Participation

The Olin NRC’s mission is to conduct neuroscience research of psychiatric illnesses and rapidly translate that research into new and effective treatments.

We can’t do this without the help of research volunteers. Please consider becoming a paid volunteer and helping us improve mental health treatment. Participants can receive up to $20.00 per hour for the time they participate in the study.

If you are interested in participating in any of the following studies please call the Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center. Most research subjects will undergo either an EEG, fMRI, or both.

Current Studies

  • IMPACT-MH: Clinical and Behavioral Fingerprints of Psychopathology
    This study aims to explore how mental health symptoms change and develop over time. To do this, we will be collecting clinical information using self-reports, health records, and behavioral tasks. This study involves multiple assessments, totaling approximately 20 hours over the course of about two years. These assessments include both in-person visits and virtual sessions, like phone interviews, Zoom calls, and web-based tasks. Additionally, participants will be compensated for their time. 
    Contact: Olivia Taylor
    P:     (203) 974-2063 
    E:     Olivia.taylor@hhchealth.org 

  • ProNET
    The Psychosis Risk Outcomes Network (ProNET) is a research study that aims to better understand the causes and course of the earliest stages of psychosis, focusing on the clinical high risk (CHR) syndrome that sometimes progresses to first episode psychosis. By studying a variety of biomarkers (brain scans, blood tests, etc.) as well as clinical interviews and assessments, we aim to improve our ability to predict the health outcomes of CHR individuals—possibly altering the course of the illness or even preventing it altogether. All participants will be compensated for their time.
    Contact: Elizabeth Hendry
    P: (959) 261-7235
    E: Elizabeth.Hendry@hhchealth.org 

  • Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcohol (CTNA-5 Mavoglurant)
    This study aims to measure how a family history of alcoholism and an investigational medication affect decision making and brain activity while performing certain tasks. Clinical health information to be collected includes medical history, substance use, familial information, psychiatric history, and brain activity information through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalogram (EEG). This study consists of 3 in-person visits, totaling about 17 hours. Participants will be compensated for their time.
    Contact: Katie Madow 
    P:     (475) 414-1595 
    E:     katie.madow@hhchealth.org

  • Bipolar/Schizophrenia Network for Intermediate Phenotypes (B-SNIP)
    Bipolar/Schizophrenia Network for Intermediate Phenotypes (B-SNIP) investigates the longitudinal stability of B-SNIP CNS biomarker-derived Biotypes in psychotic disorders to help establish a potentially clinically useful approach to the classification and treatment of psychotic disorders using biological data. The Clozapine clinical trial seeks to test the potential for using a biomarker for identification of a Clozapine responder in individuals with psychosis. Participants will be compensated for their time.  
    Contact: Caitlyn Begley 
    P: (203) 641-0467 
    E: Caitlyn.Begley@hhchealth.org 

  • Biomarkers/Biotypes, Course of Early Psychosis and Specialty Services (BICEPS)
    This study aims to better understand the onset and progression of psychotic disorders, including Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Schizophreniform Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features, Delusional Disorder, Psychosis NOS, and Bipolar I Disorder. The Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center is seeking participants (ages 18–35) diagnosed with Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective, or Bipolar I Disorder with psychosis. Participants will receive cognitive assessments, transportation assistance, and compensation for their time. 
    Contact: Kayvona Brown 
    P:     (203) 641-0467 
    E:     Kayvona.Brown@hhchealth.org

  • Alcoholism
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
    • Adult ADHD rTMS Neuroscience Guided Novel Treatment Infrastructure Pilot
      This paid study investigates the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on reward system function in adults with ADHD as a potential new treatment approach. A total of 60 adults, both with and without ADHD, ages 19 to 35, will participate. Study involvement includes an interview, computer-based tasks, two rTMS sessions, and four fMRI brain scans. In addition to hourly compensation, participants are eligible to earn bonuses for completing computer tasks and the entire study. 
      Contact: Gillianne Nugent & Zahara Shidad-Stewart 
      E: Gillianne.Nugent@hhchealth.org & Zahara.Shidad-Stewart@hhchealth.org

    • Biological Subtyping On Reward Task Data in ADHD (BioSORTD ADHD)
      Five-year National Institute of Mental Health study of > 400 ADHD-diagnosed and non-ADHD teenagers – One of the largest of its kind ever to be funded. This paid study uses safe, non-invasive functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to measure brain function during tests of the brain’s reward system. The goal is to learn if Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder actually is a collection of different disorders that need different treatments.
      Contact: Julie Reid
      P: (860) 545-7788 
      E: Julie.Reid@hhchealth.org 

    • Executive Working Memory Training with ADHD Adolescents
      This paid study uses safe, non-invasive functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to explore whether an online executive working memory training program can effectively alter brain connectivity and clinically improve symptoms of ADHD. The goal is to determine whether this could become a new intervention for ADHD.
      Contact: Kelly Scheidel, Gillianne Nugent, and Zahara Shidad-Stewart  
      P: K.S. — (860) 545-7800 | G.N. — (860) 972-7075 
      E: Kelly.Scheidel@hhchealth.org, Gillianne.Nugent@hhchealth.org, & Zahara.Shidad-Stewart@hhchealth.org

    • A Drift Diffusion Model Exploration of Hoarding Disorder Decision-Making 
      Our study hopes to learn more about how people with Hoarding Disorder think, perceive, and make decisions in order to inform future therapeutic treatments. This study will employ drift diffusion modeling (DDM) to get new insights into Hoarding Disorder decision-making abnormalities. This pilot study is actively recruiting 60 adults with Hoarding Disorder to help us explore these brain patterns. Participants of this study will be compensated for their time.
      Contact: Morgan Beatty
      E: morgan.beatty@hhchealth.org
  • Autism
  • Bariatric Surgery
  • Bipolar Disorders & Schizophrenia
  • Cannabis
  • Depression
  • Opiates
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
    •    Exposure Therapy During fMRI
  • Psychiatry
    • Psychiatric Illness in African Americans
  • Substance Use Disorder

General Explanation of Studies

Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center

Join our Research Registry

If you are interested in participating in research at the Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center follow the links below to sign up for our Research Registry. This will allow us to contact you for current and future research opportunities at the ONRC. There is a consent form to read and sign and a screener to fill out, please complete both forms in order so we can contact you.

If you have any questions, email Deirdre.vonPechmann@hhchealth.org or call 860.545.7798.

Consent Form

Screener