Scaife Hall

Research Participation Opportunities

Looking to help our research and get paid? Check out the opportunities to take part in our studies.

For more detailed information about any of our study opportunities, please email Anesthesiology.Research [at] pitt.edu.

Sevoflurane Anesthesia MRI Research Study

Healthy adults, age 18-59, are being recruited for a study of the commonly-used inhaled anesthetic sevoflurane. This involves MRI scans while performing a memory task and experiencing periodic painful electric shocks, at a level you set in advance.

You may eligible if you… 

  • are not pregnant or attempting to conceive
  • are normal weight (BMI under 30)
  • do not have significant memory impairment or hearing loss
  • do not have sleep apnea
  • do not have chronic pain or other pain disorder
  • do not regularly take medicine for pain or sleep
  • do not take anti-depressants (including SSRIs)
  • are not a current smoker
  • are able to undergo MRI (no metal or implants)
  • have no history of adverse reaction to inhaled anesthetics, including malignant hyperthermia
  • have no history of a reaction to the anti-nausea medication ondansetron (Zofran)
  • do not regularly use marijuana (prescription or recreational)
  • have no history of street drug abuse

Interested subjects must complete a brief appointment to undergo memory testing. If your memory performance is above the entry cutoff, you may be enrolled in the study. This involves 2 additional study visits, typically during weekday working hours.

Subjects will be paid $300 for completing all study visits.

Nitrous Oxide Anesthesia MRI Research Study

Healthy adults, age 18-59, are being recruited for a study of the commonly-used anesthetic gas nitrous oxide. This involves MRI scans while performing a memory task and experiencing periodic painful electric shocks, at a level you set in advance.

You may eligible if you…

  • are not pregnant or attempting to conceive
  • are normal weight
  • do not have significant memory impairment or hearing loss
  • do not have sleep apnea
  • do not have chronic pain or other pain disorder
  • do not regularly take medicine for pain or sleep
  • do not take anti-depressants (including SSRIs)
  • are not a current smoker
  • are able to undergo MRI (no metal or implants)
  • have no history of an adverse reaction to nitrous oxide
  • have not had recent eye or ear surgery
  • have no history of severe cardiac disease
  • have no history methylenetetrahydrofolate (MTHFR) reductase deficiency or mutation
  • do not regularly use marijuana (prescription or recreational)
  • have no significant history of using other recreational drugs

Interested subjects must complete a brief memory test (in-person or online). If your memory performance is above the entry cutoff, you may be enrolled in the study. This involves 2 additional study visits, typically during weekday working hours.

Subjects will be paid $300 for completing all study visits.

Auriculotherapy Brain Imaging Research Study

Adults with low back pain are being recruited to determine how stimulation of the ear and cryo-auriculotherapy treatment change brain activity and affect chronic low back pain.

You may eligible if you…

  • are at least 18 years of age
  • experience chronic low back pain (> 6 months)
  • do not have any active lesions or skin disruptions to either ear
  • have not within the last month  had surgery or a pain treatment performed
  • have not within the last month started any new pain or psychiatric medication (such as anti-depressant, stimulant, sleep aid, or mood-stabilizer)
  • do not experience chronic pain in the shoulder or thumb
  • are not claustrophobic
  • have no metal implants or non-removable metal piercings

This study involves four visits that each last two hours, conducted during weekday working hours.  Subjects will undergo MRI, wear a cap to measure brain activation and experience stimulation with a flexible plastic filament and cryo-auriculotherapy to spots on their ear.

Subjects may be paid up to $1100 for completing the 4 study visits.

Auricular Stimulation Brain Activity Study

Adults, over age 18, are being recruited for a study involving stimulation of the ear and body with plastic filaments. These stimulations are typically not significantly painful, with no lasting effects.

A cap that measures brain activity using near-infrared light will be worn. This is a single-session study, taking about 2 hours.

Subjects will be paid $150 for completing the study.