Help us find out by joining our study. The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Nutrition Sciences, is conducting an exciting research study, in collaboration with Pennington Biomedical Research Center, to investigate whether intermittent fasting or calorie restriction (i.e., losing weight) can improve health and slow the aging process.

If you are randomly selected to do calorie restriction, you may lose weight by eating less. If you are randomly selected to do intermittent fasting, you will fast for 16 hours per day and eat dinner by 6 pm about 6 days per week (1 break day per week). We want you to be successful: the study provides intensive coaching and support to help you successfully lose weight or practice intermittent fasting.

To qualify, you should:

Be 25-45 years old
Have a BMI between 22-30 Calculate your BMI here
Be healthy
Not currently taking any medications or supplements for chronic conditions
Not smoke, vape, or use tobacco products currently or within the last 6 months
Not currently participate in a regular program of heavy physical activity (e.g., jogging, running, or riding fast on a bicycle for 30 minutes or more per day)
The study involves collecting a medical history, body fat and bone scans, blood draws, urine collection, questionnaires, and other simple tests. Participation in the study will last approximately 7 months. Compensation of up to $1,500 is offered for the completion of this study. If you are interested in participating and think you may be eligible, please click the button below to screen online, call 205-934-1457, or email dial@uab.edu.

We are looking for individuals with spinal cord injury to participate in a home based exercise program for improving cardiometabolic health outcomes, such as body weight, blood sugar, cholesterol, and cardiovascular fitness. To qualify you must have a confirmed diagnosis of SCI at the cervical or thoracic level (C7-T12, classified as A, B, C, or D on the AIS scale), be at least 3 years post-injury, aged 19-65 years old. Participants will exercise for 16-weeks from home using an arm crank cycle ergometer and will receive $300 for completing the study. For more information, and to see if you might be eligible to join, please contact (205) 996-4114 or email at grdnfs@uab.edu

Minimum Eligibility Requirements: • You are 18- to 35-years-old. • You are currently wearing glasses/contact lenses. • You know how to use soft contact lenses. • You have had an eye exam within the last 2 years This study includes four to six visits, which will happen over ten weeks. If eligible, you will be compensated $20 to $40/visit with a maximum of $140 for your participation in the study. If interested, please contact Keyur Savla at 205-212-0355 or ksavla@uab.edu for additional information.

Do you have Urinary Leakage? If you are eligible (women 65 years or older), you will take part in a 12-week hip muscle exercise program, individualized sessions taught by a licensed physical therapist specialized in hip strength. The program offers 12 private sessions, alternating in-person and phone visits (a “home program”) Compensation will be provided. For more information, please call 205.934.5498.

You may be eligible to participate in a research study about the effects of Sacubitril/Valsartan or Valsartan on your body’s 24-hour rhythm of a hormone in your blood called natriuretic peptides. This hormone and the study medications are related to the heart. Eligible participants must be obese (BMI: 30-45 kg/m2) men and women and have no history of diabetes, heart problems, or kidney problems. The study involves consuming prepared meals, wearing a blood pressure monitor for 24-hours, a 24-hour inpatient stay, and collecting blood and urine samples. The meals will be provided at no cost. Participants will be compensated $560 for completing the study visits. Please e-mail Nehal at PRECISION-BPSTUDY@uabmc.edu if you are interested.

Overweight/Obese adult volunteers needed for study If you are between the ages of 18 -89 yrs and have a body mass index > 30 kg/m2 you may be eligible to participate in a study exploring the reason why individuals who have high BMI have an increased risk of forming calcium oxalate kidney stones. Participation involves eating study-provided meals for 4 days, providing urine and blood samples. Study meals are provided free of charge and additional compensation up to $140 is offered. For more information call 205-934-5712 or email kidneystone@uabmc.edu or kidneystoneresearch@uabmc.edu

Adults with Type 2 Diabetes needed for a study If you are between the ages of 18 -89 yrs and have type 2 diabetes you may be eligible to participate in a study exploring the reason why individuals who have diabetes have an increased risk of forming calcium oxalate kidney stones. Individuals who are obese, overweight, or normal weight are all welcome to the study. Participation involves eating study-provided meals for 4 days, providing urine and blood samples. Study meals are provided free of charge and additional compensation up to $140 is offered. For more information, call 205-934-5712 or email kidneystone@uabmc.edu or kidneystoneresearch@uabmc.edu.

Do you experience urine leakage with a strong and sudden urge and you leak before reaching the toilet? You may be eligible to participate in this important study if you are female and 21 years of age or older, if you are experiencing urine leakage with the feeling of urgency, coughing, sneezing, or laughing. For more information, contact our research team at 205-934-5498. Compensation is provided.

