UD Research Studies Seeking Participants
As a leading research institution, the University of Delaware is uncovering new knowledge and solutions to help our local community and the world — and you can be part of the process. Public participants are critical to a broad spectrum of UD research in the health sciences, engineering, education, policy and communications, to name a few.
The University of Delaware needs participants for the following research study categories. Clicking on each category shows you the name of studies that match that category, clicking on the study name shows you more detail about that study.
To view all of our studies by study name click Show All Studies
Thank you in advance for your participation!
Blood Vessel Function in Children
Arterial Stiffness and Vascular Function in Children
STUDY CATEGORY: Adolescents, Cardiovascular (Heart and Circulation), Exercise & Physical Activity, Healthy Volunteers, Pediatric PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Melissa Witman, PhD UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE CAMPUS AFFILIATION: University of Delaware STAR Campus, 540 S College Ave, Newark, DE 19713 STUDY CONTACT: Krista Szymanski | EMAIL: kmanski@udel.edu
DESCRIPTION:
The purpose of this study is to assess blood vessel function in children. Atherosclerotic heart disease is a slowly developing process which can begin its earliest stages of development during childhood. Our aim is to characterize blood vessel function prior to the development and manifestation of any clinical symptoms of heart disease in healthy children. Your child will be one of approximately 100 participants in this study. Participants will be generally healthy boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 17 years old.
INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Participants will be generally healthy boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 17 years old. Your child would not be able to participate if he/she is not in good overall health, is diagnosed with any chronic diseases or conditions (i.e. autoimmune diseases, chronic infections, cancers, congenital diseases), has a body mass index that lies outside the “normal” range, or is currently taking any medications which may alter blood vessel function.
HOW TO APPLY:
If you are interested in participating or have additional questions, please reach out to witmanresearchlab@udel.edu or call 302-831-6958.
| Study Contact Email: witmanresearchlab@udel.edu |
Music for Young Listeners with ASD
Engaging Young Autistic Listeners: A Technology Prototyping and Music Theory Community Engagement Project
STUDY CATEGORY: Adolescents, other: Music PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Matthew Mauriello UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE CAMPUS AFFILIATION: University of Delaware Main Campus, Newark, DE 19716 STUDY CONTACT: Matthew Mauriello | EMAIL: asdmusic.ud@gmail.com
DESCRIPTION:
We invite you and your child with autism to participate in a safe, interactive, and musically engaging research project run by University of Delaware faculty and students in collaboration with Autism Delaware. Inspired by Autism Delaware’s mission — “that all people with autism have opportunities to learn, grow, and live full lives as included and valued members of their communities” — the focus of our research is to create arrangements of children’s songs that promote engaged music listening by children with autism. These arrangements are intended to empower such children to listen with pleasure, attention, and participation (e.g. singing along), and to thus gain access to a formative cultural experience shared by many children. The arrangements composed by music students and faculty at the University of Delaware are designed specifically for children with autism, and future compositions and technology innovations will benefit from you and your child’s input.
Research participants (one parent-child pair) will complete a single short survey providing introductory information and availability. Based on this availability, a meeting will be arranged at the Rt. 9 Library and Innovation Center (New Castle, DE) multi-sensory room. During this 60–90 min. session, the child will be introduced to the multi-sensory room and music-listening device, and then have the opportunity to listen to interactive children’s songs on a prototype music-listening device. Following the session, both parent and child will be asked to complete a short semi-structured interview about the experience. Following the completion of the visit, you will receive a $50 Amazon Digital Gift Card (sent by email) as compensation. In addition, participants whose home is more than 5 miles from the Rt. 9 Library will receive additional compensation for mileage and travel time
INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
We are recruiting adult and child pairs. Child participants must be between 4–12 years of age, accompanied by one adult parent or legal guardian, and must not be hearing impaired.
HOW TO APPLY:
To volunteer you and your child as participants in this study, please complete the following eligibility questionnaire:
https://tinyurl.com/MusicforListenerswithASD
| APPLY | Study Contact Email: asdmusic.ud@gmail.com |
Mech Vulnerability of the Brain
MRI Measurement of the Mechanical Vulnerability of the Brain
STUDY CATEGORY: Adolescents, Brain and Neurological, Healthy Volunteers, Pediatric PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Curtis Johnson UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE CAMPUS AFFILIATION: University of Delaware STAR Campus, 540 S College Ave, Newark, DE 19713 STUDY CONTACT: Alexis Merritt | EMAIL: amerritt@udel.edu | PHONE: 3028313883
DESCRIPTION:
The purpose of this research is to better understand brain mechanics using a novel technique called “Magnetic Resonance Elastography”, which involves a brain MRI scan while your head rests on a specialized pillow that gently vibrates. This study consists of a single 3 hour appointment which involves this MRE scan and a series of simple memory tests.
INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
We are recruiting individuals ranging in age from 14-80 years old. Individuals will be excluded for any of the following reasons: inability to understand consent and experimental instructions that are written in English, history of central nervous system diseases or brain injury, pregnancy, and conditions that contra-indicate MRI.
