Study Opportunities & Details
EPA Clinical Study Opportunities
- CRU-BRONCHOSCOPY Study - Enrollment is open
- LOCONOZ II Study - Enrollment is open
- MASKOFF Study - Enrollment is open
- MASKON Study - Enrollment is open
- RPTCAP Study - Enrollment is open
- SENSE Study - Enrollment is open
CRU-BRONCHOSCOPY
Enrollment is Open
What is the purpose of this research study?
The purpose of this study is to acquire cells from both blood and lungs for further test tube studies of environmental agents. This study is classified under IRB Study #91-0679.
Can I take part in the study?
You may be able to be in the study if you
- Are between the ages of 18 to 40, and
- Do not smoke, and
- Are healthy, OR
- Have mild asthma and are healthy otherwise.
What will I be asked to do?
- Have a free physical exam
- Take part in breathing tests
- Have blood drawn through a small intravenous(IV) tube
- Undergo a bronchoscopy procedure [link to explanation provided]
How long will it take?
- After screening there will be one 4-hour visit, but
- You must stay in the local area for 48 hours after the study
What will I get for volunteering?
- If you complete the procedure, we will pay you approximately $475
How can I sign up or get more information?
Call us or send an email. Our office hours are Monday-Friday from 8am to 5pm EDT. After hours, please leave a message on voice mail, and we will return your call promptly.
- (919) 966-0604 (local)
- 1-888-279-9353 (toll free)
- Send an email to recruitment for EPA Studies
Approved by Institutional Review Board of Human Research Office of Human Research Ethics at UNC-Chapel Hill. Contact Information: IRB #91-0679 | IRB_subjects@unc.edu | (919) 966-3113.
LOCONOZ II Study
Enrollment is Open
What is the purpose of this research study?
The purpose of this study is to measure how people react when they exercise while breathing low levels of ozone. Ozone is a common pollutant that EPA believes may be harmful at much higher levels. This study will look at whether healthy young adults are affected by exposure to ozone concentrations at the US EPA standard. This study is classified under IRB Study #21-3193.
Can I take part in the study?
You may be able to be in the study if you are:
- Are between 18 and 35,
- Do not smoke,
- Do not have asthma or other health problems,
- Are fit and can exercise for 50 minutes at a moderate to high intensity level multiple times.
- Up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination status according to CDC standards
What will I be asked to do?
- Have a free physical exam
- Take part in several different breathing tests, including spirometry (explanation link provided)
- Have your heart rate (explanation link provided) monitored
- Use an exercise bike and treadmill during testing
- Come in for a training visit and provide a sputum sample (explanation link provided)
- Breathe clean air and air polluted with carefully controlled amounts of ozone
- Come back the day after each exposure to provide a sputum sample (explanation link provided).
How long will it take?
- After screening there will be up to 5 visits, including 1 training visit, 2 all day exposure sessions and 2 follow up visits.
- In total, the study will take about 23 hours over about 4 weeks.
What will I get for volunteering?
- If you complete all the visits and procedures, we will pay you approximately $1,375
How can I sign up or get more information?
Call us or send an email. Our office hours are Monday-Friday from 8am to 5pm EDT. After hours, please leave a message on voice mail, and we will return your call promptly.
- (919) 966-0604 (local)
- 1-888-279-9353 (toll free)
- Send an email to recruitment for EPA Studies
Approved by Institutional Review Board of Human Research Office of Human Research Ethics at UNC-Chapel Hill. Contact Information: IRB #21-3193 | IRB_subjects@unc.edu | (919) 966-3113.
MASKOFF STUDY
Enrollment Open
What is MASKOFF?
MASKOFF is a study of the "Cardiovascular Effects in Healthy, Young Subjects Exposed to Wood Smoke" under IRB #19-2078.
What is the purpose of this research study?
The purpose of the research study is to examine cardiovascular effects and pulmonary after exposure to wood smoke. Healthy, nonsmoking, physically active, adults ages 18 to 35 will be exposed to clean air and wood smoke in a small chamber over the course of two separate exposure sessions. The entire study will consist of 5 visits over the course of approximately two weeks.
