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Patient Research Opportunities

Healthyhorns is proud to be part of one of the world’s largest research institutions where discovery — expanding knowledge and human understanding — is a core value.

If you’re interested in potentially having your study included on this webpage, please complete this form. A team member will follow up with you shortly.

Paid Research Study on Bipolar Disorder and Alcohol: Young Adults Needed

6/18/2025

Sciences is studying how brain biology is related to possible risk for developing bipolar disorder. This is an NIH funded study conducted by UT Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences that uses alcohol administration and MRI to investigate response to alcohol and brain development in young adults with bipolar disorder.

Qualified participants must be:

  • 21 to 26 years old
  • diagnosed with bipolar disorder
  • able to drink alcohol during study visits
  • able to complete 3 study visits involving diagnostic interviews, mental function (cognitive and behavioral) tests, a MRI scan
  • able to return one and two years later and repeat study components.

Qualified participants receive:

  • You will be compensated for all study components completed, which can be up to $1,021 for full participation.

Contact:

If you would like to participate or if you have any questions email us at behavioral.neuroimaging@austin.utexas.edu. You may complete this interest form and research staff will contact you.

Paid Research Study on Generalized Anxiety Disorder

8/28/25

Description (purpose of the study):
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UT Austin is conducting a research study to determine if the investigational study drug MM120 (also known as LSD) can help people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) compared to a placebo.

Study Duration:

Up to 58 weeks, including:

  • Part A: Double-blind treatment phase
  • Part B: Open-label treatment phase

Qualified participants must:

  • Be between 18 and 74 years old
  • Have a primary diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Exclusions include:

  • Any psychiatric disorder other than GAD that was the primary focus of treatment within the past 6 months
  • Having a first-degree relative with a lifetime history of psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder
  • Personal lifetime history of Bipolar I or II, PTSD or personality disorder
  • Treatment with deep brain stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimulation within 6 months prior to screening

Compensation:

  • Part A: $50 per in-person study visit + a one-time payment of $300 on dosing day
  • Part B: $50 per in-person study visit + active dose of the study drug if you qualify

For More Information

CO2 Reactivity as a Biomarker of Non-Response to Exposure-Based Therapy

6/18/2025

Description (purpose of the study):
This study is designed to evaluate the predictive power of a novel biomarker based on a CO2 challenge, thus addressing the central question "can this easy-to-administer assay aid clinicians in deciding whether or not to initiate exposure-based therapy?" The investigation addresses an important public health issue by testing an accessible clinical assessment strategy--informed by basic research--that may lead to a more effective treatment selection (personalized medicine) for patients with anxiety- and fear-related disorders and enhance our understanding of the mechanisms governing exposure-based therapy.

Eligibility criteria for Qualified participants:

  • A primary diagnosis of panic disorder (with or without an agoraphobia diagnosis), social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder
  • 18 to 70 years old
  • Willingness and ability to provide informed consent and comply with the requirements of the study protocol

Other criteria will need to be met to confirm your eligibility to participate in this study, which will last up to 12 weeks.

Qualified participants receive:

12 one-hour sessions of exposure based therapy, delivered over the course of 12 weeks. All therapy sessions will be delivered by trained and experienced license-eligible clinicians. You will also be compensated for all study components completed, which can be up to $300 for full participation.

For More Information

Depression and Memory

6/18/2025

Description (purpose of the study):
The Memory & Aging Lab in the Department of Psychology at UT Austin is conducting a brain MRI study to understand mood and memory changes across the adult lifespan.

Study Procedure:
This study uses brain MRIs to measure the relationship between mood and memory in the brain. We will ask you to come into the lab three times over 2 weeks for no more than 3 hours each time. If you are 65 years of age or older, we will ask you to return for a 4th visit in 2 years for some additional memory assessments and mood and health questions.

Eligibility criteria:
Black, Mexican-American and Non-Hispanic White adults between the ages of 18 to 75 years old without neurological impairments. You do not need to have a diagnosis or symptoms of depression to participate.

What you will get:
We compensate $20 per hour, and we will also compensate $5 for your travel costs for each visit or provide a flat $25 for an Uber/Lyft/Taxi. If you complete all visits, we will compensate you with an additional $100. Free parking is provided if you are driving

Interested?
Contact us by calling512-232-6904 or emailing duartelab@utexas.edu or fill out a screening form.