Do you experience accidental bowel leakage? You may qualify for a bowel leakage research study if you are female, 18 years or older, and have had accidental bowel leakage for at least 6 months. For more information contact 205-934-5498. Compensation is provided.

You may be eligible to participate in the UAB’s Cardiovascular Research Biobank (CARBON), a repository of biological samples that will be used for future research about heart disease, diabetes, genomics, and more. Participants must be over the age of 18. The study will require one brief visit to UAB and collection of blood samples. Participants will be compensated. Please contact Nehal Vekariya at carbonstudy@uabmc.edu or 205-934-7173 if you are interested.

Healthy Volunteers Needed If you are: • 18-50 years of age • Can read and write in English • Are generally healthy • And have no history of mental illness or psychiatric disorders

For more information and to determine eligibility, please call UAB Office of Psychiatric Research at (205) 934-8203. **Compensation is provided**

The UAB Epilepsy Center is looking for participants aged 15 and older for a brain imaging study. Eligible individuals will have psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) without co-morbid epilepsy. The study involves one visit at UAB Highlands Hospital and will last up to 2.5 hours. Participants will undergo a brain MRI, complete questionnaires, and provide a small amount of blood. You will be compensated $100 for completing the visit. If interested, please contact Dr. Christina Mueller at (205) 671-4355 or cm1@uab.edu.

Do you have pain in one or both of your knees on most days? If so, you may qualify for a research study being conducted at the University of Alabama Birmingham. We are seeking people between 45 and 85 years of age to participate in a study of brain and breathing treatments for arthritis pain. The study involves seven visits over a three-week period to the study center at the University of Alabama Birmingham, where clinical tests and brain stimulation treatment will be done, along with brain scanning. Participants will receive $350 for completing the study. If you are interested, please call the PROACT Study at 205-934-9614.

Are you a Female and Experience a Loss of Urine with Urge and Frequency? Do you have Overactive Bladder with Urinary Leakage? Compensation will be provided. To find out if you are eligible, please call at 205-934-1777 or email Dr. Russell Stanley at russellstanley@uabmc.edu.

Do you have a loved one with agitation associated with Alzheimer’s dementia? Is their agitation becoming overwhelming? Examples of some easily identifiable agitated behaviors are: restlessness, screaming, shouting, throwing things, resistiveness, constant unwarranted requests for attention or help, pacing/aimless wandering, kicking, hitting others or self, pushing people, hurting self or others, tearing things or destroying property. In this study, researchers want to find out if an investigational drug called AVP-786 is safe and effective (useful) in managing agitation in adults with Alzheimer’s dementia, when compared to a placebo. If you are a caregiver for a person with Alzheimer’s disease, please call (205) 996-5987 or email lalexander@uabmc.edu for more information.

The RECOVER study will investigate the use of Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Therapy in up to 1,000 people across the United States. To join the RECOVER study you must be 18 years or older and: currently depressed, have bi-polar depression that has lasted for at least two years or recurred several times, and have tried at least four types of antidepressant treatments and not found them helpful. Please leave a voice message at (205) 975-0068 or email candacegreen@uabmc.edu for more information.

We are looking for adults with type 2 diabetes for an exciting research study to see whether intermittent fasting and/or using light therapy can improve your blood sugar, improve your overall health, and reset your body clock. Participants will either eat early in the day, graze throughout the day, and/or use a special light therapy box or glasses. You may be eligible if you have type 2 diabetes, are 30-80 years old, are not taking insulin, and usually wake up between 5:00 and 9:00 am. The main part of the study lasts 16 weeks and involves two overnight tests in our clinic (which can be done on weekends, if preferred). Participants will receive $2400 for completing the study.

If you are interested, please follow the link http://bit.ly/clocksstudy to apply for the CLOCKS study. Or for more information, please contact our research team for more information at CLOCKSSTUDY@uab.edu or 205-484-7329 or 205-484-5633.

We are looking for adults for an exciting research study to see whether meal timing can improve your blood sugar, blood pressure, and your overall health. Participants will be randomized to follow an eating schedule for 8 weeks. You may be eligible if you are 30-70 years old, BMI between 30-60 kg/m2, are not taking diabetes medication, and wake up between 5:00 and 8:00 am regularly. Adults with prediabetes, blood sugar issues, or a family history of diabetes are encouraged to apply. This study involves two overnight tests plus eating only food that we provide you. Participants will receive $1200 for completing the study and 8 weeks of meals, valued at a total of $2400. If you are interested, please visit https://bit.ly/mealtimingstudy to apply for the study. Or for more information, please contact one of our research coordinators at mealtiming@uab.edu or 205-580-7692.