HOW TO APPLY:
If you are interested in participating in this study please reach out to our study coordinator, Alexis Merritt, via her associated email asking to participate in the “Mech Vulnerability of the Brain” study.
| Study Contact Email: amerritt@udel.edu |
Sit-to-stand transitions in children with cerebral palsy
Neuromotor Control during Transitions in Children and Young Adults with Cerebral Palsy
STUDY CATEGORY: Adolescents, Brain and Neurological, Exercise & Physical Activity, Healthy Volunteers, Orthopedic (bone, joints, muscle, tendon), Pediatric, other: Disability PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Samuel Lee UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE CAMPUS AFFILIATION: University of Delaware STAR Campus, 540 S College Ave, Newark, DE 19713 STUDY CONTACT: Khushboo Verma | EMAIL: vkhush@udel.edu | PHONE: 3022763217
DESCRIPTION:
Children and young adults with cerebral palsy can have trouble with daily tasks such as standing up from a chair and sitting down on the chair. They have difficulty maintaining balance that can lead to falls. This raises their risk of disability as they age into their teens. Current treatments are not very effective. In this study, individuals will be asked to stand up from a stool, walk in a straight line, and turn. Subjects will receive electrical stimulation at a very low intensity that cannot be felt to help increase their sensory perception. We will evaluate our treatment by testing balance and other functional measures.
INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Individuals between the age of 8-24 years with or without a diagnosis of cerebral palsy who can stand up from a chair and start walking.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please fill out the form or email Khushboo at vkhush@udel.edu for more information or to enroll in the study.
| APPLY | Study Contact Email: vkhush@udel.edu |
Adolescent Heel Pain Study
Assessment of Achilles Tendon Injury in Adolescents
STUDY CATEGORY: Adolescents, Exercise & Physical Activity, Healthy Volunteers, Orthopedic (bone, joints, muscle, tendon), Pain and/or Injury, Pediatric, Sports: heel pain PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Karin Grävare Silbernagel UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE CAMPUS AFFILIATION: University of Delaware STAR Campus, 540 S College Ave, Newark, DE 19713 STUDY CONTACT: Kayla Seymore | EMAIL: seymorek@udel.edu | PHONE: 302-831-3145
DESCRIPTION:
The purpose of the study is to examine the effect of heel pain on adolescent calf tendon health and lower leg biomechanics (the mechanics of the body). This study will require in-person evaluations over 4 months (3 visits total). Evaluations will include clinical examination, ultrasound imaging, and functional testing of lower body movements (i.e., walking, hopping, jumping). Participants will receive a $25 Amazon gift card after each visit ($75 total).
INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Adolescents between 10 and 17 years old with AND without heel pain.
HOW TO APPLY:
Participate in this study or learn more:
| APPLY |
Adolescents & Anxiety Development
Testing a Dual Mechanism Model of Adolescent Anxiety Development & Related Sex Differences
STUDY CATEGORY: Adolescents, Brain and Neurological, Mental Health, Pediatric, Public Health including Covid-19 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Jeffrey Spielberg UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE CAMPUS AFFILIATION: University of Delaware Main Campus, Newark, DE 19716 STUDY CONTACT: Leah Green | EMAIL: lwgreen@udel.edu | PHONE: 302-709-1570
DESCRIPTION:
The purpose of our study is to understand why some kids develop difficulty in controlling their anxiety as they go from being a child to a teenager. We also aim to understand how parent experiences with anxiety might relate to their child’s emotions. Participants will be asked to complete surveys, a short interview, and computer tasks with pictures. Some participants will be asked if they would like to proceed to the MRI portion of our study.
INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
We are recruiting parents with their biological child age 11-12 years old if the child was assigned female at birth, or 12-13 years old if the child was assigned male at birth. Children need to feel comfortable lying with their head in an enclosed, small space while wearing a face mask in the MRI scanner. Both the parent and child need to be fluent in English to participate. At this time we are not recruiting children who are left-handed or have been diagnosed with autism or conduct disorder or parents who live with their child less than 50% of the time. You must be driving distance from the University of Delaware’s Main Campus.
HOW TO APPLY:
Parents can either fill out a brief survey linked below or call (302) 709-1570 to complete the screening over the phone. Please leave a voicemail if we do not pick up!
| APPLY | Study Contact Email: udcadlab@gmail.com |
Sleep Chatbot Study
Artificial Intelligence sleep chatbot in emerging adults with metabolic syndrome comorbidities: a feasibility study
STUDY CATEGORY: Adolescents, Cardiovascular (Heart and Circulation), Wellness and Lifestyle, other: Sleep health, metabolic syndrome factors PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Xiaopeng Ji UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE CAMPUS AFFILIATION: University of Delaware STAR Campus, 540 S College Ave, Newark, DE 19713 STUDY CONTACT: Sanaz Taherzadeh | EMAIL: sanazt@udel.edu
DESCRIPTION:
The purpose of this study is to learn more about the benefits of the 4-week chatbot intervention (mobile-app based) on sleep and metabolic syndrome outcomes in young Black/African American adults aged 18-25 years old as well as your satisfaction with the chatbot function and the extent to which you complete the intervention.
INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Who we are looking for:
– 18-25 years old, self-identify as Black/African American
– having at least one metabolic syndrome factor (high blood pressure, high triglyceride, high blood glucose, Low HDL, excessive abdominal fat),
– AND having poor sleep or short sleep (<7 hours).
HOW TO APPLY:
Please complete the screening questionnaire:
Using the QR code in the flyer,
Sending an email,
Clinking on the link
| APPLY | Study Contact Email: sanazt@udel.edu |
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