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Active Studies
Asthmacon
The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of exposure to particles from the Chapel Hill environment on the cardio-respiratory health of persons with mild to moderate asthma. Air pollution particles from many geographically diverse areas have been associated with an increase in asthma exacerbation. Following medical screening, study participants will make 5 visits to the EPA Human Studies Facility for a total of about 22 hours over approximately 6 weeks. This study involves breathing tests, cardiac monitoring, use of an exercise bicycle, blood draws, exposure to concentrated and plain air, and two bronchoscopy procedures (see "CRU Bronchoscopy" for details). Exposure sessions are separated by 4 weeks.
CHAPS
This study currently is filled. The purpose of this study is to identify the respiratory effects of short-term, low-level chlorine gas exposure in healthy adults. To do this EPA investigators will exposure volunteers to an atmosphere containing 0.5 ppm chlorine gas and evaluate changes in respiratory function and evidence of respiratory tract inflammation. This level of chlorine gas exposure is within workday limits recommended by several U.S. health and regulatory agencies [the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists].
This study is for healthy people ages 18 to 35. Volunteers will undergo routine EPA medical screening followed by 6 study visits, about 32 hours, over about 8 to 9 weeks. Study visits include a training session during which the volunteer’s reaction to an inhaled drug (methacholine) will be evaluated, 2 exposure sessions with follow up sessions, and a final follow up visit. Bronchoscopy procedures will be performed following each exposure [see CRU Bronchoscopy for details about this procedure]. Other study testing will include IV blood donations, lung function tests, nasal washes, nasal resistance measurements, and moderate exercise on a treadmill. Volunteers will also wear a heart monitor during exposures testing.
CRU-Bronchoscopy
This study currently is filled. The purpose of this research study is to acquire cells from both blood and lungs for further test tube studies of environmental agents. Healthy volunteers and people with asthma ages 18 to 40 will complete a medical history and undergo a physical exam and breathing tests prior to the procedure to determine eligibility. Bronchoscopy involves placement of a thin, flexible tube through the nose and into the lungs with the aid of a local anesthetic. Volunteers must be able to tolerate use of a small intravenous tube for blood sampling. Total time commitment after screening is 1 visit lasting 3 to 4 hours.
GLUTOZ
This is a study for people ages 18 to 50 with mild asthma. The purpose of this research study is to learn if volunteers who have asthma and have a particular genotype, known as the GSTM1 null genotype, have increased response to ozone compared to volunteers with asthma who have the GSTMI sufficient genotype. Volunteers will be studied for six days, approximately 18 hours, over about 1 month. Following screening and training sessions, there will be one 3-day study session and a brief follow up visit 5 to 10 days later. Experiments will involve breathing tests, light exercise, blood samples, sputum induction, genetic testing and exposure to ozone.
KING CON
The purpose of this research study is to learn about how asthma in older adults is different from asthma in younger people. This study of older adults with asthma is meant to be a companion study to one currently underway at EPA which is studying the effects of air pollution particles on young asthmatics (see ASTHMACON, above). Researchers expect a comparison of these two studies will determine if older people with asthma are more susceptible to air pollution than are younger asthmatics. This study will also help to determine if individuals with a specific genotype are also more susceptible to air pollution. Volunteers must be healthy, non-smoking adults with mild asthma, between the ages of 45 and 65. Following genotyping and medical screening, volunteers will complete a training session and two exposure and follow-up sessions. One exposure will be to clean air and one to concentrated Chapel Hill air particles. The amount of particles you will be exposed to is less than what you would likely encounter on a smoggy day in an urban area. Following each exposure a bronchoscopy procedure will be performed (see CRU Bronchoscopy, above). Exposure sessions are separated by at least two weeks. Total time commitment after screening is 5 visits over about 22 hours. Compensation is provided.
MASAES
This observational study will measure the effects of daily variations in outdoor air pollution levels on asthma symptoms, lung function, markers of inflammation, and heart rate variability. Volunteers ages 18 to 50 will wear personal air pollution monitors and heart monitors for five 24-hour periods and will keep diaries of their activities and asthma symptoms. Ambient air will be assessed through state operated monitoring stations. This not a chamber exposure study, or a study of a new drug or device. This study is for people with physician-diagnosed mild or moderate/severe asthma. Following screening, the study requires five 2-day study sessions each about a week apart. Procedures will include blood draws, sputum collection, breathing tests, and daily at home diaries and peak flow measures.
