Research Studies in Aging
Learn more about what's happening in research studies at Penn
Do you have questions about clinical trials and studies being conducted at Penn? Visit the Office of Human Research for more information about becoming a Research Volunteer and about other clinical trials and investigative studies being conducted here at Penn.
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Research, Clinical Trials, and Investigative Studies at Penn
Do you have an interest in participating in a clinical trial or investigative study to help advance understanding of aging and a number of aging-related diseases?
Click on the categories below to see which studies are currently recruiting participants aged 55 and older, Be sure to scroll down as there may be more than one study listed in each category.
| Cardiovascular (1) | Neurology (1) | Sleep Medicine (1) |
| Neurodegenerative Diseases (Alzheimer's, etc.) | Post-Menopausal/Endocrinology (3) | Telemedicine (1) |
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"Promoting Self-Care Using Telehomecare: Impact on Outcomes" University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing Contact: For additional information about this study contact Melissa O’Connor, Project Manager, at (610) 639-4001. |
This study is being conducted by the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing with Kathryn H. Bowles, Ph.D., RN, Associate Professor, as the Principal Investigator. The purpose of this research study is to test the potential of improving elders’ self-care and prevent hospitalization through the use of telehomecare technology. Telehomecare technology allows the patient and their home care nurses to monitor their weight, blood pressure, pulse, oxygen levels, and blood sugar. It enables the nurse and patient to see and hear each other using ordinary telephone lines and a video phone. This technology enables patients to become active partners in there own care by providing the equipment for self-monitoring and symptom recognition. The technology is being compared to usual care. Assignment to the equipment group or usual care is random. Volunteers are in the study for 180 days. The intervention portion of the study will last 60 days. Thirty minute follow-up surveys will be collected via a telephone interview at 60, 120 and 180 days. There are no costs for being in the study and volunteers are paid $50 at the study’s completion (180 days). Participation in this study is voluntary. To be eligible, volunteers must be:
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Penn Alzheimer's Disease Center University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine |
To learn more about the ongoing studies and trials at the Penn Alzheimer's Disease Center and who to contact for more details, click on one of the areas below.
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A Pilot Study of Ghrelin in Healthy and Frail Older Women University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Contact: For more information, contact Terry at (215) 898-5664. |
This study is being conducted by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine with Anne R. Cappola, M.D. ScM, Assistant Professor of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism as the Principal Investigator. The purpose of this research study is to see if giving women a hormone called “ghrelin” will increase levels of growth hormone in the blood and increase appetite. Ghrelin is a naturally occurring hormone that is produced mostly by the stomach and causes secretion of another hormone called growth hormone. It also increases short-term appetite and may lower the amount of inflammation in the body. Some people lose their appetite as they age and have unintentional weight loss. This may be caused by a break in the communication between the stomach and the brain. We are particularly interested in seeing if there is a difference in the effects of ghrelin in older women who have lost weight recently without wanting to and those who have not. Volunteers will be asked to come to the General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) for three visits. The ghrelin or a placebo will be given during the visit, and there will be no medications to take at home. There are no costs for being in the study and participants will be paid $20 for a screening visit and a total of $320 for completing all three visits. Participation in this study is voluntary. To be eligible, volunteers must be:
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Post-Menopausal/Endocrinology Insulin Resistance and Testosterone in Non-Diabetic Postmenopausal Women University of Pennsylvania Health System and the Division of Endocrinology Contact: For more information, contact Terry at (215) 898-5664. |
