Get involved in our research
We are currently recruiting participants for several research studies! If you are interested in learning more or participating in a specific study, please contact the number listed directly below that study description.
Escitalopram in Asthma Patients with Frequent Exacerbation Study
This study is currently enrolling adults (18-65 years old) diagnosed with moderate to severe asthma who frequently experience asthma exacerbations/flares. We are hoping to better understand how escitalopram, the study drug, affects asthma symptoms and frequency of exacerbations. Participants who enroll in the study will be followed for approximately 24 weeks, with study visits occurring about every 4 weeks. During the study visits, we will gather information about your asthma symptoms, perform pulmonary function tests, and collect information on your depressive and anxiety symptoms. This study is an interventional clinical trial meaning that participants will either receive the study drug, escitalopram, or a placebo (i.e., “sugar pill”).
For more information, please contact Reagan Volzer at reagan.volzer@utsouthwestern.edu or 214-645-6963.
Cariprazine Real-world Use in Bipolar I Disorder Study
This study is currently enrolling adults (18+) diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder who are currently experiencing a major depressive episode and were prescribed cariprazine (Vraylar) as part of their treatment. We are hoping to better understand how cariprazine, a medication prescribed by your doctor, affects your symptoms, daily functioning, and overall quality of life in a real-world setting. Participants enrolled will be followed for approximately 24 weeks. We will gather information about changes in your depressive symptoms, improvements in your ability to function in daily life, and your overall quality of life. This study is observational, meaning you will receive treatment as decided by you and your doctor. Our lab will not be providing prescriptions of cariprazine for this study.
For more information, please contact Paola Sparagana at paola.sparagana@utsouthwestern.edu or 214-645-6957.
Dallas Asthma, Brain, and Cognition Study
Our team collaborated with researchers at Southern Methodist University to investigate the relationship between asthma, the brain, and cognition in adults. We compared individuals with asthma to healthy adults to understand how asthma and aging might affect cognition, brain structure, brain function, and brain chemistry. The study also explored how factors like asthma history, overall health, mood, and sleep might play a role. Participants completed questionnaires, cognitive assessments, blood draws, and brain imaging throughout three research visits. Men and women aged 40 to 69 with a doctor's diagnosis of persistent asthma (or intermittent asthma with a recent flare-up) and healthy adults in the same age range were recruited for this study.
This study is no longer recruiting participants.
For more information, please contact Génesis González Álvarez at genesis.gonzalezalvarez@utsouthwestern.edu or 214-645-6967.
Understanding Tardive Dyskinesia Study
This study aims to better understand tardive dyskinesia (TD), a condition characterized by involuntary movements that can develop in people who have taken certain medications, often for mental health conditions. The study, which is funded by TEVA Pharmaceuticals, has two parts: a registry to track the natural course of TD over time and a specific study to evaluate how the medication deutetrabenazine might affect the impact of TD on individuals' lives. Adults aged 18 years or older were eligible for the registry if they had a certain level of involuntary movements indicating probable TD based on standard diagnostic criteria and were currently taking a VMAT2i medication for TD. Individuals participating in the IMPACT-TD part were a subset of those enrolled in the registry who were initiating deutetrabenazine treatment.
This study is no longer recruiting participants.
For more information, please contact Génesis González Álvarez at genesis.gonzalezalvarez@utsouthwestern.edu or 214-645-6967.
Neurosteriod Intervention for Menopausal Depression Study
This study enrolled women (40-67 years old) in menopausal transition experiencing major depressive disorder (MDD). Our lab aimed to determine if pregnenolone was effective in reducing depressive symptoms and improving associated menopausal symptoms like somatic issues, cognition, and quality of life. We tracked changes in depressive symptoms, anxiety, cognition, quality of life, and vasomotor symptoms of menopause over a period of 16 weeks. We also explored how pregnenolone affected neurosteroid levels, whether baseline neurosteroid levels predicted treatment response, and the order in which different symptoms improved. The safety and tolerability of pregnenolone were also carefully monitored.
This study is no longer recruiting participants.
Probiotic Intervention for Mania Study
This study enrolled adults (18-65 years old) who had been hospitalized for a manic or mixed episode. The goal was to understand if adjunctive probiotic therapy could help prevent future mood episodes. Participants who enrolled in the study were followed for approximately 24 weeks after hospital discharge. Participants were randomized to receive either the active probiotic (Lactobacillus GG and Bifidobacteria lactis strain Bb12) or a placebo for 24 weeks. The study tracked whether participants experienced a relapse (re-hospitalization for psychiatric symptoms), the occurrence of new mood episodes, the severity of psychiatric symptoms, and any changes in cognitive test scores. Blood samples were collected to examine changes in inflammatory markers, and stool samples were used to evaluate changes in gut bacteria.
This study is no longer recruiting participants.
Corticosteroids on the Human Hippocampus Study
This study investigated how the stress hormone cortisol affected brain activity and structure in specific memory-related areas (hippocampus) using detailed brain imaging, and how these effects differed based on factors like depression, sex, and life experiences. We also examined cortisol's impact on memory and overall brain communication patterns. We compared these effects between individuals with depression and healthy volunteers, as well as between men and women. The study involved 5 study visits over a period of 9 weeks. Study procedures included: MRI, physical examinations, blood draws, electrocardiograms (EKGs), and comprehensive cognitive and mood assessments.
This study is no longer recruiting participants.