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Healthy Volunteer
Research Study

Researchers at the University of California San Diego are conducting a research study to better understand how the brain uses glucose, its main source of energy, in healthy adults. The information gathered from healthy volunteers will be compared with data from individuals with anorexia nervosa to help researchers better understand the condition and support future research.

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Fast Facts

No lifetime or current psychiatric illness

18-45

Compensation
up to $650

Conducted in
San Diego, CA

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Additional Information

Researchers are studying how the brain processes glucose in healthy adults. By comparing these results with those from individuals with anorexia nervosa, they hope to better understand differences in brain metabolism that could help guide future research and treatment.

You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria.

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ages 18 to 45
  • In generally good health
  • No current or past psychiatric illness

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current or past eating disorder
  • History of alcohol or substance use disorder
  • Unable to undergo an MRI (such as having certain metal implants or severe claustrophobia)
Overall Duration

After enrollment, the entire study will be completed in about 8 to 10 weeks, depending on scheduling of the brain scans.

At-Home Activities

After your initial screening call (20 minutes), you will complete online questionnaires from home (60 minutes). These questionnaires ask about your health and medical history and help researchers determine if you are eligible for the study.

If you qualify at the initial screening, you will be asked to complete a phone interview (30 minutes) and potentially a Zoom interview with the study psychiatrist (60 minutes) to review your information in more detail.

In-Lab Activities

Once you have passed the at-home screening process, you will be asked to complete the following study visits at UC San Diego:

  • One in-person blood draw (30 minutes)
  • One MRI brain scan to take detailed pictures of your brain (1 hour)
  • One PET/CT brain scan to measure how your brain uses glucose, its main source of energy (2 hours)

There are no daily tracking tasks, mobile apps, or ongoing at-home monitoring required.

Information collected during the study, including your interview responses, questionnaires, blood sample, and brain imaging results, will be kept confidential. No video or audio recordings are part of this study.

Yes. Participants who qualify and complete the study may receive up to $650 for their time and participation. There are no transportation benefits available for this study.

No. There is no cost to participate in this research study. All study-related procedures are provided at no cost to eligible participants.

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