This study is being conducted by the University of Pennsylvania Health System/Division of Endocrinology (Anne Cappola, M.D., Sc.M., Principal Investigator). The purpose of this research study is to determine if a relationship between insulin resistance and testosterone exists in women who have already gone through menopause. Insulin is a naturally occurring hormone in the body that is needed to convert sugar and starches into energy. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body does not use insulin normally. Insulin resistance is common in people with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Testosterone is a hormone that is present in large amounts in men, though lesser amounts are found in women. Previous studies have shown that postmenopausal women with insulin resistance have higher testosterone levels than women without insulin resistance. People with insulin resistance may be at higher risk of heart disease compared to the normal population. This may be caused by insulin resistance and/or higher testosterone levels. This study will help us understand if insulin resistance and higher testosterone levels are related in postmenopausal women. It may ultimately help us understand why people with insulin resistance may be at high risk for heart attacks. We are looking for postmenopausal women aged 50-79 years who do not have diabetes to come in for 5 morning outpatient visits, each on average 2.5 hours, over a period of 13-16 weeks. Volunteers will be compensated $10 for a screening visit and a bonus for completion of the study. |
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MRI Correlates of Limb Ischemia in Peripheral Vascular Diseases (PVD) Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care Contact: For more information, contact Tope Olufade, MS, MPH, Clinical Research Coordinator, at (215) 662-2440 or olufadet@uphs.upenn.edu. |
Peripheral vascular disease, or PVD, is a condition in which the arteries that carry blood to the arms and legs become narrowed or clogged. PVD is a very common condition occurring mostly in people older than 50 years. It is a leading cause of disability among the elderly, smokers and those with diabetes. The classic symptoms include discomfort or pain when walking, numbness or cold feet. Patients with PVD have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. PVD results in claudication, gangrene, and amputation when not treated aggressively. More than 90,000 amputations are performed yearly as a result of PVD. It is important to detect the narrowing of the arteries of the leg and foot before damage occurs. This study is being conducted by the University of Pennsylvania with Thomas F. Floyd, M.D as the principal investigator. This research study involves the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate blood flow in the leg and foot of persons with evidence of early vascular diseases. The purpose of this study is to develop a new and noninvasive technique to help in the early diagnosis and improved treatment for Peripheral vascular diseases (PVD). It will also assist physician in making decisions regarding the ability of surgery to improve blood flow or the need to remove injured tissue. Participation in this study is voluntary. Eligible volunteers will be compensated for their time and travel. |
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Melatonin Randomized Trial for Insomnia in the Elderly Division of Geriatric Medicine and Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology Contact: For more information, contact the Research Coordinator at (215) 573-3429. |
We want to determine how effective melatonin is in treating insomnia in people aged 65 or older. We are also trying to determine what doses work best. Participants will be randomized (assigned by chance) into one of 3 treatment arms: high dose melatonin, low dose melatonin, or placebo (contains no melatonin). This is a double-blinded study (neither the patient nor the research staff will know which treatment arm the patient will be in). Anyone over the age of 65 who has trouble sleeping two or more nights per week may be eligible participate. By trouble sleeping we mean difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up too early. Participants will be asked to wear an activity watch for one week and keep a sleep diary. There will be overnight sleep studies at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP). Participants who complete the pre-treatment phase and qualify for the treatment phase will receive treatment for 6 weeks. During this time there are checkups at HUP and/or Presbyterian Medical Center and some paperwork. Participants will be involved in the study for approximately 4 months. Participants will be paid up to $500 in compensation. Transportation and parking costs will be paid through the research study. A person may qualify for the study if they are:
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fMRI Investigation of Learning and Memory University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Contact: For more information, contact Vanessa Troiani at (215) 349-5863. |
The Department of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine is seeking healthy people 60+ for a research study testing learning and memory. Subjects will perform cognitive tests while in an MRI machine. Subjects must be right-handed, native English speakers, have no metal in their body, and be taking no psychoactive drugs. Studies pay $35/session and include parking. |
The Neural Basis of Cognition in Healthy Aging University of Pennsylvania Health System Contact: For further information, please contact Vanessa at 215-349-5863. |
Are you a healthy adult over 60 interested in helping to learn more about neurodegenerative diseases? The University of Pennsylvania is currently conducting research examining healthy adults’ brain functioning to help us understand compensatory neural strategies as we age. This will allow us to improve diagnostic accuracy and develop treatments for individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. To be eligible, you must be 60 and older and a native English speaker. You must also be right-handed. This study involves a functional MRI and is completely non-invasive. Compensation is offered for your time and travel. |