Welcome
Here at the University of Southern California, our research groups are investigating what can be done to maintain healthy minds and bodies as we age.
Would you like to help? Volunteer!
Volunteer Opportunities
Our research is a constant process. There are many opportunities for
you to become a participant! Here are some descriptions of current research projects - please let us know if you are interested in learning more about any of these studies.
- MEMORY GAME STUDY
We are interested in how well you remember images. This is a 15-min ONLINE
study where you will see a series of images one by one. We will then test your memory about
the images you saw. You can participate in this study from any place you have an access to
Internet. Click on the link below to access the study. Please be aware that there is no
compensation at the present time. You should be 1) between ages 18-35 or 2) 65+ in order
to be eligible for our study.
Link: http://qshare.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0jIQUJq34oOgNkU - fMRI Decision Making Study
We are looking for Caucasian/Latino/Asian females between the ages of 60-77 to
participate in a brain imaging study investigating the effects of stress on decision-making.
If you join the study, you will be asked to complete a decision making game and a
reaction task while your brain activation is monitored by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner.
You will also be asked to complete several questionnaires while outside the scanner. This study is
compensated for time and travel. You should: 1) be between ages of 60-77 2) Right-handed
3) Non-smoker 4) Not on synthetic corticosteroids, psychoactive drugs (antidepressants),
or beta-adrenergic agonists (beta-blockers) 5) Not have serious chronic illnesses
(i.e. heart disease, diabetes, cancer) 6) Not have any metals in body
(i.e. joint pins, pacemaker, permanent retainers). Contact Ruth Cheng (213-740-9543 or ruthhche{a}usc.edu). - WISDOM STUDY
Bob Knight, PhD and his research team at USC's Davis School of Gerontology are interested in
learning more about wisdom and developing a better way to measure wisdom. If you would like
to participate, go to our survey website at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/T2KJFR6 where
you can fill out our set of questionnaires. We expect the full set of questionnaires to take about 60
minutes to complete. Your participation is voluntary. As a token of our appreciation for your participation,
you will have the opportunity of entering an immediate drawing for a $100 gift certificate at Amazon.com
that is open to all Survey Monkey participants, and/or a weekly drawing for a $20 gift certificate
that is open only to participants in this research project. We are happy to answer any questions you may
have about this study. If you would like to contact the primary investigator of this study, please call
Dr. Knight at 213-740-1373 or e-mail him at bknight{at}usc.edu. - HEALTH AND BEHAVIOR STUDY
We are conducting a survey to compare different ways of asking people about their health status and
behavior change strategies. If you are interested in participating in this study,
please go to our website at https://usckeck.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_08wCmmTlMs8Z3lG
to complete a survey that will take approximately 5 minutes. As a reward
for your participation we will enter you in a lottery to win a $25 Target Gift Card.
After you have taken the survey, you will be given a random code number.
To enter the raffle for a gift card, send that code number to
igem{at}dornsife.usc.edu to indicate that the survey was completed.
If you have any questions please email Dr. Margaret Gatz at gatz{at}usc.edu or
Chris Hahn at chrishah{at}usc.edu. - REHABILITATION GAMES: PHASE II PILOT STUDY
This study is designed to assess the usability of standing balance games specifically designed for rehabilitation. These games are designed to engage the user in therapy exercises in a controlled and customized manner. We are testing the usefulness of video games we have developed specifically for dynamic balance exercises. These video games are similar to commercially available games (e.g. Nintendo WiiFit or Microsoft Kinect). The research will take place in one 3.5-hour session. The session includes a set of questionnaires about your health, your prior experience with technology and video games, and your history of falls. We would like to enroll 15 more volunteers between March and April, 2012 and conduct the study at USC on the Health Sciences Campus. You should be 1) over 65 age with no upper limit B) Independent in activities of daily living. If you are interested in finding out more about the study please contact Narissa Casebeer at 323 4421006 or by email at nboncato@usc.edu. - Dose Optimization for Stroke Evaluation (DOSE)
DOSE is an NIH-funded study about arm and hand recovery after a stroke. We are testing varying doses of therapy using a program that involves challenging, intensive, and meaningful practice of functional tasks of the participant’s choice. Measurements will include arm and hand function testing using a battery of laboratory-based measures and behavioral questionnaires, as well as a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan of the brain. Participation may involve 15, 30, or 60 hours of focused physical therapy and 12 assessment visits to the Bice Clinical Research Center at the University of Southern California, Health Sciences Campus. You may be eligible for the study if you: 1) are at least 21 years of age, 2) had a stroke 6 months ago or longer, 3) have weakness in the arm or hand affected by the stroke, and 4) are medically stable. For more information, please contact: Clarisa Martinez, PT, DPT at 323-442-1410 or email clarisa@usc.edu. All inquiries are confidential. - STROKE STUDY
We're looking for volunteers for a brain imaging study aimed at understanding how the brain perceives actions after stroke in order to better promote recovery of motor function after stroke. There are several basic critera that must be met in order for you to participate in the study. We are recruiting both individuals who are healthy and those who have had a stroke. You should be: 1) at least 21 years old, 2) right-handed, 3) medically stable. In addition, participants who have had a stroke should also be 1) more than 3 months after your stroke, 2) right-handed before your stroke, 3) medically stable. If you are interested in participating and want to find our more about the study, please contact Sook-Lei Liew at sliew [at] usc [dot] edu.
For additional opportunities: ruthhche@usc.edu
or call Ruth Cheng (213-740-9543).