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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
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
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.
FLAIR
STUDY WILL RESUME IN THE FALL. This study is about allergic rhinitis (like hay fever) and diesel exhaust exposure. People with allergic rhinitis often have symptoms of sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, post nasal drip, scratchy or itchy throat or itchy nose or ears. The purpose of this study is determine if individuals with these kinds of symptoms have increased inflammatory responses to flu virus following exposure to diesel exhaust. Healthy, non-asthmatic, volunteers ages 18 to 35 will be exposed to either diesel exhaust, in levels similar to that found in large cities, or to plain air, after which FluMist will be administered (sprayed into your nose). FluMist is an FDA-approved vaccine known to be effective in preventing the influenza virus infection. The inflammatory response in your nose will be evaluated by obtaining a series of nasal lavages, or rinses of your nose with salt water, and 2 superficial biopsies of the inside lining of your nose. The study involves nine visits over about 5 to 7 weeks.
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.
LOCONOZ
STUDY WILL RESUME IN THE FALL: The purpose of this study is to measure lung function responses in healthy young adults during and immediately after exposure to low concentration ozone with moderate exercise. There will be three 6.6 hour exposure sessions a week apart. Investigators will examine whether healthy young adults are affected by exposure to ozone concentrations below the USEPA standard (0.08 ppm), and whether genetic variations play a role in individuals’ response to ozone exposure. This study is for healthy adults ages 18 to 35 who are fit and able to exercise continuously at 50 minute intervals. Exercise sessions will be repeated six times during each exposure session. Lung function and breathing tests will be performed during and after exercise and heart rate monitoring will be done throughout the exposure. A blood sample will be collected on the training day. The study involves up to 5 visits over about 1 month. 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.
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
OMEGA PILOT
This is a study for healthy 50 to 75 year old adults. The main purpose of this pilot study is to identify an optimal concentration of diesel exhaust which can be used to study the risks of cardiac changes in healthy older subjects. 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 particular genes you carry. The genes, glutathione-S-transferase (GSTM1 and GSTP1) are genes responsible for protecting your body against oxidants such as diesel exhaust, and some recent studies have shown that people carrying an inactive form of GSTM1 and a variant of GSTP1 may be more susceptible to the effects of air pollutants. Therefore, in this pilot study, we will study the responses to diesel exhaust in healthy older subjects with very specific genetic characteristics.
If you are eligible for the remainder of the study after screening you will have up to 7 visits over approximately 18 to 20 weeks. Total time commitment after eligibility screening is about 36 hours. Procedures involved include breathing tests, heart rate monitoring, blood tests, and exposures to controlled amounts of diesel exhaust. Even at the highest level of exposure, you will not be exposed to more particles than you might encounter if you visited a large city such Los Angeles, New York, or Mexico City on a smoggy day. Compensation is provided.
XCON
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.
10 studies displayed.
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