Penn State University

This study tests a digital platform called HMZ 2.0 that helps pregnant women with overweight or obesity manage their weight gain. 144 women will be randomly assigned to use the platform or receive standard pregnancy advice. The platform tracks weight, activity, and eating, and of…

This study compares the effects of healthy diets containing cottonseed oil versus other common plant oils on heart health markers like cholesterol. Researchers will enroll 52 adults with elevated LDL cholesterol and overweight. Participants will follow each diet for 4 weeks in a …

This study looks at whether eating pecans instead of snacks high in bad fats and sugar can improve blood sugar and heart health in people with prediabetes. About 147 adults aged 25-65 with prediabetes will either eat 1.5 ounces of pecans daily for 16 weeks or stick to their usual…

This study tests whether a parent-education program called Thrive Initiative can help prevent child maltreatment and improve parenting. Researchers will compare a hybrid version (online plus group sessions) to an online-only version. The study involves 480 U.S. Air Force members …

This study tests whether eating 5-6 prunes daily for 18 months can prevent the rapid bone loss that often happens during menopause. Researchers will compare bone density, inflammation, and gut health in 124 women aged 44-55 who either eat prunes or avoid them. If successful, this…

This study tests a program called Healthy Family Foundations for military couples expecting their first child. The program includes 10 online classes to help parents work together on healthy eating, activity, and parenting. Researchers want to see if it can prevent rapid weight g…

This study looks at whether playing pickleball twice a week for 8 weeks can improve movement, sleep, mood, and core autism traits in adults aged 18-45 with autism spectrum disorder. Participants are randomly assigned to start pickleball right away or after a delay. The goal is to…

This study looks at how estrogen levels affect the way women's bodies handle heat. Researchers will temporarily adjust estrogen in 24 women aged 42-64 using a drug and a patch, then measure skin blood flow, sweating, and core temperature during mild heat stress. The goal is to un…

This study looks at brain activity in smokers trying to quit, to understand why lapses happen. Researchers will use MRI scans to track changes in brain patterns just before a person smokes. The goal is to find early warning signs of relapse, which could lead to better quit-smokin…

This study looks at how GLP-1 medications, commonly used for weight loss, affect people's attitudes toward food and what they choose to eat. Researchers will use a virtual reality buffet to measure food selection before and after three months on the medication. Twenty-five adults…

This study tests whether daily nurse screening for delirium using a tool called UB-CAM can improve detection and reduce complications in hospitalized adults aged 70 and older. About 1,050 patients across three hospitals will take part. Researchers will measure how accurate the sc…

This study looks at how people with ALS and their caregivers talk to each other. Researchers will record speech during structured and casual conversations to see how communication changes over time. 152 participants with ALS and their caregivers will take part. No drugs or treatm…

This study looks at how 100 children aged 6-9 with obesity eat in a lab compared to at home. Researchers want to see if eating styles observed in a lab are the same as in real life, and how the home food environment affects eating. The goal is to better understand what drives ove…

This study looks at how everyday listeners understand speech from people with ALS compared to healthy speakers. Researchers will record speech during different tasks and play it back to listeners who have no experience with speech disorders. The goal is to learn which speaking si…

This study tests a program for parents of children with disabilities who are about to start special education. The program includes six learning sessions to help parents support each other and work with schools. Researchers will compare parents who take the program with those who…

This study looks at how adults with depression, with or without antidepressant treatment, respond to heat stress compared to healthy adults. Researchers will measure skin blood flow, sweating, and body temperature during a 2-hour passive heating session. The goal is to understand…

This study looks at why some children are less influenced by food advertisements and don't overeat. Researchers will use brain scans and eating tests to find patterns that protect kids from weight gain. About 200 children aged 7-9 will take part. The goal is to understand these d…

This study looks at how well older adults can handle heat and humidity. Researchers will have 190 participants exercise in different conditions to find the point where their body can no longer cool itself. The goal is to identify dangerous temperature and humidity combinations to…