
to volunteer, call the Women's Health Research Section at 732-235-7353.
Anxiety
Psychopharmacologists at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway
are seeking volunteers to participate in a study of a new formulation of
an already approved medication for the treatment of persistent anxiety.
Volunteers age 18 and older who suffer from symptoms of nervousness, tension,
irritability, insomnia and similar symptoms of anxiety are eligible to participate.
Participants will be paid $50 for each completed visit during the six-week
study. All related clinic visits will be free of charge. For more information
contact Lesley Allen, PhD, at 732-235-4796. The investigator for this study
is Robert Hamer, PhD.
Investigational Drug Studies
Volunteers are being sought for testing of new medications for the treatment
of a variety of psychiatric disorders at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical
School in Piscataway. Participants will receive free study medications and
will be compensated for the completion of visits. All study related testing
is done at no cost to the patients. The number of visits required depends
on the study. For further information contact the research coordinator,
Allison Dicke, at 732-235-5886. The investigators for these studies are
Matthew Menza, MD, and Robert Hamer, PhD.
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
be provided physical examinations by board-certified dermatologists, laboratory
tests and medication at no cost. Some programs have monetary compensation.
Call 732-418-8474 for more information.
New Medication for High Blood Pressure and Diabetic
Kidney Disease
Hypertension specialists at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in
New Brunswick are conducting a three-year study to evaluate the effect of
a new investigational medication for diabetic kidney disease for individuals
with early kidney dysfunction and Type II, adult onset diabetes. Those eligible
to participate must be between the ages of 30 and 70, have Type II diabetes,
high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Participants will receive
free clinic visits, blood pressure medication, laboratory tests and parking.
For more information contact Noreen Bradley, RN, at 732-235-7825.
Hypertension
Individuals with hypertension who are at least age 55 are needed to participate
in an international study being conducted in the Department of Medicine
at Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center in Camden and the Section of
Hypertension at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick.
It will compare the effectiveness of Covera-HS, a calcium channel blocker
in a new time-release form, with either atenolol or HCTZ. This study is
known as CONVINCE, for controlled onset verapamil investigation of cardiovascular
endpoints. Volunteers must have one or more of the 10 defined cardiovascular
risk factors, such as a smoking habit, high-risk blood lipid profile or
history of heart attack. Those eligible to participate will receive free
blood pressure medication for up to six years. For more information on the
study being conducted in Camden, contact Lynn Helmer, MD, at 609-342-2489
or Patricia Niblack, MLT, at 609-968-7269. For information on the New Brunswick
study, call Noreen Bradley, RN, at 732-235-7825.
Facial Pain Study
Researchers at the UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School in Newark are seeking
women between the ages of 18 and 65 who suffer from facial pain (TMJ) or
temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The purpose of the study is to determine
the causes of facial pain and the appropriate treatment. Volunteers must
never have used oral appliances or bite plates for treatment. Participants
are required to complete daily questionnaires at home for two weeks before
undergoing a free six-week treatment program. They will receive compensation
of $300 upon completion of the study. Women between 18 and 65 years of age
without facial pain are also needed for this research project. They will
be asked to complete daily questionnaires at home for two weeks and will
be paid $100 when the study is completed. The project is directed by Karen
Raphael, PhD, and Joseph Marbach, DDS. For further information call the
project coordinator, Margaret Spier, at 973-972-8043.
Comprehensive Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening
The Women's Wellness Center in Newark is offering a comprehensive breast
and cervical cancer screening program for 500 women over age 50 who live
in Essex County. Services include Pap tests, mammograms and breast self-exam
teaching. To be eligible, a woman must be at least 50 years old, reside
in Essex county, meet income eligibility guidelines and have limited or
no health insurance. House calls are made to single locations such as apartment
buildings, churches or senior centers for groups of 15 or more women who
qualify. Portable mammography is available to provide service on site. For
further information on the study, contact the Women's Wellness Center at
973-972-2777.
