Hello current and future NIH volunteers! We hope the “Participating in NIH Research” newsletter will be interesting and helpful for all of you. This issue provides insight into the world of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), offers lots of good information, and also profiles some of the studies that currently are enrolling patients.

The “Participating in NIH Research” newsletter includes information about both healthy volunteer and patient studies. So no matter if you have a pre-existing health condition or if you are interested in becoming a healthy volunteer, this newsletter is for you!

Typhoid Vaccine
Study Number: 06-CH-0070
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development is seeking healthy men and women, ages 18-45, to participate in an investigational typhoid vaccine study (06-CH-O070) conducted at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The study involves one injection and 3 blood samples (collected before, 6 and 26 weeks after injection). Compensation will be provided. Parking is provided to the participant at no cost.

Menstrual Cycle
Study Number: 81-M-0126
The Behavioral Endocrinology Branch of The National Institute of Mental Health is dedicated to Women’s Health research. We need healthy female volunteers to participate in studies of the relationship between gender, hormones, stress, and mood. Research participation includes physical, psychological, and neurological evaluations, and laboratory studies. Research participants must be: Between the ages of 18 and 50, medication free (including birth control), and physically healthy. Compensation is provided for participation.

ADHD Study
Study Number: 00-HG-0058
NIH Researchers are conducting a large, national research study to find specific genes that contribute to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD). If you have two or more children, one of whom has AD/HD, please consider participating in this study. The AD/HD-affected child must be 7 to 17 years of age, and the other children must be at least 7 years of age. No travel is required; all information will be collected through the mail and over the telephone. All study related tests will be provided at no cost.

Teen Obesity
Study Number: 06-CH-0039
Is your daughter overweight or do you worry that she is gaining too much weight? The purpose of this study is to test how effective group therapy is in the prevention of excess weight gain. Individuals who qualify to participate in this study will be compensated for their time. Research participants must be female and 12 to 17 years of age.

HIV study
Study Number: 05-I-0123
Doctors at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are conducting a research study that will determine the safety and side effects of interleukin-2 (IL-2) taken with or without anti-HIV drugs. It will also determine if the use of IL-2 will cause an increase in CD4 cell count and changes in HIV viral load. Consider participating if you: are 18 years of age or older and HIV Positive, have not received any anti-HIV drugs in the last 12 months, have never received recombinant Interleukin -2 (rIL-2). If eligible to participate you will be followed for up to two years.

Fetal Hemoglobin
Study Number: 05-DK-0085
This study will examine blood for factors that may cause or prevent diseases involving red blood cells. Male or female participants must be a: Patient with elevated levels of fetal hemoglobin, patient with rare hemoglobin variants, patient with diseases involving hemoglobin production like Thalassemia and Sickle Cell disease. If you have an above diagnosis, and are in the age range from birth to greater than 80+ years, consider participating in this study conducted at the NIH Clinical Center. Compensation provided. Participants will remain under the care of their primary health care provider during the study. All study related tests are provided at no cost. Travel assistance may be provided.

Thyroid Conversion
Study Number: 05-DK-0119
Study 05-DK-0119 is looking for volunteers 18 or older with thyroid gland removed or hypothyroidism and taking thyroid replacement therapy. The study will evaluate how the body uses thyroid hormones to control the rate of body functions. There is no cost for the research tests or treatment. Compensation is provided.

Fibroids Study
Study Number: 06-CH-0090
You are invited to participate in a study testing the use of a new medication (CBD-2914) that may shrink uterine fibroids. The medication or a non-active pill (placebo) will be given for 3 months. At the end of the study the participant can choose to continue taking the medication for an additional 3 months or undergo a hysterectomy or myomectomy at the NIH Clinical Center. If you are 33–50 years old and have uterine fibroids, please consider participating. All study-related medications and treatments are provided at no cost. Participants will be compensated.

More Clinical Trials

Search for more clinical trials at http://clinicalstudies.info.nih.gov. If you are looking for a specific type of clinical trial, type the diagnosis or disease name into the search box. If you are looking for Healthy Volunteer opportunities, please type the word “Healthy.”

	Marian Tanofsky-Kraff, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and post-doctoral fellow in the Unit on Growth and Obesity in the Developmental Endocrinology Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Her research program involves the intersection of obesity and eating disorders in pediatric samples. Dr. Tanofsky-Kraff’s research addresses questions about the risks, protective factors, maintenance, and consequences of childhood eating disturbance and excess adiposity, with a particular focus on binge eating. Q: What is the primary focus of your clinical trials? A: I study psychological aspects of eating disorders in overweight children and adolescents. Q: What made you interested in this field of medicine? A: Originally, when I started my career, I wanted to go into women’s psychology. However, I took a position doing research on eating disorders in obese adults and I caught the research bug. I became fascinated by the information I was learning and was determined to do anything I could to help slow or control eating disturbance and obesity. Q: How long have you been working with healthy volunteers in your studies? A: Since 1999, I have been working with healthy volunteers in many different ways. Some of them are completely healthy and provide a baseline for our research, and some of them are healthy volunteers who have shown tendencies towards eating disorders or excessive weight gain. We also provide health education and psychological interventions for teenagers by teaching about healthy behaviors, good eating habits and ways to reduce behaviors that promote overweight. Q: Why do you think that volunteers are so crucial for research medicine? A: Healthy volunteers are so important because even if they don’t get specific benefits from their participation, they still help researchers see the world in a different way. Each volunteer gives us information that we can use to learn how to target risk factors, prevent problems, and try to make the population healthier. Q: What is your motivation regarding research? What makes you continue to love being a doctor? A: One of my mentors told me once that in your life you should strive to do one thing really, really well and that will be your chance to make a difference. I find that my commitment to my research gives me energy and stimulates me intellectually. I am also proud that not only am I helping people today, but my research will hopefully help people for years down the line. Q: What do you enjoy about working at the NIH? A: I’ve always been honored to work here because the National Institutes of Health is one of those places where people really want to make a difference. And I’m not the only one who feels that way. The doctors, nurses and support staff are amazing. The kitchen staff that helps prepare the food for some of our protocols is incredible. People who work at the NIH enjoy their work and are glad that they are able to contribute to society. Q: Because of your work with eating disorders, what do you think is the most important thing that people can do to stay healthy? A: Basically moderation is the key to everything. Exercise in moderation and eat in moderation. But also try to surround yourself with good relationships and activities that make you happy. It is much easier to live a healthy life if you feel good about yourself.