Can I take part in the study?
You may be able to take part in the study if you are:
- A healthy nonsmoker.
- Between the ages of 18 and 35.
- Normally active.
- Up to date on COVID-19 vaccination status per CDC recommendations
What will I be asked to do?
- Complete a consenting visit to learn about the study and study procedures.
- Breathe clean air & air with carefully controlled amounts of wood smoke during two separate exposure sessions.
- Exercise on and off at 15-minute intervals during each of the two-hour exposures.
- Produce airway secretions such as nasal mucosa and sputum samples (link provided to explanation).
- Take part in breathing tests, including one called spirometry (link provided to explanation).
- Have your blood pressure and heart rate monitored (link provided to explanation).
- Have blood drawn before and after each exposure and on each follow up day.
- Avoid certain medications and environmental exposures for 24-48 hours before study appointments.
- Have your retinas imaged before and after each exposure and on each follow up day.
How long will it take?
- Following initial screening, the study has 5 visits over the course of approximately 2 weeks.
What will I get for volunteering?
- If you complete all visits and procedures we will pay you approximately $2,000
How can I sign up or get more information?
Call us or send an email. Our office hours are Monday-Friday from 8 am to 5 pm EST. After hours, please leave a message on voice mail, and we will return your call promptly.
- (919) 966-0604 (local)
- 1-888-279-9353 (toll free)
- Send an email to recruitment for EPA Studies
Approved by Institutional Review Board of Human Research Office of Human Research Ethics at UNC-Chapel Hill. Contact Information: IRB #19-2078 | IRB_subjects@unc.edu | (919) 966-3113.
MASKON STUDY
Enrollment Open
What is MASKON?
MASKON is a study of the "Cardiovascular Effects in Healthy, Young Subjects Exposed to Wood Smoke" under IRB #23-1135.
MASKON * Eligibility criteria for participation in the MASKON study includes prior completion of the MASKOFF study*
What is the purpose of this research study?
The purpose of the research study is to examine cardiovascular effects and pulmonary after exposure to wood smoke. Healthy, nonsmoking, physically active, adults ages 18 to 35 will be exposed wood smoke in a small chamber over the course of three separate exposure sessions. The entire study will consist of 7 visits over the course of approximately six weeks.
Can I take part in the study?
You may be able to take part in the study if you are:
- A healthy nonsmoker.
- Between the ages of 18 and 35.
- Normally active.
- Up to date on COVID-19 vaccination status per CDC recommendations.
What will I be asked to do?
- Complete a consenting visit to learn about the study and study procedures.
- Breathe clean air & air with carefully controlled amounts of wood smoke during two separate exposure sessions.
- Exercise on and off at 15-minute intervals during each of the two-hour exposures.
- Produce airway secretions such as nasal mucosa and sputum samples (link provided to explanation).
- Take part in breathing tests, including one called spirometry (link provided to explanation).
- Have your blood pressure and heart rate monitored (link provided to explanation).
- Have blood drawn before and after each exposure and on each follow up day.
- Avoid certain medications and environmental exposures for 24-48 hours before study appointments.
- Have your retinas imaged before and after each exposure and on each follow up day.
How long will it take?
- Following initial screening, the study has 7 visits over the course of approximately 6 weeks.
What will I get for volunteering?
- If you complete all visits and procedures we will pay you approximately $2,810. Check eligibility prior to signing up to volunteer.
How can I sign up or get more information?
Eligibility criteria for participation in the MASKON study includes prior completion of the MASKOFF study. Our office hours are Monday-Friday from 8 am to 5 pm EST. After hours, please leave a message on voice mail, and we will return your call promptly.
- (919) 966-0604 (local)
- 1-888-279-9353 (toll free)
Approved by Institutional Review Board of Human Research Office of Human Research Ethics at UNC-Chapel Hill. Contact Information: IRB #23-1135 | IRB_subjects@unc.edu | (919) 966-3113.
