Studies

Researchers (at Ohio University, Rutgers University, New York University, and Ohio State University) are using an experimental survey design to assess treatment decision-making among physicians currently practicing in six states. Specifically, they assess treatment recommendations and attitudes when physicians are presented with fictional patient vignettes for various patients with chronic illness. For more information, please contact Berkeley Franz, PhD at franzb@ohio.edu .

The increasing complexity of medical education calls for innovative approaches to streamline the path from undergraduate to graduate medical training. This study focuses on the structure, development, and outcomes of the Transformative Care Continuum (TCC), an accelerated 3-year program at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Our evaluation targets the effectiveness of the program in preparing students, current and future residents, and faculty. Key aspects include assessing learner competence, the adequacy of training, and the impact on residency programs, particularly in terms of scholarly activity and leadership roles attained by participants. This research is critical for understanding how the TCC model influences both educational and professional outcomes in osteopathic medicine. Study data may be accessed here .

The rapid expansion of medical knowledge underscores the need to evolve pre-medical requirements of skills such as communication, patient care, and research for future physicians. A significant development in this evolution is the increasing number of students gaining experience through medical scribing before admission and matriculation. This study, which evaluates the potential benefits of scribing on medical students' experience and professional identity formation, is a crucial step in understanding this trend.  Study data is available through these links: Data File 1 and Data File 2 .

Understanding food insecurity is crucial for future physicians. Pre-clinical medical students participated in a study using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Challenge to bridge the gap between medical education and real-life experiences. The students reflected on how SNAP limitations impacted healthy eating and discussed emergency food systems and public policy. Study data may be accessed here .

Want to help researchers learn more about obesity? You may qualify if you are 30 to 50 years of age, non-diabetic, not pregnant and are overweight or weigh more than you'd like.

Help enhance understanding of bone health. A new technology may provide an improved diagnosis of osteoporosis. Seeking participants for the STRONGER study. Are you a post-menopausal woman between the ages of 50-80? Have you experienced an arm or leg fracture after the age of 50? Participation is one study visit.

Dr. Emily Guseman and her study team are looking at the impacts of the pandemic on the physical and mental health of children. Recruiting children age 8-14 and their parents. To qualify, parent and child must attend five campus visits over one year, and participants must be nonsmokers. Compensation is available.

This study is looking for sedentary individuals who are between 18 and 50 years of age who wish to participate in a study to examine insulin sensitivity and skeletal muscle metabolism. Participants will be required to visit the laboratory two times (total approximate time commitment is around five hours), undergo a DEXA scan (for body composition) and undergo blood and skeletal muscle analysis.

This study will be looking for men and women 70+ years of age, or men and women between the ages of 18 and 30.

This study is currently seeking participants age 18-50 who wish to participate in a study to examine skeletal muscle metabolism. Female participants who are over 170 pounds and male participants over 200 pounds are needed.

The purpose of this study is to investigate how skeletal muscle affects fat metabolism and insulin resistance in lean and obese individuals between the ages of 18-50 who are sedentary (participate in less than one hour of structured exercise per week). It is important to study fat metabolism and insulin resistance, as these conditions contribute to disease states such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Findings will help the scientific community understand how skeletal muscle functions in humans during obesity and diabetes and provide a basis for further studies in relation to clinical treatments in these conditions.

Researchers want to examine the loss of muscle strength associated with immobilization/disuse, as well as measures to counteract the loss of muscle strength. We will be looking for young, healthy individuals to participate in a study in which we will assess your muscle strength and muscular health, as well as a variety of physiological outcomes. If you are 18-35 years of age, willing and capable of arm cast-immobilization for two weeks, and are willing and capable to take part in a series of laboratory-testing sessions that are about three hours each, you could be eligible to participate.

Are you the parent/guardian of a child between the ages of 6-17? Ohio University researchers are studying children’s behavior during COVID.

Researchers at Ohio University are studying exercise preferences and performance among teenage boys and girls whose weight is higher than it should be. Children are eligible to participate if they are 14 to 18 years old at the time of enrollment, meet weight criteria, can exercise safely, are not currently participating in an organized sport and are not pregnant. Participation in the study will last six weeks, including assessments at the beginning and end and four weeks of supervised exercise (three times weekly). Participants will be compensated for their time and effort.

Researchers want to know how our behaviors and habits influence child growth. This study is seeking to measure how a child’s activity and sleep compare to current recommendations. Participants should be children ages 2-5 years who can walk by themselves, with a primary caregiver between the ages of 18-55. Participants should be willing to attend one study visit with their child and attend one additional visit alone. Compensation will be provided.

