Research Study Subject Recruitment

Many of the faculty of the HMS Division of Sleep Medicine conduct research in human subjects. If you are interested in participating in a research study, please call or send email to the contact person indicated for that study. 

Research Study Subject Recruitment by Harvard Division of Sleep Medicine Faculty
(for study details, click on the titles below)
Are you age 20+ and working? Do you have trouble falling asleep?
Are you 50 or older? Do you have trouble staying asleep?
Are You Taking Atenolol or Metoprolol to Manage High Blood Pressure?
The Effect of CPAP Therapy on Cardiovascular Abnormalities in Obese subjects with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
The Effect of Surgically Induced Weight Loss on Cardiovascular Abnormalities in Obese Subjects with and without Obstructive Sleep Apnea
The Effects of Total Sleep Deprivation on Metabolic and Hemodynamic Function
Control of Dynamic Attention
Do you have 8 days to spare?  Looking for healthy volunteers ages 18-50! 
Do You Have INSOMNIA? 
Help us understand how genes affect sleep. Take part in a 24-day Research study!
Improving Sleep to Lower Blood Pressure
Memory Processing and Sleep
Model of Sleep Fragmentation: Effects on Cognitive Function and Sympathoexcitation
Need some light in your life?
A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Study to Determine the Efficacy and Safety of Topiramate in the Treatment of Sleep-Related Eating Disorder (SRED)
Research Study Participants Wanted
Role of Local Vasodilators and MSNA in Mediating Blood Pressure Following Eight Hour Exposure to Intermittent Cyclic Hypoxia
Shine a LIGHT on your inner clock!
Sleep Research Study about effects of light on your internal clock!
Time on your hands? Participate in a 39-day Sleep Research Study!


Additional Links for Potential Study Subjects
Important notice: Your Rights as a Research Participant
NIH Clinical Trial search service: ClincialTrials.gov
Partners Hospitals' Clinical Trial search: Clinical Trials @ Partners

If after reviewing this information you have remaining general questions, please contact the Division using the contact form.

Are you age 20+ and working? Do you have trouble falling asleep?
Brigham and Women’s Hospital is seeking volunteers age 20+ who have trouble falling asleep to participate in sleep research. Our study will explore how the timing of the body clock and melatonin release impact sleep.

Study requirements include one screening visit, one study day at home, and one 10-hour lab visit.

Compensation is up to $225

Contact 617-525-8719 or sleepphase@partners.org for more information.

Location: Brigham and Women's Hospital
Study Title: Laboratory Validation of an In-Home Method for Assessing Circadian Phase Using the Dim Light Melatonin Onset (DLMO)
Faculty member submitting this notice: Jeanne F. Duffy, MBA, PhD
Contact for this notice: Becky; sleepphase@partners.org; (617) 525-8719

IRB expiration: 5/29/2010

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Are you 50 or older? Do you have trouble staying asleep?
If you are age 50+ and feel that you fall asleep and wake up too early, or have trouble staying asleep, you may be eligible to participate in sleep research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.  Our study will explore how the timing of the biological clock and the hormone melatonin impact sleep timing.

Study requirements include one screening visit, one study day at home, and one 10-hour lab visit.

Receive up to $225

Contact 617-525-8719 or sleepphase@partners.org for more information.

Location: Brigham and Women's Hospital
Study Title: Laboratory Validation of an In-Home Method for Assessing Circadian Phase Using the Dim Light Melatonin Onset (DLMO)
Faculty member submitting this notice: Jeanne F. Duffy, MBA, PhD
Contact for this notice: Becky; sleepphase@partners.org; (617) 525-8719

IRB expiration: 5/29/2010

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Are You Taking Atenolol or Metoprolol to Manage High Blood Pressure?
You may be eligible to participate in a research study at Brigham and Women’s Hospital to see if melatonin supplementation can help lower your blood pressure.

Earn up to   $2,000.00   if you are:

•    35-65 years of age
•    Taking at least 25 mg Atenolol or at least 50 mg Metoprolol per day
•    Otherwise healthy

Participants will undergo a medical screening, including a sleep screen, which can take up to 3 weeks.