Study Flyer

Childhood Trauma, Dance Exercise, and Neurocognitive Performance

7/31/2025

Description (purpose of the study):
This study is investigating the effects of acute exercise on cognition in young adults who are at risk for early cognitive decline due to a history of certain adverse childhood experiences (ACEs; here, abuse or neglect as a child). Participants are asked to dance and stretch, complete questionnaires, and undergo neuropsychological testing.

Eligibility criteria for Qualified participants:

  • 18-39 years of age
  • Have a history of childhood abuse and/or neglect
  • Native or fluent English speakers
  • Normal or corrected to normal vision and hearing
  • Can attend two in-person visits (1.5 hours each) at the Dell Medical School - Health Discovery Building

Qualified participants receive:

  • $50 for completion of both visits
  • Reimbursement for parking

Contact:

Depression and Memory

6/18/2025

Description (purpose of the study):
The Memory & Aging Lab in the Department of Psychology at UT Austin is conducting a brain MRI study to understand mood and memory changes across the adult lifespan.

Study Procedure:
This study uses brain MRIs to measure the relationship between mood and memory in the brain. We will ask you to come into the lab three times over 2 weeks for no more than 3 hours each time. If you are 65 years of age or older, we will ask you to return for a 4th visit in 2 years for some additional memory assessments and mood and health questions.

Eligibility criteria:
Black, Mexican-American and Non-Hispanic White adults between the ages of 18 to 75 years old without neurological impairments. We are interested in people with a history of and/or current symptoms of depression.

What you will get:
We compensate $20 per hour, and we will also compensate $5 for your travel costs for each visit or provide a flat $25 for an Uber/Lyft/Taxi. If you complete all visits, we will compensate you with an additional $100. Free parking is provided if you are driving.

Interested?
Contact us by calling512-232-6904 or emailing duartelab@utexas.edu or fill out a screening form.

Study Flyer

TMS Depression Study

6/23/2025

Description (purpose of the study):
This study is exploring the use of Truncated SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) as a first-line treatment for adolescent depression.

Eligibility criteria for Qualified participants:

  • Be 13-20 years of age
  • Experiencing their first episode of depression
  • Recently started or not currently taking antidepressants.

Qualified participants receive:

  • Up to $525 for participation.
  • Five days of TMS treatment followed by four follow-up visits.
  • Avoid antidepressant side effects
  • Participants will benefit from an innovative, non-invasive treatment designed for high efficacy and safety.

For More Information

Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network (YDSRN)

6/23/2025

Description (purpose of the study):
The Texas YDSRN is a research initiative of the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium (TCMHCC), which was created by the 86th Texas Legislature. This is a study with a goal to advance care for depression and suicide for children and adolescents in Texas.

Eligibility criteria for Qualified participants:
Self-referrals are not allowed; you must be referred by a provider. If you don't have a medical or mental health provider, please contact University Health Services or the Counseling and Mental Health Center for assistance.

  • Be 8-20 years of age
  • Have a positive screening for depression; positive for suicidal ideation or behavior; or be in treatment for depression
  • Be able to dedicate time to the study. All study visits are remote and conducted virtually.

Exclusion for the YDSRN study include:

  • Have an acute medical or psychological condition(s) that would, in the judgment of the study medical clinician, make participants difficult or unsafe
  • Have an acute medical or psychological condition(s) that would result in an inability to accurately complete study requirements (e.g., neurological condition(s) or significant neurodevelopmental concerns)
  • Have active psychotic symptoms resulting in altered mental status and inability to provide assent or requiring immediate attention and/or higher level of intervention
  • Have a parent/LAR who is deemed cognitively unable to provide consent (if youth participant, aged 8-17)

Qualified participants receive:

  • Compensation of $475 (paid in part after each visit via electronic gift card)

For More Information

The Activ8 study (behavioral activation skills training for depression) is a substudy under TX-YDSRN. This is an 8-10 week virtually delivered treatment for depression.

For More Information

Paid Research Study on Depression and Sleep

8/20/25

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UT Austin is conducting a research study to determine if the study drug Seltorexant, when added to current antidepressant treatment, can help improve depression and sleep problems.

