Incontinence Study in Women
Women who are at least 50 years old and have urine loss when coughing, laughing or sneezing are being sought to participate in a research study at the Health Center for Women at St. Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick. Those eligible will receive an EKG, a breast exam and blood work at no cost. After completion of the study, participants can receive a compensation of $250.

The study is under the direction of the principal investigator, Mark Mokrzycki, MD, a gynecologist specializing in female urinary problems. For more information call Dee Campbell at 732-937-6003.

Loss of Sexual Desire Associated with Menopause
A research study is being conducted at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick to determine the effects of an investigational drug in the treatment of the loss of sexual desire associated with menopause. Volunteers in good health between the ages of 40 and 65, who no longer have menstrual periods and have been on estrogen treatment for at least three months are eligible to participate. In addition, participants must be in a stable heterosexual relationship and have experienced the loss of sexual desire since the onset of menopause. The duration of the research is approximately 18 weeks with an optional six-month treatment extension. Those accepted will receive a free physical exam, Pap smear, laboratory tests and medication. Upon completion of the study, participants will receive compensation for their time and travel.

The principal investigator for this study is Gloria Bachmann, MD. For more information call the Women's Health Research Section, Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, at 732-235-7799 or 732-235-7353.

Volunteers Needed for the Study of BuSpar TM at Kessler Institute
The anti-anxiety medication BuSpar (buspirone hydrochloride), manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb, is being studied at the COPSA Institute for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders in Piscataway. BuSpar is not addictive and is not related to other anti-anxiety medications which can be addictive. The purpose of the study is to research the effectiveness of BuSpar in the treatment of behavioral problems in people who have Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia or a combination of both -- mixed dementia. To be eligible to participate, volunteers must be in good health and have a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia or mixed dementia. In addition, participants must have behavioral problems such as wandering, extreme restlessness, aggression or anxiety. Participants will need a caregiver to monitor their medication and take them to their five appointments during the 12-week study period.

This study is under the direction of the principal investigator, William Reichman, MD. For additional information call the clinical research coordinator Julie Grofsik, RN, at 732-235-4907.

Tardive Dyskinesia in Elderly Patients Treated with Olanzapine
The Brief Treatment Services at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway is conducting a study on the effectiveness of Olanzapine. Olanzapine is a medication used to treat psychotic symptoms -- seeing or hearing things that are not there or believing things that are not true -- or agitation in patients with dementia. The study will attempt to evaluate whether patients who take Olanzapine are less likely to experience a condition called tardive dyskinesia -- involuntary movements -- as compared to patients who take medications such as Haldol or Navane. Patients will either receive Olanzapine or another conventional antipsychotic medication. It will be necessary for participants to visit the study site 18 times over a period of a year and a half. The first five visits are bi-monthly and the other 13 visits are on a monthly basis. Eligible participants must be 55 years old or older and in good general health. They cannot have had a history of tardive dyskinesia but must be in need of treatment -- for at least six months -- with an antipsychotic medication. Patients will receive all medication and study visits free of charge.

The principal investigator for this study is Peter M. Aupperle, MD. For further information call Julie Grofsik, RN, BSN, at 732-235-4907.

Investigational Drug to Promote Weight Loss and Improve Glucose Levels in Type II Diabetes
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick is evaluating the effectiveness of an investigational drug to promote weight loss and improve glucose levels. To be eligible to participate, volunteers must be over age 40 and currently taking insulin for Type II diabetes. Those who qualify will receive a medical evaluation, nutritional counseling and study medication at no cost.

For additional information call Shelley Greenhaus, RN, at 732-235-7751.

The principal investigator for this study is Peter M. Aupperle, MD. For further information call Julie Grofsik, RN, BSN, at 732-235-4907.

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 study to compare the ability of an investigational medication to reduce the amount of protein in the urine of type II diabetes patients with a medication currently on the market to treat high blood pressure. The study is for 16 weeks and those eligible must be 18 or older with hypertension and Type II diabetes. Participants will receive study medications, physical exams, blood pressure monitoring, laboratory tests, EKGs and chest x-rays at no cost. Monetary compensation is available to those who complete the studies.

The study is under the direction of continued the principal investigator, Michael C. Ruddy, MD. For more information call Noreen Bradley, RN, at 732-235-7825.

Hypertension
Volunteers age 18 and older with high blood pressure are being sought to participate in a study. It will evaluate the effectiveness of a new investigational medication and its effect on hypertension in individuals with increases in blood pressure due to increases in salt. The study is being conducted at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School by the Section of Hypertension in New Brunswick. It is approximately eight weeks long and requires some overnight visits in the Clinical Research Center. Participants who complete the study will receive compensation up to $1,200.

Michael C. Ruddy, MD, is the principal investigator. For additional information call Noreen Bradley, RN, at 732-235-7825.

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 and to find out if you qualify, call study coordinator Amelia Sherr, RN, at 732-418-8474.

Facial Pain Study
Researchers at 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.

Women with SCI or Spina Bifida are Sought for Sexual Response Study
Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation (located within Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation) in West Orange is conducting a study of the physiologic effects of sexual functioning in spinal cord injured women or those with spina bifida. The goal of the NIH-funded study is to learn how spinal injuries affect female sexual function and to test new methods to improve sexual satisfaction. The study is in need of 20 women with spinal cord injuries, at or below the level of T6, to participate. Those who complete the study will receive compensation for travel expenses and an honorarium of $500.

For more information call research assistant Marie Dziekan, MA, at 800-248-3221, ext. 2711. The principal investigator for this study is Marca L. Sipski, MD.