Women with Spinal Cord Injuries and Able-bodied Women
are Sought for Sexual Response Study
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange is conducting a study
to learn how spinal cord injuries affect female sexual function and to test
new methods to improve sexual satisfaction. Able-bodied women and those
with SCI at or below the level of T6 are being sought to participate. Those
who complete the study will receive compensation for travel expenses and
an honorarium of $500. For more information write to Kessler Institute for
Rehabilitation, 1199 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ 07052, or call
research assistant Marie Dziekan, MA, at 800-248-3221, extension 2711.
Brain Injury Research Study
The Research Department at Kessler Rehabilitation Research Corporation in
West Orange is conducting a study to evaluate the effectiveness of a non-invasive
procedure called Neural Organization Technique (NOT) on cognitive difficulties
resulting from traumatic brain injury. The study is based on the principles
of chiropractic and acupressure and involves light pressure on various points
of the body. Individuals who experienced a brain injury at least 12 months
ago and who are currently experiencing cognitive difficulties associated
with memory, attention, concentration or problem-solving are sought to participate.
Volunteers will receive six weeks of treatments and undergo four assessment
sessions at no charge. Participants must reside within driving distance
from Kessler. For further information call research associate Diane Zeitlin
at 973-731-3900, extension 2064.
Chronic Shoulder Pain in Manual Wheelchair Users with
SCI
A study is being conducted in the Research Department at Kessler Institute
for Rehabilitation in West Orange on the use of acupuncture and Trager psychophysical
integration (a form of massage therapy) in the treatment of chronic shoulder
pain in people with spinal cord injuries who use manual wheelchairs. Spinal
cord injured individuals, age 18 and older, who are currently experiencing
shoulder pain that has persisted for at least three months and who use manual
wheelchairs, are being sought to participate in a 15-week study. Following
five weeks of in-house monitoring of shoulder pain levels, participants
will receive five weeks of acupuncture or five weeks of Trager psychophysical
integration. During this phase, 10 acupuncture or 10 Trager treatments will
be given at no cost to the participants. Those who participate in the study
will receive $175. Screening for entrance into the study will take place
at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation facility in West Orange. For
more information call Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, at 800-248-3221, extension
2259 or 800-648-0296.
For Women Only
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical
School in Newark is looking for women between the ages of 18 and 38 to participate
in a brief study, lasting through two and one-half menstrual cycles. Participants
will be required to collect their urine at home for six weeks, have two
endometrial aspirations - a sampling of a thin piece of tissue from the
uterine lining - and agree to use birth control (not oral contraceptives)
while participating in the study. The purpose of the study is to examine
the lining of the uterus in normal cycling women. Volunteers are required
to complete two office visits at no cost and will be compensated $335 upon
completion. For more information call Cheryl Forst, RN, BSN, at 973-972-6573.
Vaginal Ring
Women ages 18 through 40 are being sought to participate in a study to assess
the ability of contraceptive vaginal rings to prevent pregnancy, control
menstrual cycles and minimize hormonal side effects. Each participant will
wear a vaginal ring continuously for three weeks and remove it during menstruation.
After menstruation, the volunteer will wear a vaginal ring for an additional
three weeks and this process will be repeated for 13 menstrual cycles. During
the study, participants will receive five examinations and one post-treatment
evaluation. The study will be conducted at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical
School in New Brunswick. To volunteer or to obtain more information, call
the Women's Health Research Section at 732-235-7353.
HIV Treatment
The Southern New Jersey AIDS Clinical Trials Unit is seeking volunteers
to participate in clinical trials to determine whether patients with HIV
infection, who have experienced significant recovery of their absolute CD4+
cell count following active antiretroviral therapy, should receive treatment
to prevent Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC) and bacterial pneumonia. Patients
must have a history of a CD4+ cell count that is less than 50 cells/mm3
any time in the past and a current CD4+ cell count of greater than 100cells/mm3.
For more information on the treatment of HIV and other studies call: Cooper
Hospital/University Medical Center in Camden at 609-963-6890; Garden State
Infectious Disease in Voorhees at 609-566-3190; Jersey Shore Medical Center
in Neptune at 908-776-4709 or Mercer Area Early Intervention Services in
Trenton at 609-538-0025.