This study is looking at preschoolers' bedtime routines. Participants need to not be pregnant at the time of participation, and children must be between the ages of 2 and 5.

This study is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, international trial evaluating the ability of an investigational product to prevent cardiovascular events among adults with type 2 diabetes and high levels of triglycerides with a history of statin therapy. The study is seeking males over the age of 50 and females over the age of 55 who meet study inclusion criteria. The total expected treatment duration is up to five years, with an expected average follow-up period of approximately four years. Qualified volunteers may receive compensation.

Do you want to know your child’s bone density, body fat percentage and their health and fitness level? To participate, your child must be 7 to 17 years of age, with no metal implants and not currently or possibly pregnant. They must also be less than 450 pounds and have had no CT, barium or radio-isotope procedure within the past seven days. To participate in all three parts, your child must not have any physical, metabolic, respiratory or neurological impairments that would affect their ability to exercise for three minutes safely.

Are you the parent/guardian of a child between the ages of 6-17? Ohio University researchers are studying children’s behavior during COVID (IRB # 20-E-322).

We want to learn about your experience with smoking exposure during pregnancy. We are looking for healthy pregnant women, aged 18 or older, who are exposed to smoking at home.

Adults aged 50 or older living in Ohio are needed for an anonymous survey study. Participants will be asked about concerns regarding aging and dementia and about interest in potentially participating in a virtual educational intervention about healthy aging, dementia and what you can do to prevent dementia. The survey will take approximately 30 minutes. This research study will be conducted through Ohio University.

A research team through Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine is working to return or increase sense after COVID-19 illness. You must be 18 years of age or older, have  documentation of a positive COVID-19 test, have loss of sense of smell during your COVID-19 illness and still be experiencing diminished smell.

Are you currently working full time in the nursing profession? Ohio University researchers are recruiting full-time nurses to participate in a study about their work and non-work experiences. To participate, you must be 18 years of age or older, live in the United States, be able to read and write in English and be employed as part of a larger organization (e.g., hospital, nursing home, rehabilitation center) where you regularly work with other nurses (i.e., independent in-home care nurses are not eligible).

This study is looking for individuals between 60 and 75, not living in a nursing home or assisted living facility, who are interested in participating in an exercise-based research study. Help researchers better understand the health effects of different exercise strategies.

This study will examine how sleep affects cognitive abilities in older adults. This study is seeking participants 50 years of age and older with concern about their sleep and cognitive abilities. If you participate, you will complete several self-report measures examining sleep habits, medical and psychological history, and your perceptions of your cognitive abilities. You will also complete a brief battery of cognitive tests. The entire study should take about two hours to complete.

This study is seeking participants aged 50-99 to participate in a research study to improve a new technology for assessing bone health. Participants must not be living in a nursing home or assisted living facility, must have at least one arm that has not suffered a fracture or other musculoskeletal or orthopedic injury within the past year and be willing to complete three laboratory-based testing sessions (6 hours total). Eligible participants will be compensated for their time.

This study is looking for participants over the age of 65 who report a loss of physical function and are considered at risk of mobility disability.

This study is being done to learn about behavioral and emotional challenges to living with diabetes in southeastern Ohio. Participants will be asked to complete a demographic form and six surveys about your diabetes and well-being. To be eligible, you must have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, be aged 18 years or older and able to read and speak English, and live in southeastern Appalachian Ohio (Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Perry, Vinton, Washington counties). Compensation will be provided.

This is a randomized, controlled / comparison study that will evaluate the effectiveness of WellStart, a virtual intensive therapeutic lifestyle change program to control type 2 diabetes.

Seeking patients from the University Medical Associates Diabetes/Endocrine Center in Athens, Ohio, or the Camden Clark Medical Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Diseases in Parkersburg, West Virginia, with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and who are already on insulin pump therapy. Subjects must be at least 14 years of age with internet access on a computer and smartphone.

This study seeks to better identify the neurological causes of muscle weakness associated with aging. Additionally, it will examine the potential for different interventional strategies to enhance muscle and physical performance. The UNCODE Study is being conducted by scientists at the Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute at Ohio University. Please visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02505529  to stay up-to-date on study results.

This study is seeking adults between the ages of 70 and 89 years old to help evaluate the effect of an investigational medication on muscle fatigue and physical function in mobility-limited older adults. To be eligible, you must be able to write in English, attend study visits at Ohio University, be living at home, have some limitations in physical function and mobility, and not have had a cardiac event within the last six months. Qualified volunteers may receive compensation.

