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!
ACL Injury
Donor Site Tendon Morphology after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR)
STUDY CATEGORY: Adolescents, Orthopedic (bone, joints, muscle, tendon), Pain and/or Injury, Sports PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Karin Silbernagel UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE CAMPUS AFFILIATION: University of Delaware STAR Campus, 540 S College Ave, Newark, DE 19713 STUDY CONTACT: Naoaki Ito | EMAIL: nito@udel.edu | PHONE: 302-831-6460
DESCRIPTION:
The purpose of this study is to understand how tendons heal over time after harvest of an autograft for ACL reconstruction (ACLR).
INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
You are being asked to participate because you have received ACLR within the past month using either a patellar tendon, quadriceps tendon, or hamstring tendon autograft. You could be excluded in this study if you have a history of another ACLR on either leg using the same autograft as the one you received in the prior ACLR.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please reach out directly to the study team through the link, URL, or phone number.
| APPLY | Study Contact Email: nito@udel.edu |
Cardiovascular Function in Children with Muscular Dystrophy
Cardiovascular Consequences of Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophinopathies
STUDY CATEGORY: Adolescents, Cardiovascular (Heart and Circulation), Healthy Volunteers, Pediatric PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Melissa Witman UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE CAMPUS AFFILIATION: University of Delaware STAR Campus, 540 S College Ave, Newark, DE 19713 STUDY CONTACT: Michele D’Agata | EMAIL: dagatami@udel.edu | PHONE: 302-831-6958
DESCRIPTION:
We are studying the effects of Muscular Dystrophinopathies on cardiovascular function. We are seeking both generally healthy boys and patients diagnosed with either Becker or Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy between the ages of 7-17 years old. We will perform a series of cardiovascular assessments using blood pressure cuffs as well as ultrasound to image the heart and various arteries in the body. You and your child will be asked to make one 2.5-3.5 hour visit to the lab. Participants will be compensated $300 in the form of a visa gift card.
INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Must be male between 7-17 years old.
Recruiting either generally healthy boys or boys diagnosed with Duchenne or Becker Muscular Dystrophy.
Healthy boys should be normal weight and not be diagnosed with, or take medication for any chronic diseases or conditions
HOW TO APPLY:
Please email Michele at dagatami@udel.edu or call 302-831-6958 for more information or to enroll in the study.
| Study Contact Email: dagatami@udel.edu |
Adolescent Heel Pain Treatment
Activity Modification and Load Management for Adolescents with Heel Pain
STUDY CATEGORY: Adolescents, Exercise & Physical Activity, Orthopedic (bone, joints, muscle, tendon), Pain and/or Injury, Sports PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Karin 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 test a treatment strategy specific for calcaneal apophysitis (Sever’s Disease), focusing on education about activity modification and load management while allowing participants to continue or resume sports or physical activity during treatment.
INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Children and adolescents between 7 and 17 years-old who have had heel pain for at least 3 weeks, which gets worse with running or jumping.
HOW TO APPLY:
Participate in this study or learn more
| APPLY |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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