Studies
The following studies are currently recruiting participants.
Adjunctive Allogenic Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Depression
The purpose of this placebo-controlled study is to test the use of one infusion of Stem Cells as a treatment for Bipolar Depression in addition to a mood stabilizing medication in adults.
Age: 18-65 years.
Study Length: 15 study visits over the course of 26 weeks.
Study components: The Stem Cells used for this study are a specific type obtained from donated bone marrow and are used as a treatment for other medical conditions. Eligible participants will receive an MRI scan and a clinical evaluation. Subjects will be compensated for study visits with payment at each visit, totaling $650.
Contact: (713) 486-MOOD or [email protected]
BD2: Breakthrough Discoveries for Thriving with Bipolar Disorder
BD2 is a multisite collaboration designed to fill gaps in our understanding of bipolar disorders. This data will be used to identify key clinical (e.g., recurrence rate, comorbid diagnoses, early life adversity, sleep quality, cardiovascular risk), neural (e.g., structural changes in gray matter, white matter disease, cognitive deficits), and biological (e.g., peripheral inflammation, elevated stress hormones) factors that drive poor outcomes in bipolar disorder.
Enrolling: The study will conduct deep phenotyping of adult patients with bipolar 1 disorder,
Age: 18 years and up
Study length: 5 years
Study components: Annual blood collection, MRIs, tests of neurocognitive functioning, mood state assessments, and more, as the largest and most comprehensive prospective longitudinal study ever conducted in bipolar disorder. Subjects will receive compensation for annual visits over 5 years as well as $275 for the initial baseline assessments.
Contact: (713) 486-MOOD or [email protected]
Developing Brain Imaging Analysis Expertise for Personalizing Transcranial Electric Stimulation in Anhedonia Treatment of Patients with Bipolar Depression
The purpose of this study is to investigate whether non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) therapy will reduce symptoms of depression and anhedonia (lack of pleasure) in adults, 21-65 years old, with bipolar disorder. tDCS is a popular type of brain stimulation using a painless, wearable device, similar to a pair of headphones that delivers low-level electrical currents to the outside of the scalp.
Enrolling: adults 21- 65 years
Study length: 14 sessions of tDCS, which lasts 6 weeks (in addition to an optional 6-week treatment period)
Study components: This placebo-controlled study includes clinical and laboratory evaluations, two MRI scans, and 14 sessions of tDCS. Eligible participants will receive a total of $700 as compensation for their time in the study, which lasts six weeks.
Contact: (713) 486-MOOD or [email protected]
Greater Houston Area Pediatric Bipolar Registry (GHAPBR)
This study aims to evaluate children, ages 6-17 years, affected by Bipolar Disorder, meaning either those who have Bipolar Disorder, OR children, ages 6-17 years, whose parent(s) have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Additionally, we are recruiting children aged 6-17 years and their parents with no psychiatric diagnosis as healthy controls to complete brief visits.
Study length: until the child reaches 25 years of age
Study Components: This study includes clinical and laboratory evaluations, an optional MRI scan, and long-term, prospective follow-ups to monitor symptoms until the child reaches 25 years of age, all free of charge. This study includes yearly visits, each of which is compensated with $125, and approximately $200 for the first year.
Contact: (713) 486-MOOD or [email protected]
Brain Circuits and Comorbidity
People suffering from mental illnesses are often more likely to have other medical conditions. These additional illnesses are called comorbidity. The purpose of this research is to better understand how a mental illness in the brain may increase people’s comorbidity. The study may help doctors to develop better strategies to prevent and treat comorbidity in the future.
Enrolling: patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, control participants without mental illness
Age: 12-88 years
Study length: about 16 hours over multiple visits
Study components: MRI, brain wave recording (EEG), clinical assessments, computer tasks, blood vessel laser and ultrasound, sleep pattern recording, blood and saliva samples.
Click here to fill out a screening survey for this study: Survey
Contact Information: Call 713-486-2500 or email [email protected]
Circuitry-Guided Smoking Cessation in Schizophrenia
The purpose of this study is to provide effective repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatments for nicotine addiction in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Enrolling: patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder & smoking in the last one year or more and average cigarette per day ≥ 5 in the past 4 weeks.