After the screening, the study will take approximately 6 weeks during which you will spend 8 days in our facility to monitor sleep, blood pressure, and various hormones.

Location: Brigham and Women’s Hospital General Clinical Research Center
Study title: Melatonin supplementation in patients with essential hypertension
Faculty member submitting this notice: Frank Scheer, PhD
Contact Email: highbp@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Contact Phone: Jenny at 617-278-0924

IRB expiration: 12/9/2010

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The Effect of CPAP Therapy on Cardiovascular Abnormalities in Obese subjects with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR A RESEARCH STUDY ON SLEEP APNEA AND OBESITY

You must be between 18 and 70 years old, obese with untreated sleep apnea, on no medications for sleep, not taking Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra, no known heart, lung, brain or psychiatric problems, not diabetic, not pregnant and willing to be studied during sleep (3 overnight stays required).  You will receive up to $900 for participation in the study, which lasts approximately one night and half a day on three separate occasions over the course of one year.

Please contact Karen Stevenson at 617-732-8977 or KESTEVENSON@PARTNERS.ORG, BRIGHAM AND WOMEN’S HOSPITAL.

Location: Brigham and Women’s Hospital General Clinical Research Center
Study Title: The Effect of CPAP Therapy on Cardiovascular Abnormalities in Obese subjects with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Faculty member submitting this notice: Atul Malhotra, MD

IRB expiration: 11/03/2009

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The Effect of Surgically Induced Weight Loss on Cardiovascular Abnormalities in Obese Subjects with and without Obstructive Sleep Apnea
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR A RESEARCH STUDY ON SLEEP APNEA AND OBESITY

You must be between 18 and 70 years old, obese with untreated sleep apnea, a non- smoker, on no medications for sleep, not taking Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis, no known heart, lung, brain or psychiatric problems, not pregnant, not a diabetic and willing to be studied during sleep (3 overnight stays required).  You will receive up to $900 for participation in the study, which lasts approximately one night and half a day on three separate occasions over the course of one year.

If interested, please call Karen at Brigham & Woman’s hospital, 617-732-8977.

Location: Brigham and Women’s Hospital General Clinical Research Center
Study Title: The Effect of Surgically Induced Weight Loss on Cardiovascular Abnormalities in Obese Subjects with and without Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Faculty member submitting this notice:
Atul Malhotra, MD

IRB expiration: 10/14/2010

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The Effects of Total Sleep Deprivation on Metabolic and Hemodynamic Function
We are looking for healthy volunteers to participate in a research study at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between total sleep deprivation (being kept awake or not sleeping for an extended period of time) and insulin resistance (how the body handles blood sugar level) and sympathetic activity (the body’s system to regulate blood pressure and blood flow).  Your body’s insulin sensitivity (how sensitive your body is to insulin; if someone is resistant or not sensitive to insulin, this can lead to elevated blood sugar levels and an increased risk of developing diabetes), measurements of blood pressure, responsiveness of blood vessels in your arm, and nervous system activity will be studied.

Participation in this study will require you to sleep over at the study lab at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center on 2 separate nights, separated by 2 weeks.  On one of the nights you will be able to sleep for 8 hours while on the other night you will not sleep at all.  The order of the nights will be randomly assigned.  Testing will take place the day after each of those nights, from approximately 8 am-5 pm.  You will need to fast after 11 pm until all testing is completed the following day.  You will need to arrange for a ride home, to avoid drowsy driving when sleep deprived. You will also need to stop by the hospital the day after each testing day for a quick re-inspection of your arm.  During the study we will measure your blood sugar level, blood pressure, heart rate, nervous system activity, and blood vessel function.  

To be eligible to participate in this study you must be between the ages of
18-65, healthy, with a regular sleep schedule, and not taking any medications for diabetes or blood pressure.  You must be free of tobacco products, drugs, and illegal substances. Pregnant woman may not participate, as we do not know the risk to the fetus of total sleep deprivation.

Total compensation of $500 will be paid after you have completed the study protocol.

If interested, please contact Bethany at pulmonary.lab@gmail.com. Phone calls to our office will not receive a response.

