Virginia Commonwealth University

This early-phase study tested whether adding a medication called Auvelity (a combination of dextromethorphan and bupropion) to standard buprenorphine treatment is safe and might help reduce cravings, withdrawal, and negative feelings in people with opioid use disorder. 18 adults …

This study tested a new way to help children with obesity by replacing some in-person doctor visits with virtual house calls. Ten children aged 9-13 and their parents worked with a health coach through video calls and exercise sessions over 24 weeks. The goal was to see if famili…

This study tested a program that combines community-based fetal ultrasound with care navigation to help pregnant women with substance use disorder engage in prenatal care and substance use treatment. The program used motivational interviewing and strength-based education to suppo…

This completed study tested two ways parents can help teens with obesity maintain weight loss. 418 teens (ages 12-16) and their parents took part. One group focused on teaching parents coaching skills, the other on helping parents lose weight themselves. Both groups included teen…

This study tested a weight loss program for African American adults in Petersburg, VA, using informal house chats instead of a clinic setting. The goal was to see if this approach could help people eat better, move more, and lose weight. Twenty-two participants took part, and the…

This study tested a school-based program to help rural seventh graders eat more fruits and vegetables. Over 1,100 students from ten Virginia middle schools took part. The program included goal setting, peer leaders, and classroom workshops. Results showed that students in the pro…

This study tested a smartphone app called PatientBuddy designed to help people with cirrhosis and their caregivers manage care at home. The goal was to reduce avoidable hospital readmissions within 30 days after discharge. Researchers enrolled 232 patients and their caregivers to…

This study tested a virtual reality program called Impact VR to help youth aged 10-17 with conduct disorder learn to recognize and regulate emotions. The program involved four weekly sessions in a private setting. Researchers measured changes in callous-unemotional traits, conduc…

This study tested a mobile app called Mamma Mia, designed to support mental health during pregnancy and after childbirth. Nearly 2,000 pregnant women used the app, which offers mindfulness exercises, breastfeeding tips, and relationship advice. Researchers measured changes in dep…

This study tested whether using an immersive virtual reality (VR) headset along with practice of everyday arm tasks could improve arm movement in people who had a stroke at least 6 months earlier. 13 adults with limited arm motion took part. Their arm movement was measured before…

This study tested a wearable device called PDVibe2 that delivers vibration therapy to improve walking and balance in people with Parkinson's disease. 12 participants with mild to moderate Parkinson's used the device while researchers measured their gait and movement. The goal was…

This study tested whether weighted blankets can help prevent or reduce delirium in adult ICU patients. 49 participants used the blankets, and researchers measured satisfaction from patients, their families, and healthcare providers. The goal was to see if this simple, non-drug ap…

This pilot study tested a telehealth program called C-SMART for people with primary brain tumors who have mild memory or thinking problems. The program combines cognitive rehabilitation with mindfulness training over 8 weekly sessions. Researchers enrolled 32 patients and caregiv…

This study examined whether virtual reality (VR) can help lower anxiety in children aged 6-15 during medical procedures. Researchers analyzed data from 168 pediatric patients who used VR as part of a quality improvement program. They measured changes in heart rate, blood pressure…

This study tested a remote exercise program for 27 men with prostate cancer who were receiving hormone therapy (androgen deprivation therapy). The program included walking or cycling, strength training, and counseling sessions over 8 weeks. The main goal was to see if the program…

This study tested a therapy called Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) to see if it helps people with brain cancer feel less distressed. 60 adults with brain tumors or brain metastases who had high depression or death anxiety took part. The study measured how many peop…

This study tested a type of talk therapy called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) in 70 people with brain tumors who also had trouble sleeping. The therapy involved six weekly group sessions delivered online. The main goal was to see if the approach was practical …

This pilot study tested whether sleep coaching and sleep hygiene training could help people with a common type of heart failure (HFpEF) sleep better and feel better. Ten participants wore activity trackers and kept sleep diaries to see if they could gradually extend their sleep t…

This study tested three different sizes of clear aligner attachments (small bumps on the teeth) to see which one helps move the upper lateral incisors outward most predictably. Twenty-eight people with mild crowding or spacing were treated with Invisalign. The goal was to find th…

This study followed 52 teachers and 72 students to see how well teachers continued using the BEST in CLASS program a year after training. Researchers measured how closely teachers stuck to the program and how students' behavior changed. The goal was to understand what helps or hi…

This completed study examined how African American and white male smokers respond to stress and how that affects their smoking habits. Researchers used a psychological stress test and measured daily cortisol patterns to understand biological differences. The goal is to learn why …

This study involved 71 African American menthol smokers to see how the availability of e-cigarette flavors like menthol or tobacco changes their smoking habits, toxin exposure, and addiction risk. Participants were surveyed daily about cigarette use and tested for carbon monoxide…

This study looked at how different e-cigarette flavors and nicotine levels influence addiction potential in 32 adult smokers. Participants tried tobacco-flavored e-cigs with varying nicotine strength, menthol e-cigs, and their own cigarettes, then reported how much they'd be will…

This study involved 116 people with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD), a group of rare muscle-weakening disorders. Researchers measured how well participants could walk, move their arms, and breathe, and asked about their daily activities and overall health. The goal was to i…

This completed study looked at the quality of life of Black girls in Richmond, Virginia, focusing on their strengths and community resources rather than problems. Researchers surveyed 339 Black adolescent girls aged 12-17 and interviewed parents and young adults. The goal was to …

This study tested how different e-cigarette liquids—varying in sweetness and nicotine form—affect blood nicotine levels, puffing behavior, and how people feel. Thirteen healthy adults who use cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or both took part. Researchers measured nicotine in the blood,…

This study looked at how different e-liquid nicotine strengths in e-cigarettes affect nicotine levels in the blood and smoking behavior. 33 healthy adult smokers took part. The goal was to understand how e-cigarette settings influence nicotine delivery and use.

This study looked at how a gut-related compound called TMAO affects heart health in 19 adults who had a liver transplant. Researchers measured TMAO levels and checked blood vessel function to understand why heart disease is more common after transplant. The goal was to gather kno…

This study tested whether using e-cigarettes that contain ethanol (alcohol) can change the results of breath, blood, or oral fluid alcohol tests, as well as field sobriety tests. Twelve adults who use e-cigarettes and drink alcohol took part. The goal was to understand if vaping …

This study looked at how a person's genes might change the way they think and act after drinking alcohol. Nine healthy adults completed tasks measuring aggression after consuming alcohol or a placebo. The goal was to better understand why some people react differently to alcohol,…

This study tested a training program to help autistic adults learn to use rideshare services like Uber or Lyft. 13 autistic adults took part to see if the training was acceptable and helpful. The goal was to give them more freedom to travel independently for work, social events, …

This pilot study tested a school-based program to encourage kids to drink more water. The program included student ambassadors, a kick-off event, and a student-led marketing campaign. Researchers looked at whether the program was feasible and if it could improve hydration, reduce…

This study tested whether training local community members as wellness coaches could help African American adults in economically disadvantaged areas manage their weight. Researchers recruited and trained coaches to lead a 12-week group lifestyle program. The goal was to see if t…

This study tested whether a health app (Patient Buddy and EncephalApp) plus scheduled follow-up calls and visits could reduce avoidable hospital readmissions within 30 days in 232 cirrhosis patients. Patients and their caregivers were trained on the app and received daily contact…

This study looked at 124 women having planned C-sections to see if placing a forced-air warming blanket on the upper body or under the body keeps core temperature more stable. Both blanket positions are already used in hospitals. The goal was to find the best spot to prevent heat…