Healthy Paid Clinical Trials in Pennsylvania

Healthy adult subjects will participate in two sessions. The first session will involve measurements of brain activity using simultaneous recordings with electroencephalography (EEG) and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). During brain activity measurement, participants will perform cognitive tasks assessing attention. The second will involve fMRI-based neurofeedback during simultaneous EEG-fMRI recording. Participants will receive real-time visual feedback of signals measured from specific parts of their brain and will try to control that activity. Read Less

This study will enroll up to 60 adults (including 30 females and 30 males) in three cohorts of up to 20 subjects each. In all three groups, [11C]carfentanil whole-body PET imaging will be used to examine the central nervous system (CNS) and broader systemic opioid binding in an initial scan session. In the two groups not receiving standard of care medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) the effects on [11C]carfentanil binding potential of the blockade of opioid binding by the non-selective opioid antagonist naloxone administered parenterally in a second scan session will also be examined. If two scans are completed they can be done on the same day or on different days. Read Less

Neuromodulation is a fast growing field that offers a wide range of applications for both understanding and treating the brain. Future research for non-invasive neuromodulation will need to elucidate the optimal frequency, duration, and intensity of stimulation for a variety of technologies and diseases. Closed loop stimulation is thus a promising research area that allows for responsive stimulation and real time symptom management. Our project is proposed to develop and test a novel noninvasive neuromodulation integrating transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (tFUS) with electrophysiological source imaging (ESI-tFUS) to allow evidence-based neuromodulation for brain research and the management of brain conditions. Despite the recent developments and attention surrounding tFUS, relatively little is known about the mechanisms and optimal parameters of this stimulation technology. The addition of ESI neuroimaging, aimed at providing biomarkers to assess the effects of tFUS neuromodulation, could provide crucial necessary information regarding the neural response to the applied stimulation in real-time. In order for tFUS to be further developed and transformed into a robust neuromodulation technology, an integrated electrophysiological source-imaging-guided tFUS system to allow for individualized and responsive stimulation is needed. The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate the proposed ESI-tFUS in human subjects using motor and somatosensory paradigms. Read Less

This is an exploratory study that will determine and standardize how best to record gastric evoked potentials (GEPs) elicited by a non-invasive method of brain stimulation (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, TMS), by optimizing the TMS parameters and cortical sites necessary to evoke GEPs. Read Less

The purpose of this research is to measure alterations in anxiety and brain activity associated with the use of an approved health device called Transauricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation (TaVNS) in distressed persons who work in a health care and distressed healthcare workers in the the Philadelphia, PA region. The Investigators will be using functional magnetic resonance imaging (or fMRI) to measure changes in each subject's brain function during the use of VNS. This study is designed to allow researchers to understand the changes in cerebral (brain) activity that occur when a subject uses VNS. Thus, the primary goal of the proposed study is to evaluate the ability of the TaVNS system to reduce distress and change neurophysiology among health care providers. The Investigators, hypothesize that using the TaVNS device will help reduce distress in individuals. In order to understand the mechanisms of change that occur while using the VNS study, the Investigators have added a substudy of participants who do not experience high levels of distress to evaluate the effects of the functional changes that may occur in the brain while using the TaVNS device. In addition to the primary aims of the overalll study to assess distress in workers while enrolled in a TaVNS program, a subgroup of 50 subjects will undergo functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while using the VNS device to assess the changes in the brain including neurophysiological effects of TaVNS. The goal of this substudy is to observe the changes in the brain while using the TaVNS earbuds in the MRI to increase our understanding of the mechanisms and processing involved while using TaVNS. In this substudy, which is amendment version 3.0, the investigators have increased the number of persons to include 50 subjects who will use the device in the MRI to evaluate the neural processes and cerebral blood flow while using TaVNS. Read Less

The goal of this study is to test the Organizational Partnerships for Healthy Living (OPAHL) intervention through a feasibility and acceptability trial. OPAHL is an innovative, multilevel intervention package intended for health care organizations serving people living with HIV (PLWH). It was developed through a prior study (grant #: R21 MH115820) using intervention mapping methodology and community-scientific collaborative boards. OPAHL consists of: 1) training (7/8hours) for all MLP staff (clinical, social and behavioral services, and legal) on HIV continuum of care, health harming legal risks and needs, and MLP structure and operations to ensure that an integrated and collaborative environment is established from the earliest stages of the program; 2) case management training on the legal continuum of care; 3) embedding of legal expertise within regularized case management team meetings; 4) co-location of legal services in health care agencies through MLP inter-organizational partnership within 3 months; and 5) organizationally tailored implementation of best-practice communication and information-sharing protocols among providers within MLP, anchored in patient autonomy and choice. The specific aims of this study are: 1) to refine the OPAHL intervention prototype for implementation with PLWH with detectable viral loads and 2) to test the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects sizes of OPAHL. Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, the study will also explore MLP opportunities that respond at the intersection of HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Read Less

This is an observational study exploring the performance of a novel point-of-care diagnostic testing platform designed to quantitate the presence of liver function biomarkers such as bilirubin. Blood samples will be collected from participants to further development and validation of the testing platform to support FDA review. The diagnostic device is intended to provide rapid in-office test results using a finger stick of blood, a reaction test device, and a smartphone app. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to test different methods of preparation that can be used prior to a test called an FDG PET/CT scan. FDG PET/CT scans are routinely done for evaluation of heart inflammation. Standard preparation for the scan includes a ketogenic (high fat and low carbohydrate) diet for 24 hours and overnight fasting to help suppress the amount of sugar taken up in the heart muscle. However, Investigator still do not know if this preparation is the most effective method. So the Investigator, want to investigate alternative methods for decreasing the amount of sugar uptake seen in the heart during FDG PET/CT scan, thus, investigator will have participants try up to 3 different methods of preparation prior to the FDG PET/CT scans to see which type of preparation works the best. Read Less