Location: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Study Title: The effects of total sleep deprivation on metabolic and hemodynamic function
Faculty member submitting this notice: Bethany Kulczewski
Contact for this notice: Bethany Kulczewski, pulmonary.lab@gmail.com

IRB Expiration: 9/13/2010

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Control of Dynamic Attention
Visual Attention Studies: The Brigham and Women’s Hospital Visual Attention Lab is seeking participants ages 18-55 with normal or corrected-to-normal eyesight for non-invasive vision research studies. The studies consist of computer administered tasks such as searching for a ‘target’ item.

Participants have the opportunity to make between $50 and $100 ($10/hr) for participation in multiple studies.

If interested, please call Mike at (617) 768-8814 or email at study@search.bwh.harvard.edu.

Location: Visual Attention Lab 64 Sidney St. #170 Cambridge MA, 02139
Faculty member submitting this notice: Todd S. Horowitz, PhD

IRB expiration: 4/17/2010

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Do you have 8 days to spare?  Looking for healthy volunteers ages 18-50! 
The Division of Sleep Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital is looking for healthy volunteers ages 18-50 to participate in an 8 day sleep research study.  Participation would involve at least three screening visits as well as spending 8 consecutive days and nights at the hospital.  The study is being conducted to determine how different colors of light affect the body clock.  

Eligible Participants:
*Healthy men and women
*Ages 18-50
*Not on medications     

Receive up to $1,775

Location: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
Study title: Evaluation of Photic Countermeasures for Circadian Entrainment of Neurobehavioral Performance and Sleep-Wake Regulation Before and During Spaceflight
Faculty member submitting this notice: Jeanne F. Duffy, M.B.A., Ph.D for Charles A. Czeisler, Ph.D., M.D.
Contact Email: eightdaystudy@partners.org
Contact Phone: David at 617-525-7597

IRB expiration: 12/9/2010

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Do You Have INSOMNIA? 
Are you between the ages of 21-65?

Brigham & Woman’s Hospital is looking for people who have been diagnosed with insomnia to participate in a research study.

The study involves approximately 2 weeks of at home assessments and one 9 hour visit in our laboratory. Up to 4 screening visits may be required prior to beginning the study.

Receive up to $300 at the completion of the study

Location:Brigham and Women's Hospital
Study Title: Assessment of circadian phase for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep phase insomnia
Faculty member submitting this notice: Stephen Lockley, PhD
Contact for this notice: Julia, jshekleton@partners.org, (617) 732 6460

IRB expiration: 6/17/2010

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Help us understand how genes affect sleep. Take part in a 24-day Research study!
The Division of Sleep Medicine at Brigham & Women’s Hospital is seeking healthy men & women ages 18-30 who are not on medications to participate in a research study about how differences in the PER3 gene impact sleep and performance. You will have a 4-week screening and then if you are eligible you will spend 24 consecutive days and nights living at the Hospital.

If you complete the entire study you will receive up to $5,595

For more information, call 617-525-8434 or send an email to us at:  Sleepgenes@partners.org

Location: Brigham and Women's Hospital
Study Title: Sleep, Aging and Circadian Rhythm Disorders
Faculty member submitting this notice: Charles A. Czeisler, PhD, MD and Jeanne F. Duffy, MBA, PhD
Contact for this notice: David; sleepgenes@partners.org; (617) 525-8434

IRB expiration: 6/10/2010

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 Improving Sleep to Lower Blood Pressure
The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is looking for women and men between the ages 25-65 who have been told by their doctor that they have blood pressure above normal, or who are on stable blood pressure lowering medication. You might be interested in participating in a research study which investigates the effect of improved sleep hygiene (e.g. timing of bedtimes, exercise, eating and drinking habits) on blood pressure. The study involves a 2-week at-home evaluation phase, a 6-week at-home intervention, and 2 overnight in-hospital stays, one before and one after the intervention phase. Payment for the study including screening, at-home evaluation and intervention phase, and 2 in-hospital stays will be $500.

