Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

This study looks at how well a special intensive therapy called ACQUIRE Therapy works for children with motor problems caused by conditions like cerebral palsy, autism, or brain injury. The therapy involves many hours of play-based exercises each day, often with a cast or splint …

This study looks at whether drinking water before meals helps people aged 50 and older with overweight or obesity lose weight. 375 participants will be split into three groups: one drinks water before each meal, one drinks water throughout the day, and one follows a diet without …

This study tests a handheld device that gives gentle directional cues (haptic feedback) to help people with Parkinson's disease perform arm movements more accurately. Twenty participants will use either the haptic device or a similar non-haptic version during home sessions over 8…

This study tests a telehealth program called RELAX that teaches teens with ADHD and their parents skills to manage strong emotions and reduce family conflict. About 60 families will be split into two groups: one gets the RELAX program, the other gets educational materials. A smal…

This study is testing whether low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) — a noninvasive device that sends sound waves to the brain — can help people with chronic back pain, opioid cravings, and anxiety. Researchers will enroll 25 adults and measure safety, mood, heart rate, and oth…

This study tests whether a 9-step mindset management program called Organic Conceptions can reduce stress in women struggling with infertility. About 66 new patients at a fertility clinic will either take the program or serve as a control group. Researchers will measure stress le…

This study tracks how a touch signal on the finger travels through the nervous system to the brain. Researchers will apply different force levels to the finger and measure when people first feel it, along with brain activity using fMRI. The study includes 60 people: young adults,…

This study tests whether low-intensity focused ultrasound can change how the brain processes pain signals. Healthy volunteers will receive ultrasound and fMRI scans to measure brain activity during heat pain. The goal is to understand the technique's effects, not to treat pain di…

This study looks at how different tax plans affect what smokers choose to buy in a simulated online store. About 316 daily smokers will use a virtual marketplace where cigarettes and other nicotine products have different prices based on tax rules. The goal is to see if certain t…

This study looks at whether a 14-week strength training program can prevent muscle loss and balance problems in adults aged 50 and older who are starting GLP-1 medications like Wegovy or Zepbound. Thirty participants will either start strength training right away or wait 14 weeks…

This study looks at how setting a very-low-nicotine standard for cigarettes and changing prices of illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes affects what people buy in a virtual marketplace. About 70 adult smokers and dual users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes will take part. The goal i…

This study looks at whether the artificial sweeteners aspartame and sucralose affect blood sugar control in adults aged 40 and older with prediabetes. Participants will receive either one of the sweeteners or a placebo as part of their diet for 8 weeks. Researchers will monitor b…

This study looks at how people with depressed mood, loss of interest, or anxiety respond to rewards and losses. Participants will play computer learning games and may have brain scans. The goal is to understand whether these responses are unique or overlapping, which could improv…