Chronic Shoulder Pain in Manual Wheelchair Users with SCI
A study is being conducted at the Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation 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 use manual wheelchairs and are currently experiencing shoulder pain that has persisted for at least three months are being sought to participate in the study. Participants will receive five weeks of acupuncture or five weeks of Trager psychophysical integration at no cost. Those who participate will receive $175. Screening for entrance into the study will take place at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation facility in West Orange.

The principal investigator for the study is Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD. For more information call 800-248-3221, ext. 2259.

Cancer Clinical Trials
Scientists at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) in New Brunswick develop and conduct clinical trials for oncology patients who do not respond to traditional therapies and for those with cancers that do not have a standard treatment. The focus of these studies is to develop new treatment options and drugs, as well as preventive and diagnostic techniques to fight the disease. CINJ is the only cancer center in the state of New Jersey designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and one of 13 NCI clinical cancer centers in the country. CINJ offers advanced comprehensive care and its research base has the potential to transform laboratory results into clinical applications that reduce cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality.

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey is currently conducting more than 60 clinical trials for different types and stages of cancer. For additional information on specific cancer clinical trials at CINJ, call the Clinical Research Office at 732-235-8666.

The Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene to Prevent Breast Cancer
The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) and UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick have been selected to participate in the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project's (NSABP) Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR). STAR is the second major nationwide breast cancer prevention trial conducted by the NSABP. The new study will examine whether raloxifene, a drug similar to tamoxifen, is equally effective in preventing breast cancer and if it offers any additional benefits than those obtained by tamoxifen. STAR is a double-blind study designed to include postmenopausal women age 35 and older who are at increased risk for developing breast cancer.

The principal investigator for this study is Deborah Toppmeyer, MD.

CINJ is enrolling eligible participants. To be placed on a mailing list to receive trial-related information or to schedule an appointment to determine eligibility, call the Clinical Research Office at 732-235-8666.

Study of Viagra TM for Women with SCI or Spina Bifida at Kessler Institute
Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation (located within Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation) in West Orange is conducting a study evaluating the efficacy of oral Sildenafil (ViagraTM) in the improvement of sexual responsiveness in women with spinal cord injuries (SCI) or spina bifida. Participants must be premenopausal and between the ages of 18 and 55. Pregnant women are not eligible to participate. Those who complete the study will receive an honorarium of $200.

For further information regarding the study, call research associate Marie Dziekan, MA, at 800-248-3221, ext. 2711. The principal investigator for this study is Marca L. Sipski, MD.

Bipolar Disorder and Sun-Damaged Facial Skin Studies
The Department of Psychiatry at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick is seeking individuals in good health, age 18 and older with bipolar disorder to participate in a study. Eligible participants will receive physical examinations, followup visits, labora-tory tests and medication at no cost.

The principal investigator for this study is Kenneth Kaufman, MD. For additional information call 732-418-8461.

A second study is looking for volunteers between the ages of 30 and 75 with sun-damaged facial skin to participate in a long-term study using a product that is applied to the face. Monetary compensation is provided upon completion of the study.

Alice B. Gottlieb, MD, PhD, is the principal investigator for this study. For more information on the sun-damaged facial skin study, call Claudia VanSaders, RN, at 732-418-8468.

Azithromycin Is Being Tested by UMDNJ Researchers to Prevent Additional Coronary Events in Patients with Known Heart Disease
Researchers at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick are seeking volunteers to participate in a study to prevent coronary events in patients who have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease. They are testing the antibiotic azithromycin as part of a multi-center clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is the first national study to link the use of antibiotics to the possible prevention of coronary events.

The Azithromycin and Coronary Events Study (ACES) is a randomized, double-blind study. Half of the heart disease patients will receive azithromycin, manufactured by Pfizer, Inc. of Groton, CT, and the remaining half will receive a placebo (an inactive substance). The study is based on previous research that indicated that Chlamydia pneumoniae, an intracellular bacterium first described in association with acute respiratory infections in 1965, contributes to the development of atherosclerotic events such as heart attacks.

To be eligible to participate, volunteers must be adults diagnosed with heart disease. Those enrolled in the study will be given 600 milligrams of azithromycin orally once a week or a placebo. In addition, participants will be monitored for four years to gauge the effects of azithromycin in preventing heart attacks or other coronary events such as bypass surgery or angioplasty.

John B. Kostis, MD, chair of the Department of Medicine, is the principal investigator of the study. For additional information call Nora M. Cosgrove, RN, at 732-235-6546.

Atypical Antipsychotic Study in the Elderly
Volunteers are being sought to participate in a year- long study on the incidence of tardive dyskinesia in elderly patients being treated with an atypical antipsychotic vs. elderly patients being treated with conventional antipsychotics. The purpose of the study is to prove that there is a decreased incidence of extrapyramidal side effects, to demonstrate a broad efficacy profile and to inflict a minimal effect on prolactincon concentrations in elderly patients who are treated with an atypical antipsychotic. To participate, volunteers must be 55 years or older and meet diagnostic criteria for a psychotic disorder and/or dementia with agitation. There will be two treatment groups, atypical and conventional antipsychotic, at a 1:1 ratio. Eligible participants will receive a physical exam, ECG, a year of monthly visits, lab work and medication at no cost.

This study is being conducted at the Center for Aging at UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford. The principal investigator for the study is Stephen Scheinthal, DO. For more information call Lisa Giffin at 609-566-6356.