Stroke Prevention Study
Focuses on African-Americans The National Institutes of Health is sponsoring
the first nationwide study on stroke prevention specifically in African-Americans.
The goal of the study is to compare two commonly-used clot-preventing medications,
aspirin and Ticlid, to measure their effectiveness in the prevention of
stroke. Researchers are in need of 1,200 patients to participate in 20 study
centers across the country. To be eligible, participants must be African-Americans
and have had a stroke within the last 90 days. For more information or to
enroll in the study, call the National Stroke Association toll-free at 1-800-STROKES.
New Jersey residents can call UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School in Newark
at 973-972-0571.
Investigational Study
Clinical researchers in the Department of Medicine at UMDNJ-Robert Wood
Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick are seeking volunteers age 18 and
older to participate in an investigational drug study. The study will measure
the effectiveness of the drug Lescol, in a slow release formulation to lower
blood cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. Those eligible to participate
will receive free physical examinations, study medications and relevant
laboratory tests. For more information contact Shelley Greenhaus, RN, at
732-235-7751.
Osteoporosis and Paget's Disease Studies
Volunteers are being sought to participate in studies being conducted at
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick. One of the studies
will compare the efficacy of Fosamax once or twice weekly versus once daily
in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. To be eligible to participate
in the study, volunteers must be age 40 and older, at least six months post-menopausal
and in generally good health. Free x-rays, bone density measurements and
study drug will be provided. A second study being conducted at the school
is in need of volunteers to participate in a new oral drug study for the
treatment of Paget's Disease of the bones. The study requires hospitalization
for three-day and seven-day periods. A monetary compensation of $3,000 will
be provided to those eligible to participate. For further details and to
find out if you qualify for both studies, call Shelley Greenhaus, RN, in
the Division of Endocrinology at 732-235-7751.
Impacted Wisdom Tooth Study
Volunteers are needed for an analgesic study involving impacted wisdom teeth
that is being conducted at UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School in the Oral/Maxillofacial
Surgery department and in the Dental Medicine department at UMDNJ-University
Hospital in Newark. A new pain medication is being tested for its effectiveness
after oral surgery. Volunteers are required to complete questionnaires assessing
their relief during a 24-hour period. Blood sampling will be necessary before
and after surgery. A brief postoperative visit is routinely done a week
later and monetary compensation is available to eligible participants. For
further information call Fran Devonshire, RN, at 973-972-4777.
Contraception Study
The Women's Health Research Section at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical
School in New Brunswick is looking for women between the ages of 18 and
45, in good health and who meet entry criteria, to participate in a study
evaluating the effects of a new method of contraception. The study, lasting
either six or 12 months, will provide free physical examinations, Pap smears
and laboratory tests. Volunteers will receive up to $150 for completing
the study. For further details and to find out if you meet entry criteria,
call Pat Agolio or Mitzi Dolese, RNC, at 732-235-7353 or 732-235-7925 between
9 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday.
Non-hormonal Vaginal Cream
The Women's Health Research Section at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical
School in New Brunswick is looking for volunteers to participate in a non-hormonal
vaginal cream study for sexual arousal disorders. Volunteers must be pre-menopausal,
have regular menstrual cycles and at be least 21 years old. Compensation
will be provided during the five- to seven-week study. For more information
call Pat Agolio or Mitzi Dolese, RNC, at 732-235-7353 or 732-235-7925 between
9 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday.
Seizures in the Elderly
The Department of Neurology, in conjunction with the Veterans Administration,
is conducting a five-year study to evaluate antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in
the elderly population. The purpose of the study is to determine which AED
may provide the most effective treatment with the fewest side effects. To
be eligible, volunteers must be age 65 and older, US veterans, and have
had a recent onset of spontaneous epileptic seizures. Participants will
receive free clinic visits, seizure medication, laboratory tests and parking.
For further information call Tricia Seuffert, RN, at 732-235-7728 or David
M. Treiman, MD, at 732-235-7732.