Healthy Volunteer
Research Study
Researchers at University are partnering with healthy individuals to participate in a clinical research study. Join our compensated study today!
Fast Facts
willing and able to undergo an MRI
Not currently taking any psychiatric medications
18-30 years old
Compensation Provided
Conducted in City, State
Study Background
Research University is looking for volunteers for a study on emotional memory and the brain. We want to study how the brains of young adults with PTSD respond to memories that are tied to strong emotions. However, for comparison, we first need to study the brains of people without PTSD. If you are not currently taking any psychiatric medications, then you may be eligible.
Your participation in this study may help researchers improve therapeutic approaches to PTSD. Further research today and join our compensated study!
Study Background
The NIH Clinical Center is looking for healthy individuals to participate in a clinical research study. Each year, the number of cases of tick-borne diseases increases. Researchers want to learn more about how the immune system responds to tick bites, and how the response changes when bitten 2 or 3 times. This information may help future research in the development of vaccines against tick bites.
The ticks used are clean laboratory-bred ticks that have tested negative for known diseases that can be transmitted to humans by ticks. The ticks used for this study have just hatched and have not fed on other animals. These ticks are approximately the size of the tip of a needle. We have used these ticks in other clinical studies. Individuals who have participated in past studies tolerated the tick feeding. There were no serious problems and the main complaint was mild itching at the tick feeding sites.
Your participation in this research study may help researchers develop vaccines against tick bites. Further research today and join our compensated study!
Additional Information
The purpose of this study is to learn more about how the brain responds to emotional memories in healthy volunteers.
You may qualify for this study if you meet the following criteria.
Key Criteria:
- 18+ years old
- No history of Lyme disease or other tick-borne diseases
- No known history of tick bites
Once enrolled, this study involves:
- Participants will have 2 skin punch biopsies of healthy skin
- Participants will then have 10 clean laboratory-bred ticks placed at 2 different sites on their skin (20 ticks total)
- The ticks will be removed from the 1st site one day after placement and from the 2nd site 2-4 days after placement.
- Participants will complete symptom diary cards, answering questions about itching at the tick feeding sites.
- Photos will be taken of the tick feeding sites.
- Skin punch biopsies will be collected at the sites of the tick bites.
- Participants will repeat the tick feeding procedures 2 times, each 2-8 weeks apart.
- Participation will last about 5-7 months.