Study Duration:
Up to 36 months

  • Part 1: Approximately 3 months including the double-treatment phase
  • Part 2: Variable duration including the open-label treatment phase and a double-blind maintenance phase

Qualified participants must be:

  • Between 18 and 74 years old
  • Have a primary diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
  • Have had an inadequate response to 1–2 antidepressants started during the current depressive episode
  • Currently receiving and tolerating SSRI/SNRI treatment at a stable dose for at least 6 weeks

Exclusions include:

  • Primary diagnosis of another psychiatric condition treated within the past 2 years
  • Current active diagnosis of OCD, PTSD, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or fibromyalgia
  • History or current diagnosis of psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, borderline personality disorder or somatoform disorder
  • History of treatment-resistant MDD

Compensation:

  • $100 per study visit
  • Up to $63 for completing sleep diary entries

For More Information

CO2 Reactivity as a Biomarker of Non-Response to Exposure-Based Therapy

6/18/2025

Description (purpose of the study):
This study is designed to evaluate the predictive power of a novel biomarker based on a CO2 challenge, thus addressing the central question "can this easy-to-administer assay aid clinicians in deciding whether or not to initiate exposure-based therapy?" The investigation addresses an important public health issue by testing an accessible clinical assessment strategy--informed by basic research--that may lead to a more effective treatment selection (personalized medicine) for patients with anxiety- and fear-related disorders and enhance our understanding of the mechanisms governing exposure-based therapy.

Eligibility criteria for Qualified participants:

  • A primary diagnosis of panic disorder (with or without an agoraphobia diagnosis), social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder
  • 18 to 70 years old
  • Willingness and ability to provide informed consent and comply with the requirements of the study protocol

Other criteria will need to be met to confirm your eligibility to participate in this study, which will last up to 12 weeks.

Qualified participants receive:

12 one-hour sessions of exposure based therapy, delivered over the course of 12 weeks. All therapy sessions will be delivered by trained and experienced license-eligible clinicians. You will also be compensated for all study components completed, which can be up to $300 for full participation.

For More Information

CO2 Reactivity as a Biomarker of Non-Response to Exposure-Based Therapy

6/18/2025

Description (purpose of the study):
This study is designed to evaluate the predictive power of a novel biomarker based on a CO2 challenge, thus addressing the central question "can this easy-to-administer assay aid clinicians in deciding whether or not to initiate exposure-based therapy?" The investigation addresses an important public health issue by testing an accessible clinical assessment strategy--informed by basic research--that may lead to a more effective treatment selection (personalized medicine) for patients with anxiety- and fear-related disorders and enhance our understanding of the mechanisms governing exposure-based therapy.

Eligibility criteria for Qualified participants:

  • A primary diagnosis of panic disorder (with or without an agoraphobia diagnosis), social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder
  • 18 to 70 years old
  • Willingness and ability to provide informed consent and comply with the requirements of the study protocol

Other criteria will need to be met to confirm your eligibility to participate in this study, which will last up to 12 weeks.

Qualified participants receive:

12 one-hour sessions of exposure based therapy, delivered over the course of 12 weeks. All therapy sessions will be delivered by trained and experienced license-eligible clinicians. You will also be compensated for all study components completed, which can be up to $300 for full participation.

For More Information

Texas Childhood Trauma Research Network (TX-CTRN)

6/23/2025

Description (purpose of the study):
The Texas CTRN is a research initiative of the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium (TCMHCC), which was created by the 86th Texas Legislature. This is a study with a goal to better understand trajectories and outcomes of trauma experienced in childhood.

Eligibility criteria for Qualified participants:

  • Be 8-20 years of age
  • Have experienced a traumatic event over the course of their lifetime (eg, accidents, natural disasters, victimization, abuse)
  • Be able to dedicate time to the study. All study visits are remote and conducted virtually.

Qualified participants receive:

  • Compensation of $400 (paid in part after each visit via electronic gift card)

For More Information

Childhood Trauma, Dance Exercise, and Neurocognitive Performance

7/31/2025

Description (purpose of the study):
This study is investigating the effects of acute exercise on cognition in young adults who are at risk for early cognitive decline due to a history of certain adverse childhood experiences (ACEs; here, abuse or neglect as a child). Participants are asked to dance and stretch, complete questionnaires, and undergo neuropsychological testing.

