Baltimore, MDNCT05707806Now EnrollingIRB Ready

Normal Physiology Clinical Trial in Baltimore, MD

Access cutting-edge normal physiology treatment through this clinical trial at a research site in Baltimore. Study-provided care at no cost to qualified participants.

Sponsored by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

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Expert Care in Baltimore

Access normal physiology specialists at no cost

IRB Approved

This study follows strict safety protocols and ethical guidelines

No-Cost Care

All study-related normal physiology treatment provided free

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Check if you qualify for this normal physiology clinical trial in Baltimore, MD

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Why Participate?

  • No-Cost Study Care

  • Local to Baltimore

    Convenient for MD residents

  • Cutting-Edge Treatment

    Access to innovative therapies

  • Expert Medical Care

    Close monitoring by specialists

  • Possible Compensation*

    For time and travel

*Compensation varies by study. Confirm details with coordinator.

Simple Process

  1. 1Submit this form
  2. 2Phone screening
  3. 3Visit Baltimore site if eligible
  4. 4Begin participation

About This Normal Physiology Study in Baltimore

Background: Substance use disorders (SUD) can be considered disorders in the way people process incentives, learn, and make decisions. To understand why some people develop SUD, researchers need to develop reliable tests that show how people think and learn. This natural history study seeks to develop a set of tasks that could then be used to test how people learn and make decisions. Objective: To develop and validate behavioral tasks that could be used in future studies. Eligibility: Healthy people aged 18-45 years from the Baltimore area. They must also be enrolled in the NIDA screening protocol. Design: Participants will perform different tasks. Most tasks require 1-4 study visits; some may require up to 12. Visits are 1-14 days apart. All visits will last about 1-7 hours. Participants will perform tasks on a computer. As they work they may be given different stimuli: Smells. Participants will sniff odors through a plastic tube or mask on their nose. Flavors. Participants will wear a mouthpiece and small amounts of different flavored liquids will be placed in their mouth. Pictures. Participants will look at different images. Sounds. Participants will wear headphones and various sounds will be played for them. Food. Participants may be asked to eat a meal before, during, or after a task. The researchers will provide the meal. During each task, participants will wear sensors to monitor their heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and other physical changes in their bodies. Some participants will have a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan. They will lie on a table that slides into a cylinder. They will perform tasks on a computer screen during the fMRI.

Sponsor: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Who Can Participate

Inclusion Criteria

There are two levels of inclusion and

Exclusion Criteria

; those applying to all participants and those applying to participants in the 'MRI' phase only. Participants will be cleared for both the behavioral and MRI phases, if eligible, and will be invited to sign one or both consents depending on what tasks are active at the time of consent. If a person is not MRI compatible, they will only be offered enrollment into the behavioral phase of the study. In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet the following criteria:
Male or female, aged 18-45 years old. Justification: Many neural processes change with age, and these changes could introduce unwanted variability in both behavioral and MRI signals.
In good general health. In order to be eligible to participate in the MRI phase of this study, an individual must - in addition - also meet all of the following criteria:
Right-handed. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Individuals who meet any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation:
History of neurological illnesses or neurosurgery including but not limited to cerebrovascular accident, Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, Huntington disease, CNS tumor, significant head trauma with sequelae, multiple sclerosis or other demyelinating diseases, epilepsy, movement disorders. The MAI will also retain discretion to exclude based on a history of a neurological illness or trauma that may compromise data integrity.
History of currently unresolved psychiatric disorders with current (past 12 months) regular use of psychiatric medications. Past/remitted (\>12 months ago) psychiatric disorders with no currently active symptoms and no current use of psychiatric medications may be included in the study, per MAI discretion.
Pattern of alcohol and drug use in the past 12 months that is indicative of harmful use, loss of control over use, or physical dependence.
Daily nicotine, alcohol, or drug use (excluding caffeine) for at least 4 continuous weeks in the past 12 months.
Current use of psychoactive medications and medications that affect alertness and that cannot (in principle) be withheld the night before the study visit. Participants who can withhold these medications will either (1) withhold the medication during this time or (2) not withhold the medication and pass a clinical assessment for intoxication on the day of the study visit. Based on participant preferences and MAI/PI judgement, participants who fail the clinical assessment for intoxication will either be withdrawn or rescheduled and asked to withhold the medication.
For tasks that involve gustatory or olfactory stimuli, food intake: History of anaphylaxis, e.g., due to severe asthma or food and non-food allergies (e.g., latex, detergents, soap, etc.). This will disqualify participants for tasks that involve chemosensory stimuli or food intake, but not from the study itself.
Uncorrected impairments in visual acuity.
Non-English speaking. Justification: To include non-English speakers, we would have to translate the consent and other study documents and hire and train bilingual staff, which would require resources that we do not have and could not justify, given the small sample size for each experiment. Additionally, the data integrity of some of the cognitive tasks used in this study would be compromised as they have only been validated in English. Most importantly, ongoing communication regarding safety procedures is necessary when participants are undergoing MRI procedures. The inability to effectively communicate MRI safety procedures in a language other than English could compromise the safety of non-English speaking participants.
Any other condition that in the judgment of the investigators is incompatible with participation. An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in the MRI phase of this study:
Unable to undergo MRI scanning due to certain metallic or magnetic devices or implants in the body, or claustrophobia.

Not sure if you qualify? Submit your interest and a study coordinator will help determine your eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:Is this study available in Baltimore?

Yes, this clinical trial (NCT05707806) has an active research site in Baltimore, MD that is currently enrolling participants.

Q:Is it safe to participate?

Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. This study has been reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals. You can withdraw at any time.

Q:Will I be compensated?

Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time and travel expenses. Specific compensation details will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is provided at no cost.

Q:Can I leave the trial if I change my mind?

Absolutely. Participation is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty.

Still have questions? Our study coordinators are here to help.

Normal Physiology Treatment Options in Baltimore, MD

If you're searching for normal physiology treatment options in Baltimore, MD, this clinical trial (NCT05707806) may be an excellent opportunity. Clinical trials provide access to cutting-edge treatments that aren't yet available to the general public, often at no cost to participants.

Our Baltimore research site is actively enrolling participants for this clinical trial. You'll receive care from experienced normal physiology specialists who are at the forefront of medical research. All study-related care, including examinations, treatments, and monitoring, is provided at no cost to qualified participants.

Looking for more options? Browse all normal physiology clinical trials near you to find additional studies recruiting in your area.

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