VCU Institute for Women's Health

• 18-25 Year Old Women
  • Body mass index (BMI) 25.0-50.0 kg/m2
  • Self-identification as a woman
• In person data collection visits (4 visits total - each ~1.5 hours long) at Baseline, 4 months, 8 months, and 12 months. Which is when we will complete measurements including blood pressure, height, weight, waist circumference, body composition, resting metabolic rate, blood glucose, and a blood draw. There will also be a series of group-based virtual (Zoom) meetings. - Weekly for 8 weeks, then every-other week for 8 weeks: total of 12 sessions - Each group is 75 minutes long (an hour and 15 minutes)
• 830 East Main Street, Richmond VA 23219
• Click this link for more information

Food Noise

• Recruiting teens (ages 12-17) who are willing to complete questionnaires about eating experiences and mental health:
  • Have a BMI greater than the 5th percentile
  • Are not currently participating in a weight loss program
•  Participation involves survey completion:
  • One time in-person or virtually (20 minutes total) OR
  • One time in-person or virtually and a second time virtually
  • Compensation of $20 is offered for completion
  • Please contact Nia Harris, BS (Nia.Harris@vcuhealth.org) for more information.
    

• Recruiting adolescents (ages 12-17) and young adult (ages 18-25) females with and without bulimia nervosa

• Two study visits are required:

• Visit 1: (in person or virtual) will be a ~3 hour screening visit

• Visit 2: (in person at VCU CARI center) will be a ~3-4 hour visit

• Two-week follow-up of online surveys and games

• Participants will be compensated $75 per visit and additionally compensated for engagement in the follow-up period

• Please contact Kelsey Hagan, PhD, LP (Kelsey.Hagan@vcuhealth.org) for more information.

  Anorexia Nervosa 
  Title: Understanding Decision-Making Across Psychiatric Disorders
  • We are recruiting adults (>= 18 years of age) with and without symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa. 
  • Inclusion criteria: symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa (eg. restrictive eating, weight loss, fear of weight gain)
    Exclusion criteria: history of a neurological disorder; MRI contraindications (eg. non-removable metal in body); current pregnancy
  • Participants will complete two initial study visits - Visit 1 (5 hours - interviews, height/weight, and a brief medical screening) and Visit 2 (4 hours - standardized breakfast, MRI scan with computer-based tasks, and questionnaires). Participants will also complete a 12-Month Follow-Up Visit (2-3 hours, interviews and height/weight). Participants will also complete two weeks of questionnaires on their mobile phone in their daily lives, at each time point.
  • Visit 1 can be done in-person at the CARI Center, or virtually via Zoom for out-of-state participants. Visit 2 will take place in-person at the CARI Center. The follow-up visit can be completed virtually via Zoom. 
  • Participants can be compensated up to $500 for the main portions of the study, and can receive up to $125 in bonuses for performance on some of the study tasks.

• Recruiting adolescents (ages 13-19) for 2 groups: 

• 1) diagnosed with a concussion within the last 14 days

• 2) no history of diagnosed concussion

• The number of study visits (~120 minutes each) varies by group:

• 1 study visit for healthy controls

• 3 study visits across 12 months for the concussion group

• Participants will be compensated for their participation

• Please contact Jessie Oldham, PhD (Jessie.Oldham@vcuhealth.org) or Jackson Marra-Dotts (Jackson.MarraDotts@vcuhealth.org) for more information.

• Ankle Sprains
  PI: Alexandra DeJong Lempke
  Title: Sex Differences in Hip Muscle Adaptations and the Link to Future Injury Following Acute First-Time Lateral Ankle Sprains

  • Recruiting adolescent and young adult participants (ages 14-30) for 2 groups:

  • Ankle Sprain: First time lateral ankle sprain within 1 month of injury 

  • Healthy Control: No history of ankle sprain or other injuries 

  • Participation requires 1 in-person study visit lasting ~90 minutes

  • Ankle sprain participants will be asked to complete 2 additional remote surveys (~5 minutes) at 3- and 6-months following the visit

  • All participants will receive $50 for in-person visits. Ankle sprain participants will receive an additional $252 for each completed follow-up survey. 

  • Please contact Alexandra DeJong Lempke, PhD, ATC (Alexandra.Lempke@vcuhealth.org) for more information.

• Recruiting female participants (ages 14-30) who have stopped menstruating

• Must have had fewer than 3 menstrual periods in the past 6 months

• No current hormonal contraception/medication use

• No major surgeries planned over the next 18 months

• Not pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant in the next 2 years

• Participation involves 9 study visits over 12 months to the University of Virginia Medical Center

• Participants will be compensated up to $925 total + travel costs.

• Please call 434-982-0871 or email misralab@uvahealth.org for more information.

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• Recruiting non-pregnant women between the ages of 18-45

• No diagnosis of cognitive impairment

• No positive urine culture in the past 2 weeks

• Individuals who experience bladder or pelvic pain, urinary symptoms, or no symptoms at all

• Participation involves one 10-minute virtual screening and one 2 hour in-person visit at a VCU Health Urogynecology clinic where you will provide a urine sample and complete questionnaires, cognitive tests, and short physical tests

• Participants will receive $50 for study completion

• Please contact MCBASIC@vcu.edu for more information.

Researchers at the VCU are recruiting research participants for a study investigating experiences relating to use of multiple substances in pregnancy. This study is led by clinical psychology doctoral candidate, Michelle Eglovitch. While the prevalence and severity of individual substance use during pregnancy is well-documented, less is known about perinatal polysubstance use. This research will inform prevention efforts by conducting qualitative interviews among pregnant or postpartum people engaging in prenatal polysubstance use to understand the biopsychosocial context of such behaviors.

The research study includes a single virtual or in-person 30-60 minute long interview to receive feedback on social factors related to substance use. Further, you may be contacted about an optional feedback session. Participants can receive a $50 gift card for completing the interview and a $50 gift card for participating in the feedback session after all interviews are completed, if they are selected.

Eligible participants are:

• 18 and older
• Pregnant or up to a year postpartum with a livebirth
• Use of more than one substance over the course of pregnancy. These substances include: alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, and illicit substances

Interested people can learn more by contacting Michelle Eglovitch at eglovitchms@vcu.edu, or filling out the interest form here: PUP Study Link