Eligibility criteria for Qualified participants:

  • 18-39 years of age
  • Have a history of childhood abuse and/or neglect
  • Native or fluent English speakers
  • Normal or corrected to normal vision and hearing
  • Can attend two in-person visits (1.5 hours each) at the Dell Medical School - Health Discovery Building

Qualified participants receive:

  • $50 for completion of both visits
  • Reimbursement for parking

Contact:

CO2 Reactivity as a Biomarker of Non-Response to Exposure-Based Therapy

6/18/2025

Description (purpose of the study):
This study is designed to evaluate the predictive power of a novel biomarker based on a CO2 challenge, thus addressing the central question "can this easy-to-administer assay aid clinicians in deciding whether or not to initiate exposure-based therapy?" The investigation addresses an important public health issue by testing an accessible clinical assessment strategy--informed by basic research--that may lead to a more effective treatment selection (personalized medicine) for patients with anxiety- and fear-related disorders and enhance our understanding of the mechanisms governing exposure-based therapy.

Eligibility criteria for Qualified participants:

  • A primary diagnosis of panic disorder (with or without an agoraphobia diagnosis), social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder
  • 18 to 70 years old
  • Willingness and ability to provide informed consent and comply with the requirements of the study protocol

Other criteria will need to be met to confirm your eligibility to participate in this study, which will last up to 12 weeks.

Qualified participants receive:

12 one-hour sessions of exposure based therapy, delivered over the course of 12 weeks. All therapy sessions will be delivered by trained and experienced license-eligible clinicians. You will also be compensated for all study components completed, which can be up to $300 for full participation.

For More Information

Neurocognitive Function in Trauma Exposed Adolescents (NFTEA)

7/9/2025

Description (purpose of the study):
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UT Austin is conducting a research study on how trauma affects brain function. The study may involve interviews, questionnaires, memory and thinking tests, brain scans and saliva collection.

Qualified participants:

  • Must be between 16 and 21 years old.
  • May or may not have a history of traumatic event exposure.

Participants may be asked to:

  • Undergo interviews; questionnaires; tests of memory, attention, thinking speed, and problem-solving; a brain scan; and saliva collection.

Compensation:

  • Up to $200, for 2-6 hours of time over three days.

Participants may receive:

  • A brain scan at no cost.

Contact:

Paid Research Study: Mobile App to Support Youth with Self-Injurious Thoughts or Behaviors

10/16/2025

Description (purpose of the study):
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, is conducting a research study led by Yoon Jae Cho, MD, MPH. The study explores a mobile phone app designed to support young people who experience self-injurious thoughts or behaviors.

Using the app, participants can voice-record diary entries during moments of distress. The app’s AI then suggests Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills to help manage emotions. This research aims to develop innovative and accessible tools that support youth emotional well-being.

This study is overseen by Dr. Young Shin Kim, Chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Dell Medical School.

Eligibility

Participants must be:

  • 12–19 years old
  • Have a history of receiving DBT
  • Have self-injurious thoughts or behaviors (identified by a brief screener)
  • Currently engaged in mental healthcare
  • Have access to a mobile phone for at least 2 hours per day

Exclusions:

  • Non-English-speaking youth or parents
  • Suicide attempt within the past year
  • Active suicidal ideation with high-risk intent (as determined by the brief screener)

Study Details

  • Complete a brief screening survey
  • Eligible participants will be contacted by the research team for consent and next steps
  • Use the mobile app for 4 weeks
  • Complete short pre- and post-study assessments (under 30 minutes each)
  • May receive gift card compensation based on app usage

Contact:

If you believe a patient may qualify or would like more information, please contact the research team:

wave-project@austin.utexas.edu
512-922-3642

See the study flyer (PDF) for more information.

CO2 Reactivity as a Biomarker of Non-Response to Exposure-Based Therapy

6/18/2025

Description (purpose of the study):
This study is designed to evaluate the predictive power of a novel biomarker based on a CO2 challenge, thus addressing the central question "can this easy-to-administer assay aid clinicians in deciding whether or not to initiate exposure-based therapy?" The investigation addresses an important public health issue by testing an accessible clinical assessment strategy--informed by basic research--that may lead to a more effective treatment selection (personalized medicine) for patients with anxiety- and fear-related disorders and enhance our understanding of the mechanisms governing exposure-based therapy.

Eligibility criteria for Qualified participants:

  • A primary diagnosis of panic disorder (with or without an agoraphobia diagnosis), social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder
  • 18 to 70 years old
  • Willingness and ability to provide informed consent and comply with the requirements of the study protocol

Other criteria will need to be met to confirm your eligibility to participate in this study, which will last up to 12 weeks.

Qualified participants receive:

12 one-hour sessions of exposure based therapy, delivered over the course of 12 weeks. All therapy sessions will be delivered by trained and experienced license-eligible clinicians. You will also be compensated for all study components completed, which can be up to $300 for full participation.

For More Information