Location: Clinical Research Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Study title: Restoring sleep homeostasis to lower BP: A behavioral prevention and treatment approach
Faculty member submitting this notice: Monika Haack, Ph.D.
Contact Email: BPStudy@bidmc.harvard.edu
Contact Phone: (617) 667 0308

IRB expiration: 4/12/2010

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Memory Processing and Sleep
Researchers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Department of Neurology and the Division of Sleep Medicine seek healthy men and women to participate in a research study on memory processing and sleep:

To participate you must:
•    be between the ages of 40 and 49
•    not be on any regular medication to enhance sleep
•    be able to commit to 6 office visits and one overnight sleep study

Receive up to $250 for completion of the study.  For information on participating in this study, call 617-732-5423 for a brief preliminary interview.

Location: Brigham and Women's Hospital
Study Title: Memory Processing and Sleep in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Faculty member submitting this notice: Maryann Deak and Robert Stickgold, PhD
Contact for this notice: (617) 732-5423

IRB expiration: 5/5/2010

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Model of Sleep Fragmentation: Effects on Cognitive Function and Sympathoexcitation
We are looking for healthy volunteers to participate in a 4 day research study at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The purpose of the study is to evaluate a new method to disrupt sleep.  We are interested in studying whether this method of sleep disruption causes awakenings from sleep on brain wave recording and leads to decreased alertness and increased daytime sleepiness.  

If you participate in this study you will live and sleep in the study lab at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for 4 days and 4 nights. You may have visitors while in the study, but you will be unable to leave the study lab to go home.  During the study we will measure your blood pressure, heart rate, and sleep stages.

In order to be an eligible participant in the study you must be between the ages of
18-65, healthy, with regular sleep patterns, and not on any medications.  You must be free of tobacco products, drugs, and illegal substances.

Total compensation of $475 will be paid upon completion of the study.

If interested, please contact Bethany at pulmonary.lab@gmail.com. Phone calls to our office will not receive a response.

Location: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Study Title: Model of sleep fragmentation: effects on cognitive function and sympathoexcitation
Faculty member submitting this notice: Bethany Kulczewski
Contact for this notice: Bethany Kulczewski, pulmonary.lab@gmail.com

IRB Expiration: 9/7/2010

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Need some light in your life?
Participants needed for 9 Day Sleep Research Study at Brigham and Women’s Hospital!

•    Are you healthy?
•    Are you between the ages of 18-30 years old?
•    Are you a non-smoker?
•    Do you sleep about 8 hours a night?

THEN YOU SHOULD TRY A SLEEP STUDY!

Live in a lab for 9 days/nights, 24/7 and…

Receive up to $1,960

** 3-5 week screening process, up to 5 outpatient visits before entering the study **

Contact Us at (617) 732-4311

Location: Brigham and Women's Hospital
Study title: Light, Sleep, Performance and Circadian Rhythms
Faculty member submitting this notice: Steven W. Lockley, PhD
Contact for this notice: Elizabeth @ 617-732-4311

IRB expiration: 11/13/2011

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A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Study to Determine the Efficacy and Safety of Topiramate in the Treatment of Sleep-Related Eating Disorder (SRED)
Do you get out of bed to eat at night, after you have gone to sleep?

Do episodes of repetitive eating at night feel out of your control? You may have Sleep-Related Eating Disorder, which can disrupt your sleep and health.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital Sleep Health Center in Brighton is conducting a research study on an investigational medication for Sleep-Related Eating Disorder.

Qualified participants can receive study medication and medical evaluation at no cost.

If interested, please call Lisa at (617) 783-1496 x115
Or email SleepResearch@sleephealth.com

Location: Brighton, MA
Study title:
A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Study to Determine the Efficacy and Safety of Topiramate in the Treatment of Sleep-Related Eating Disorder (SRED)
Faculty member submitting this notice:
John W. Winkelman, M.D., Ph.D.

IRB expiration: 10/06/2010

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Research Study Participants Wanted
We are looking for healthy volunteers to participate in 21-night research study at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of breathing air with low levels of oxygen (like being on top of a mountain) on the human body. Metabolism, blood pressure, and nervous system activity will be studied.

If you participate in this study you will sleep in a tent in which the air is similar to that on Mt. Rainier for 14 nights. You will need to spend every night from 9:00 pm on at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. On seven separate days you will be occupied by research studies; on others you will free to leave the hospital. During the study we will measure your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, nervous system activity, and blood vessel function.