This study will be seeking participants 70 years of age or older who weigh at least 88 lbs. Participants should be willing to complete a walk test and scan of body composition, as well as complete surveys on an electronic tablet such as an iPad or tablet.

This study is looking for males and females aged 18+ with no significant health issues to participant in pilot testing experiments. These testing experiments are to develop muscle functional magnetic resonance imaging and functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques to study the neural control of the truck muscles.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, event-driven trial of weekly low-dose methotrexate in the prevention of cardiovascular events among stable coronary artery disease patients with Type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. The CIRT trial is seeking participants over the age of 18 with Type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome and a history of a cardiovascular event. Please visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01594333  to stay up-to-date on study results.

This study is looking for adults 18 years of age or older who are enrolled in the Complete Healthy Improvement Program, with a BMI higher than 25 and who are able to speak, read and write in English.

The Ohio University Neurolinguistics Laboratory is seeking participants aged 18-89 to participate in a study designed to look at the amount of effort individuals need to comprehend different types of sentences using pupil dilation and constriction. Participants must be native speakers of American English with no history of stroke or brain injury. The study involves a one-time visit to Grover Center on Ohio University’s Athens campus lasting approximately one hour. Participants will receive $10 cash upon completion of all parts of the study.

The aim of this study is to determine if eating two whole, hard-boiled brown eggs daily for 29 days will increase production of trimethylamine N-oxide, a marker of plaque buildup in artery walls, in people who normally eat a vegan/totally plant-based diet. The results of this marker will be taken from blood tests. If you agree to participate in the study, you will be assigned to one of two groups based on your previous two-month diet: the plant-based group agreeing to eat two whole, hard-boiled brown eggs daily or the animal-based diet group.

This study is looking for non-pregnant adults who participate in The Lifestyle Medicine Clinic: Small Group. Combined with community-based small group to create "Lifestyle Changes and Body Composition: a Pilot Study."

This study is looking for non-pregnant adults 18 to 80 years of age who are able to fast for lab work, attend at least four of the six session of the community-led version of The Lifestyle Medicine Clinic: Small Group. Combined with office-based small group to create "Lifestyle Changes and Body Composition: a Pilot Study."

This study will be help military pre-deployment personnel during 2016 trainings at Ravenna Joint Military Training Center in Paris, Ohio. Potential participants who present for medical care for contact dermatitis as a result of exposure to poison ivy, poison sumac or poison oak will be identified and presented with the study information and option to consent to participate.

The RELIEF Study is seeking men and women between the ages of 18-45 years to participate in a research study investigating treatment for low back pain. Participation requires completing several testing sessions and attending several intervention sessions. Financial compensation is provided for participating in this study. Please visit  https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01854892  to stay up-to-date on study results.

Seeking participants aged 18 to 50 years with two or more episodes of low back pain in the past 12 months, with at least one of the episodes causing a restriction of work or leisure time activity. Please visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02308189  to stay up-to-date on study results.

This study is seeking participants between the ages of 21 and 80 years who continue to have their gallbladder and who are enrolled in either the CHIP program or Lifestyle Medicine Clinic, or willing to enroll in either of these programs.

This study is seeking experienced runners between 18-35 years old to participate in a four-week exercise training program using an ElliptiGO bike. Specifically, investigators will aim to better understand the fitness and performance effects of replacing 50% of your run training with ElliptiGO training. Participants will be able to train on a new piece of exercise equipment, the ElliptiGO, which is a fast-growing piece of exercise equipment that could aid in the optimization of a runner's training.

This study is looking for healthy subject between 18-60 years of age without current back pain, with no history of spine surgeries, no history of heart disease or low blood pressure, or current use of pain medication or supplements, and with no major depression.

This study is looking for current first- and second-year Heritage College students at the Athens campus.

This study is looking for subjects 18 years or older with a preliminary assessment that exhibits two or more signs and symptoms that may be caused by the influenza virus.

This study is looking for daughters between the ages of 12-18 years and their mothers, who will enroll in The Lifestyle Medicine Clinic.

This study is seeking females between the ages of 40-55 years who currently reside in Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Perry or Washington counties in Ohio.

The purpose of The LEARNING Study is to measure the effects of an interactive, whole-body video game on movement behavior in people with low back pain. Currently recruiting participants age 18-50 with chronic low back pain symptoms for at least the past three months.

This study will be seeking past participants of the Insulin First and INSPIRE protocols to follow up about their experiences in these trials, lifestyle changes and their beliefs about diabetes, attitudes toward insulin and diabetes care.