Age: 22-65 years
Study length: 5-6 months including ~6 weeks of TMS treatment and follow up visits
Study components: brain stimulation (TMS), brain wave recording (EEG), MRI, clinical assessments
Click here to fill out a screening for this study: Survey
Contact Information: Call 713-486-2500 or email [email protected]
Mobile Brain Body Study
The purpose of this study is to examine how stress, sleep, and mental health are related, and the role of brain function in their relationship.
Enrolling: patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, control participants without mental illness
Age: 18-65 years
Study length: 1 months including daily smartphone surveys and fitness tracking at home
Study components: fitness tracking, smartphone surveys, MRI, clinical assessments, computer tasks, hair and saliva samples
Click here to fill out a screening for this study: Survey
Contact Information: Call 713-486-2500 or email [email protected]
Enhancing Brain Connectivity in Schizophrenia through Neuromodulation
The purpose of this study is to understand how cognition-related neural structures and circuitries, and cognitive performances in patients with schizophrenia are changed by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), behavioral cognitive trainings, and their combinations.
Enrolling: patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder
Age: 18-60 years
Study length: 3-4 weeks
Study components: brain stimulation (TMS), brain wave recording (EEG), MRI, clinical assessments
Click here to fill out a screening for this study: Survey
Contact Information: Call 713-486-2500 or email [email protected]
Neuromodulation of the Fear Extinction Circuit Using TMS
The purpose of this research study is to study how transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) impacts the way our brains learn to fear and extinguish those fears. Our overall goal is to see if we can optimize the location and timing of the TMS delivery to make fear extinction memory stronger using an experimental paradigm. This study has great potential to improve peoples’ ability to control fear and anxiety especially those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Enrolling: healthy controls (HC), or have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Age: 18-70 years
Study length: 4 study visits (approximately 2 hours for each visit)
Study components: assessment interview and questionnaires; 3 study visits where you will undergo fMRIs [functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging] and one session of TMS; blood draw (if female)
Click here to fill out a screening survey for this study: Survey
Fear and Avoidance
The purpose of this research study is to study how our brains learn to avoid certain stimuli or situations using an experimental design. Our overall goal is to measure your brain responses and the subject’s feelings and expectations when they are learning to actively avoid experimental stimuli, and how learning that situations are no longer fearful and monetary cost can change how and when you are to avoid.
Enrolling: trauma-exposed people with and without a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and volunteers with no significant psychiatric symptoms/diagnosis or trauma
Age: 18-70 years
Study length: screening / baseline assessment will take approximately 2.5-3 hours, and each experimental visit will last approximately 1.5-2 hours
Study components: initial screening / baseline assessment visit; 2 experimental visits, in which you would participate in an emotional learning experiment and an fMRI scan over the course of two consecutive days; blood draw (if female)
Click here to fill out a screening survey for this study: Survey
Pioglitazone as an Adjunct to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Cocaine Relapse Prevention
The Two-Step Treatment Study provides brief inpatient (detox) and outpatient treatment for individuals who use cocaine or crack and want to stop.
Enrolling: The study is currently recruiting adults in good general health who are seeking treatment to stop using cocaine. Financial compensation for participation and travel expenses will be provided.
Study Length: 5-day inpatient detox program, 12 weeks of outpatient visits (3x per week) with individual counseling, and one follow-up visit.
Study Components: The study involves, at no cost to the participant, medical and psychiatric screenings, brain imaging scans, and study medication
To learn more or to see if you qualify, please visit the following link: https://redcap.link/QuitCocaine
Contact Information: Call 713-500-3784 or Text 832-799-8869
PTSD Study:
This research study investigates the effects of mild electrical brain stimulation as a potential treatment for PTSD. It involves 2-3 in-person visits, including EEG and MRI procedures to observe brain activity and responses to stimulation.
Enrolling: healthy (without mental illness) and clinical (PTSD & anxiety-related disorders) participants
Age: 18-50
Study Length: 2-3 visits
Interested in participating? Click here to learn more or sign up.
Pain II Study:
This research study explores how electrical brain stimulation affects the brain’s response to experimental pain. The study involves applying pressure to the right calf using an inflatable cuff while receiving brain stimulation during MRI and EEG sessions. Eligible participants will take part in up to three in-person visits.
Enrolling: healthy (without mental illness) participants
Age:18-60
Study Length: 3-4 visits
Interested in participating? Click here to learn more or sign up.