Laboratory of Biological Dynamics and Theoretical Medicine: 

Recruitment for ongoing studies

Call (858) 534-9442 for General Information

 Phase I fMRI Research Study for Healthy Volunteers

Dr. Martin Paulus and his associates from the Department of Psychiatry at UCSD in La Jolla are studying the effects of taking either

1) an investigational drug called GSK561679,

2) Lorazepam (Ativan) or

3) a placebo (inactive pill with no medication in it),

and then having a functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) brain scan.  Study drug GSK561679 is being tested in anxiety and depression research, and Ativan is an FDA approved medication for anxiety.  For this research study, we are asking healthy males to perform simple computer tasks while we are recording their brain activity using fMRI. We use these computer tasks to examine areas of the brain that process emotion.             

     We are looking for healthy male subjects between the ages of 18 to 50 years.

If you want to participate, you cannot have any of the following:

·        major medical problems                                                   

·        any history of psychiatric illness

·        a history of problems with alcohol or drugs

If you are interested in participating, the following will happen:

• There will be a pre-study screening visit which takes about 3 hours and you will be reimbursed $50.00 for this visit.
• If you qualify and are interested, you will be asked to complete the computer tasks in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine (which is like a big plastic donut that makes some noise) at 5 different visits after receiving either study drug GSK561679, Lorazepam (Ativan) or a placebo (inactive pill with no medication in it) .  Each visit will take about 8 hours, and you will be reimbursed $100.00 for each visit, and get a picture of your brain.  You will be reimbursed $150.00 after you have completed a post-study follow up visit.

Anxiety Research Study:

See here

Healthy Volunteers for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study:

Dr. Martin P. Paulus and his associates from the Department of Psychiatry at UCSD and the VA Medical Center in La Jolla, are studying how healthy volunteers make decisions.  We use simple computer tasks to tell how people organize their behavior around making choices.  We are also studying which parts of the brain are used in decision-making.  For this research study, we are asking people with methamphetamine dependence to perform simple computer tasks while we record their brain activity using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STUDY YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:

• Male or Female between the ages of 18 and 55.

• No anxiety, depression or other mental problems.

• No history of problems with drugs or alcohol .

• No serious past head injuries

• No serious medical problems.

Heather Donovan

(858) 534 9442

hdonovan@ucsd.edu

 

Methamphetamine dependent fMRI research study:

Dr. Martin P. Paulus and his associates from the Department of Psychiatry at UCSD and the VA Medical Center in La Jolla, are studying how people who are dependent on methamphetamines make decisions.  We use simple computer tasks to tell how people organize their behavior around making choices.  We are also studying which parts of the brain are used in decision-making.  For this research study, we are asking people with methamphetamine dependence to perform simple computer tasks while we record their brain activity using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STUDY YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:

• Methamphetamines as your primary drug of use

• Clean for 14 – 30 days

• NO major medical problems

• NO history of mental illness

For more information contact:

Amruta Kulkarny

(858) 534-9440

akulkarny@gmail.com

If you would like to participate you should meet the following qualifications

• Use of stimulants at least twice over the past 6 months
• No major medical problems
• No significant emotional or mental health problems.

For more information contact:

Amruta Kulkarny

(858) 534-9440

akulkarny@gmail.com

UCSD Anxiety Brain Imaging Study

IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS...

• Have you been bothered by nervousness inside?

• Have you often felt tense or keyed up?

• Have you spent a lot of time worrying?

If your answer is YES to any of these question and you are between the ages of 18 and 45, you may be eligible to participate with a UCSD research team seeking to find out how these symptoms and their treatment may affect how your brain works.

For more information contact:

Estibaliz Arce, Ph.D.

(858) 534-9447

esarce@ucsd.edu