NASAL CELL (NOSEY)
CURRENTLY RECRUITING INDIVIDUALS WITH ASTHMA ONLY. This study is for people ages 18 to 65 who are healthy non-smokers or healthy non-smokers with asthma. If you qualify, EPA needs cells from the inside of you nose for in vitro research studies. These cells will be exposed to air pollutants in a dish at a later time so that researchers can learn more about how pollution causes health problems. A small plastic insturment will be used to remove the cells from you nose by gently scraping inside each nostril for about 5 seconds. The study takes about 30 minutes. You will be compensated $50 for the study and reimbursed for out of town travel. Parking is provided.
OBOZ
There is growing evidence that the lungs of people who are overweight may be more affected by ozone, a common air pollutant, than those of normal weight people. The purpose of this research study is to compare the effect of ozone exposure on airway reactivity and lung inflammation in normal weight vs. overweight adult women ages 18 to 35. Women are currently being studied because there is epidemiologic data to indicate that the association between obesity and asthma is stronger in women than in men. In this study women considered overweight must have a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 40 and a waist size of at least 35 inches. Normal weight women must have a BMI less than 25 and a waist size less than 29.5 inches. Click on the link below to calculate your BMI. All volunteers must be healthy non-smokers who are able to perform sustained light exercise on a treadmill. Study testing will include lung function measurements, blood sampling, measurements of airway reactivity, sputum inductions and body fat measurement. Time commitment after medical screening is 5 visits, about 23 hours, over about 3 to 5 weeks. http://nhlbisupport.com/b
mi/bmicalc.htm
OMEGACON
Elder Diet and Air Pollution Study: This is a study for healthy 50 to 75 year old adults. The main purpose of this research study is to determine if a component of ambient air pollution to which we are all exposed, particulate matter (PM), elevates the risks of cardiac changes and whether fish oil supplements will lessen the risks caused by PM. Results from this study may increase the understanding of how gaseous and particulate air pollutants (which causes the haze seen in some polluted cities) may adversely affect the functioning of the human cardiovascular and respiratory systems. This understanding may be especially important for patients with cardiopulmonary diseases. As a volunteer you will undergo a blood test to determine the type of a particular gene you carry. This gene, (GSTM1, glutathione-S-transferase) is one of several genes responsible for protecting your body against oxidants such as PM, and some recent studies have shown that people carrying a mutation in this specific gene, which renders this gene inactive, may be more susceptible to the effects of air pollutants.
Participation in this study will require six weeks of dietary restrictions and four weeks of fish oil or olive oil treatments, as well as one exposure to clean air and one to a controlled amount of air pollution particles, no more than you might encounter if you visited a large city such as Los Angeles, New York, or Mexico City on a smoggy day. Study procedures include breathing tests, heart rate monitoring, blood tests, and ultrasound imaging of an artery in your arm. During the ultrasound procedure you will also be given a dose of nitroglycerine, which is a short-acting vasodilator. Total time commitment after screening is about 15 22 hours, over 6-7 weeks. Compensation up to $1418 is provided.
SMOKEY
This study currently is filled. The main purpose of this research study is to determine if wood stove exhaust causes inflammation in the lugs and blood of people who are exposed. The World Health Organization has listed the “burning of biomass” as one of the world’s ten greatest health concerns. Results from this study may increase the understanding of how air pollutants may adversely affect the functioning of human lungs. Volunteer ages 18 to 40 will visit the Human Studies Facility 5 times for a total of about 24 hours over 4 to 5 weeks. This study involves breathing tests, blood and urine samplings, heart rate monitoring, moderate exercise, exposure to clean air and wood stove exhaust, and 2 bronchoscopy procedures (see CRU bronchoscopy study for details).
XCON
This study currently is filled. The purpose of this study is to determine if people ages 25 to 70 with "metabolic syndrome" who are exposed to ultra-fine particles normally present in outdoor air develop temporary changes in their blood vessels, heart, blood cells and blood proteins. To do this, the EPA will expose volunteers to Chapel Hill air that is collected and concentrated on the day of the study. Levels of pollution will not be higher than those in many major cities around the world.
Metabolic syndrome is defined by having at least 3 of the following 5 criteria: 1) waist size greater than 40" for men or 35" for women, or Body Mass Index greater than 30; 2) blood pressure greater than 130/85 (but, for this study, less than 160/100) or blood pressure controlled on certain medications; 3) HDL cholesterol less than 40 for men or less than 50 for women; 4) fasting blood sugar between 100 and 126; and 5) triglycerides 150 or above. Many people with metabolic syndrome have a parent or sibling with diabetes, although individuals who themselves have diagnosed diabetes will not be eligible. Study participants will complete general medical screening and a specialized screening test which include an ultrasound of an artery in the arm. Study procedures include blood draws and exposures to concentrated and clean air. Participants will be asked to wear ECG leads during the study and a heart rate monitor over night. Total time commitment is about 26 hours, 7 visits, over a 5 or 6 week period.
11 studies displayed.
Last updated on 5/22/2009.
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