Clinical Research Directory

An Investigation of Mechanisms That Underly Paranoia in Behaviour and Brain That Can Inform Clinical Diagnoses That Include Paranoid Symptoms.

The study team is studying how delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - the component of cannabis that is responsible for "getting people feeling high" - influences how people think about the behaviour of others and a variety of other experiences. The study team is investigating these processes in healthy adults. The study team uses computer-based tasks and questionnaires to understand how people make conclusions about other people's intentions under different circumstances. In this study, the study team uses a placebo-controlled within-participant study design with three different conditions: (i) 1mg/ml THC administration, (ii) 2mg/ml THC administration, and (iii) placebo (Saline) administration, all via an intravenous IV. The study is within-participants, meaning that every participant will experience all three conditions. The study is double blind, meaning that neither the researcher nor the participant will know what condition they will be in on a given study visit. The sequence of conditions is balanced across participants.

SimuVersity Medical Center: Pain and Opioid Management Training in Diverse Patient Populations

This study aims to compare the effectiveness of the new educational activity/game (a novel, engaging digital-training plus interaction with virtual patients to practice skills) in meeting clinical learning objectives and outcomes compared to traditional didactic (powerpoint slide-based training and text-base case scenarios) approaches to provider and student education and satisfaction.

Measurement and Determinants of Diet Quality in Older Adults

The goal of this observational study is to learn about dietary quality and barriers to healthy eating among older adults who participate in the Los Angeles County Food Rx Produce Distribution Program. The study will also evaluate whether a newer dietary assessment tool, the Global Diet Quality Questionnaire (GDQQ), performs similarly to an established dietary assessment tool, the Mediterranean Diet Scale (PREDIMED MDS), in measuring diet quality among adults aged 60 years and older. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is the GDQQ associated with diet quality scores measured by the PREDIMED Mediterranean Diet Scale? * Does the GDQQ predict self-reported body mass index (BMI) as well as or better than the PREDIMED Mediterranean Diet Scale? * What barriers and facilitators influence healthy eating and participation in produce distribution programs among older adults? Participants will: * Complete questionnaires about their dietary habits, demographic characteristics, and food access experiences. * Complete two dietary quality assessment tools: the PREDIMED Mediterranean Diet Scale and the Global Diet Quality Questionnaire. * If randomly selected, participate in a one-time semi-structured interview to discuss healthy eating, food access, experiences with produce distribution events, and challenges to improving dietary quality.

Acute Effect of Capsimax on Resistance Exercise Performance, Muscle Oxygenation, Nitric Oxide Release, Resting Energy Expenditure and Reaction Time

Capsimax is a novel, proprietary encapsulated form of capsaicin, a natural and bioactive phytochemical found in chili pepper and other spicy food. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Capsimax on resistance exercise performance, reaction time, and resting energy expenditure around exercise. This investigation will also measure muscle oxygenation and intramuscular nitric oxide in real time during resistance exercise using a non-invasive wearable technology. Primary Objective • To examine the effects of Capsimax on physical performance metrics including peak power and rate of force development during an isometric strength test and performance during the barbell back squat exercise protocol (e.g., repetitions performed, total volume, peak power, average power). Secondary Objectives * To examine the effects of Capsimax on resting energy expenditure around exercise. * To examine the effects of Capsimax on nitric oxide bioavailability and skeletal muscle oxygenation during exercise. Exploratory Objective • To examine the effects of Capsimax on reaction time around exercise