Participate in Research
By participating in research and providing us with data about you, we can find ways to help you, and others like you.
BIOMARKERS, HEALTH PREDICTION & GWI
Now, 30 years after the 1990-1991 Gulf War (GW), 250,000 veterans of that era still suffer from Gulf War Illness (GWI), a debilitating multisymptom condition which presents with chronic fatigue, widespread pain and most commonly, cognitive difficulties.
At present, most diagnostic processes in GWI rely heavily on self-report of symptoms, which indicates a need to identify tools that can provide an objective diagnosis of GWI.
Given the ease of access to blood and the minimally invasive nature of blood collection, biological markers (biomarkers) in blood are desirable for routine clinical use. Furthermore, clinical studies have shown that in the brains of veterans with GWI, there is reduced utilization of certain energy molecules and increases in immune cells that cause the brain to become inflamed (inflammation).
Strong research evidence support energy dysregulation and inflammation being a likely underlying biological features of GWI. As such, it is important that blood biomarker discovery efforts are designed to take these key aspects of GWI into consideration when developing and validating blood biomarkers of GWI.
BIOFEEDBACK, AMPUTEE REHABILITATION
Individuals with lower-limb amputations often adapt their walking patterns to alleviate pain or discomfort in their amputated limb, increase their feeling of stability, or overcome functional deficincies in their prosthetic device. These adaptations can cause asymmetric limb loading, which makes them up to three times more likely to experience secondary conditions and joint degneration, such as osteoarthritis.
Biofeedback training may help decrease the likelihood of these secondary conditions by enabling patients to receive real-time information on the quality of their movements, as well as simple instructions on how to adjust any incorrect motions to improve their walking.
Using SageMotion Haptic Biofeedback system, which consists of small wearable sensors strapped to the user’s lower-back and thigh whose sensors are capable of both measuring motion and providing vibration stimuli to the user.
When the user extends their hips enough, the system vibrates to produce a “buzz” that informs the user they have achieved their target.
EPIDEMIOLOGY, NEUROIMAGING & COVID
Collaborating nationally and internationally to research the impact of COVID-19 on the brain. Aiming to discover a causal pathway and mechanism of action for what is being referred to as “long-COVID.” The debilitating symptoms that patients report infection from sars-cov-2 that persist beyond the anticipated recovery period of 12 weeks.
Collecting neuroimaging data in our cohorts across several protocols spanning symptoms of pain, depression, and PTSD.
The research will explore the possible relationship between the way COVID-19 virus acts on the body and how it interacts with the immune system with the aim of elucidating how other viral disorders such as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) may develop. In essence, the relationship between changes in onset or worsening of psychiatric disorders and dementia as a function of COVID-19 to develop intervention strategies.
NEUROIMAGING, BRAIN INJURY & GENDER
Combining longitudinal clinical research on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and poly-trauma to develop robust databases that facilitate research, understanding of brain disorders, accurate diagnosis, and tailor effective treatments.
Multiple national collaborative efforts that are resulting changes to clinical practice and policy.
Offering world-class innovative treatments TBI, and recipient of three funded awards for TBI using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to improve cognition, depression and pain.
The TBI research will also explore gender differences in understanding the impact on head injuries, presenting symptoms, and guide best practice treatment guidelines.
The research will be guided by state of the art neuroimaging to assess the efficacy of novel treatments that include non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as TMS.
VIRTUAL REALITY, BRAIN INJURY & HEADACHE
Industry collaborations have resulted in a platform to explore at-home meditation using virtual reality (VR) to comparing standard-of-care physical therapy with augmented reality (AR) to enhance biofeedback driven healing mechanisms for treatment of pain and stress.
National and international efforts to use machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to objectively characterize diagnosis of TBI in populations with complex health problems.Collecting neuroimaging data in our cohorts across several protocols spanning symptoms of pain, depression, and PTSD.
Resulting in nation wide translational research to impact clinical practice and policy. Based on reported risks of TBI in the geriatric population existing protocols have been adapted with smart technology to monitor and provide feedback to the patient and the provider.
ULTRASOUND THERAPY, TBI & HEADACHES
Investigating the efficacy of Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound Pulses (LIFUP) with meditation based principles to treat Traumatic Brain Iin jury (TBI) related headaches.
Focused senior to decipher task-related connectivity patterns that can change in relation to skill-learning, expertise and/or carrying Apolipoprotein (APOE) ε4 genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD).
In addition, research on identifingy neuronal fiber tracts and aberrant connectivity patterns in patients with TBI years after injury will also coccur.
Employing state-of-the-art methododology to track and identify underlying chronic health issues characteristic of brain injury and disparities due to psychiatric symptoms, sleep, and fatigue.
BRAIN STIMULATION, PAIN & GULF WAR ILLNESS
The clinical data will be used to try and uncover the causal pathways of of Gulf War illness. An umbrealla terms for a cluster of symptoms that many Veterans from the 1991 Gulf War exhibit.
The incidence of Gulf War syndrome is unclear, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has proposed that 1 in 3 Veterans from that era suffer from what it called chronic multisystem illness (CMI).
In addition Veterans from the Gulf War also have a high incidence of psychiatric symptoms that accompany the physiological impairments they experience.
Granted two Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Investigational Device Exemption (IDEs) as part of a therapeutic protocol.
BRAIN STIMULATION, BRAIN INJURY & MEMORY
Significant progress has been made towards understanding the pathophysiology and neuropsychological impact of brain injury. However, existing treatments for patients with persistent impairment have limited efficacy. In addition the existing treatments have limited research on the underlying mechanism of action or in their ability to predict treatment response.
The research will explore evidence-based pathway for advanced diagnostic tools to be included in future guideline for clinical evaluation and treatment of mild and moderate brain injury.
The new diagnostic models will pave the way for the development of novel treatments that so far have lagged behind our understanding of the structural brain changes following injury.
Why Participate in Research
Understand what it means to contribute to research.
Learn what it's like to participate in a trial & how it promotes medical advances.
Getting medical discoveries from the research lab to patients depends on clinical trials and the people who volunteer to participate in them.
Volunteering in a trial may help society at large by bringing new treatments one step closer to patients, and may help a loved one if you have a genetic disease or condition.
It may also give you access to a cutting-edge treatment and medical team that carefully monitors your health. But clinical trials can’t happen without volunteers, and 37% don’t enroll enough patients to move forward.
Clinical trials need volunteers like you so watch this short film to find out more about why they are important, how to get involved, and what it means to participate. Learn more at Clinical Trials or watch the video by Alliance for Aging Research.
RESEARCH = HOPE
Participate in research and bring hope to others.