RPTCAP STUDY
Enrollment is Open
What is RPTCAP?
RPTCAP stands for the "Responses to Exposure to Low Levels of Concentrated Ambient Particles in Healthy Young," under IRB #20-1093.
What is the purpose of this research study?
This research study will determine whether 3-day consecutive exposures to levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) that are close to the current national 24-hr standard will cause changes in inflammatory and cardiopulmonary endpoints in healthy young individuals. Healthy, nonsmoking, physically active, adults ages 18 to 35 will be exposed to clean filtered air and concentrated ambient particles under three exposure scenarios.
Can I take part in the study?
You may be able to take part in the study if you are:
- A healthy nonsmoker, and
- Between the ages of 18 and 35, and
- Normally moderately active.
What will I be asked to do?
- Complete pre-study screening.
- Complete a training session to learn about the study and study procedures.
- Breathe clean air and air with carefully controlled amounts of pollutants during three consecutive days.
- Exercise on and off at 15-minute intervals during exposures.
- Take part in breathing tests, including one called spirometry (link provided to explanation).
- Have your blood pressure and heart rate monitored (link provided to explanation).
- Have blood drawn before and after each exposure and on the follow up day.
- Avoid certain medications, vitamins, and environmental exposures for 24-48 hours before study appointments.
How long will it take?
- Following initial screening, the study will take about 56 hours over about 7-8 weeks.
What will I get for volunteering?
- If you complete all visits and procedures, we will pay you $2,900.
How can I sign up or get more information?
Call us or send an email. Our office hours are Monday-Friday from 8am to 5pm EDT. After hours, please leave a message on voice mail, and we will return your call promptly.
- (919) 966-0604 (local)
- 1-888-279-9353 (toll free)
- Send an email to recruitment for EPA Studies
Approved by Institutional Review Board of Human Research Office of Human Research Ethics at UNC-Chapel Hill. Contact Information: IRB #20-1093 | IRB_subjects@unc.edu | (919) 966-3113.
SENSE Study
Enrollment is Open
What is SENSE?
SENSE stands for the "Modification of ambient air pollution exposure and cardiopulmonary outcomes by socioeconomic status and nutrition" under IRB #23-0428.
What is the purpose of this research study?
This research study examines how the community you live in can determine how much air pollution you are exposed to and your body’s response to air pollution. It also looks at whether what you eat (nutrition) can affect how your heart, lungs, and immune system response when exposed to air pollution in your daily life, and if these effects are different depending on the community you live in.
Can I take part in the study?
You may be able to take part in the study if you are:
- Between the ages of 25 and 70
- Residing in Zip Code Tabulation Area in Raleigh–Durham great triangle area representing high or low social vulnerability index (SVI).
- Continuous residence at the same address during previous one year.
What will I be asked to do?
- Complete pre-study screening.
- Maintain current diet pattern for the whole study.
- Upon arrival, the subject’s vital signs will be checked. A urine sample will be collected from any female subject who has child-bearing potential.
- Provide a blood sample
- Take pictures of a part of your eye called the retina.
- Subjects will wear a wrist band 7 days prior to each in-person HSF visit and return them at their in-person visit.
How long will it take?
Following initial screening, the subject will be scheduled for up to 4 study visits lasting 4 hours in length.
What will I get for volunteering?
We will pay you approximately $1300 for your participation is this study and completion of all visits and procedures.
How can I sign up or get more information?
Call us or send an email. Our office hours are Monday-Friday from 8am to 5pm EDT. After hours, please leave a message on voice mail, and we will return your call promptly.
- (919) 966-0604 (local)
- 1-888-279-9353 (toll free)
- Send an email to recruitment for EPA Studies
Approved by Institutional Review Board of Human Research Office of Human Research Ethics at UNC-Chapel Hill. Contact Information: IRB #23-0428 | IRB_subjects@unc.edu | (919) 966-3113.
Recruiting is conducted by MPF Federal, LLC, under contract with EPA. Call MPF Federal, LLC at (919) 966-0604, or toll free at 1-888-279-9353.