In order to be an eligible participant in the study you must be between the ages of
18-64, healthy, and not on any medications. You must be free of tobacco products, drugs, and illegal substances.

Total compensation of $2350 will be paid upon completion of the study.

If interested, please contact Bethany Kulczewski at pulmonary.lab@gmail.com.  Any phone calls to our office will not receive a response.


Location: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 
Study Title: Role of local vasodilators and MSNA in mediating blood pressure following two week exposure to intermittent cyclic hypoxia
Faculty member submitting this notice:
Bethany Kulczewski

IRB expiration: 6/21/2010


Role of Local Vasodilators and MSNA in Mediating Blood Pressure Following Eight Hour Exposure to Intermittent Cyclic Hypoxia
We are looking for healthy volunteers to participate in 2-day research study at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of breathing air with low levels of oxygen (like being on top of a mountain) on the human body. Metabolism, blood pressure, and nervous system activity will be studied.

Participation in this study will require you to sleep over at the study lab at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center on 2 separate nights, separated by 2 weeks.  On one of the nights you will be able to sleep normally for 8 hours while on the other night you will sleep at an altitude of ~15,000 ft.  The order of the nights will be randomly assigned.  Testing will take place the day after each of those nights, from approximately 8 am-8 pm.  You will need to fast after 11 pm until all testing is completed the following day.  During the study we will measure your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, nervous system activity, and blood vessel function.

In order to be an eligible participant in the study you must be between the ages of
18-64, healthy, and not on any medications. You must be free of tobacco products, drugs, and illegal substances.

Total compensation of $800 will be paid upon completion of the study.

If interested, please contact Bethany at pulmonary.lab@gmail.com. Phone calls to our office will not receive a response.

Location: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Study Title: Role of local vasodilators and MSNA in mediating blood pressure following eight hour exposure to intermittent cyclic hypoxia
Faculty member submitting this notice: Bethany Kulczewski
Contact for this notice: Bethany Kulczewski, pulmonary.lab@gmail.com

IRB Expiration: 11/8/2010

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Shine a LIGHT on your inner clock!
Participants needed for 11 Day Sleep Research Study on the effects of light on sleep at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

*Must be male, 18-30 years old
*Not on any medications

Receive up to $2,000

Location: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
Study title:
Spectral sensitivity of non-image-forming responses to light in humans
Faculty member submitting this notice:
Steven W. Lockley, Ph.D.
Contact Phone:
(617) 525-8636

IRB Expiration: 2/19/2010

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Sleep Research Study about effects of light on your internal clock!
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Seeks healthy participants for a sleep research study who:

•    Are Willing To Spend 14 Days and Nights Living In Our Facility
•    Have No Sleep Disorders
•    Take No Medications (some birth control is okay)
•    Are Ages 18-30

Receive up to $2950

For More Information:
617-732-8093
birghtlights@partners.org

Location: Brigham and Women's Hospital
Study title: Adaptation of the Human Circadian System to Previous Light Exposure
Faculty member submitting this notice: Anne-Marie Chang
Contact Person: Dayna Bradstreet
Contact email: brightlights@partners.org
Contact Phone: (617) 732-8093

IRB expiration: 10/14/2010

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Time on Your Hands?  Participate in a 39-day Sleep Research study!
The Division of Sleep Medicine at Brigham & Women’s Hospital is seeking healthy good sleepers ages 55-70 to participate in a sleep research study. You must be a non-smoker and not on any medications. You will have a 4-6-week screening and then if you are eligible you will spend 39 consecutive days and nights living at the Hospital.

The purpose of the study is to see what the effects of chronic sleep restriction (sleeping less than needed each night for many nights in a row) are in older adults compared to young adults.  We will study the effects of not sleeping enough on sleep quality, waking performance, and metabolism.

If you complete the entire study you will receive up to $9,075

For more information, call  617-732-7991 or send an email to us at:  Sleepstudy@partners.org

Location: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
Study title: Sleep, Aging and Circadian Rhythm Disorders
Faculty member submitting this notice: Charles A. Czeisler, PhD, MD and Jeanne F. Duffy, MBA, PhD
Contact for this notice: Becky; sleepstudy@partners.org; (617) 732-7991

IRB expiration: 6/10/2010

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