Healthy Adults Needed For Study of Genetics, Brain Function, and Mental Health

Those enrolled will be compensated up to $250 for participating in this study.

Learn More About Your Options Today

About the Study

Why do some people develop anxiety or depression while others don’t? This research study examines the relationship between brain function, genetics, personality traits, and mental health risk and resilience.


People aged 18–45 who have not been diagnosed with a psychiatric condition, have never taken psychiatric medication, and are not currently taking any are invited to participate. The study includes an online questionnaire, one in-person visit (7–8 hours) with cognitive testing, an interview, and an MRI, followed by a short daily survey (1–2 minutes) for 28 days. Compensation of up to $250 is provided.


Click here to see the project explanatory statement.

Who Can Participate?

  • Healthy adults aged 18 - 45 years old
  • Must not have been diagnosed with a psychiatric condition or taken psychiatric medication
  • Must not have a history of frequent and recurring headaches or migraines
  • European ancestry (all 4 grandparents of European descent)
  • English is your first spoken language or a sufficient level of fluency that is similar to it being your first spoken language
  • Normal, or corrected to normal, vision
  • Must be right-handed
  • Must be able to attend 1 study visit at the research site on a weekday (Mon - Fri 9:00 am - 5:00 pm).
  • Must not have any metal in the body (mouth braces, medical implants, or permanent piercings)
  • Must not have a history of past seizures, concussions, or loss of consciousness that lasted more than 3 minutes
  • Must not have a history of frequent and recurring headaches or migraines, past seizures, concussions, or loss of consciousness that lasted more than 3 minutes
  • Must not have any neurological disorder (e.g. epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, functional neurological disorder) or history of neurosurgery (e.g. removal of cyst or tumour, or implantation of a stent)
  • Not currently pregnant or trying to conceive
  • Must not have a history of:
    • Exposure to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) within the past 6 months
    • More than 2 weeks exposure to TMS within past year
    • More than 3 months continuous TMS at any point in your life
    • Any prior exposure to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
  • Have not taken medication or other drugs that significantly reduce or increase your body's natural sex hormone production (e.g., suppressing/increasing oestrogen, progesterone, or testosterone levels, such as GnRH analogues like leuprorelin, goserelin or anabolic steroids)
  • Have not undergone hormone therapy that introduces sex hormones into the body (e.g., oestrogen, progesterone, or testosterone therapy, including tablets, patches, gels, or injections)
  • Have not taken medications that significantly change how sex hormones act in the body (e.g., by blocking their effects, such as anti-androgens like cyproterone acetate or estrogen blockers like tamoxifen)
  • Have not had surgery to remove both ovaries (oophorectomy) or both testes (orchiectomy)
  • Have not undergone other hormone therapy (e.g., thyroid medication, insulin, cortisol) for more than 3 months in the last 12 months

Why Participate?

  • You will be compensated up to $250 for participating in this study.
  • You will be helping researchers to better understand how to identify people at risk of psychiatric disorders.
  • You will be helping researchers to potentially improve early detection and diagnosis of psychiatric disorders.
  • You will be helping to advance medical research.

Meet the Lead Researcher

Professor Alex Fornito

Alex Fornito is Head of the Neural Systems and Behaviour Lab and the Brain Mapping and Modelling Program at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University. His research concentrates on developing new imaging techniques for mapping human brain connectivity and applying these methods to shed light on brain function in health and disease. A major emphasis of his work concerns understanding foundational principles of brain organization and their genetic basis; characterizing brain connectivity disturbances in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia; and mapping how brain networks dynamically reconfigure in response to changing task demands.

Professor Mark Bellgrove

Mark Bellgrove is Director of Research and a Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, where he leads a multidisciplinary team studying the biological basis of attention and cognitive control. His laboratory comprises state-of-the-art cognitive neuroscience suites alongside molecular facilities for functional genomics. His group has made significant progress in defining the molecular genetic architecture and neurochemical drivers of attention and cognitive control.

Study Details and Location

Research Site

Monash Biomedical Imaging

Location

770 Blackburn Road, Clayton 3168

Lead Researcher

Professor Alex Fornito

Ethics Committee

This study has been reviewed and approved by the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (Project #43629)

We Have You Covered

IRB Approved
Trained Staff

Ethics Approved

Trained Staff

This trial has been reviewed and approved by an independent ethics committee. 

All research staff that are running this trial have been trained in GCP, which assures that the rights, safety, and well-being of research subjects are protected and respected.

Data Encrypted
HIPPA Compliant

Encrypted Data

National Privacy Standards

All data you provide us is encrypted and stored safely and securely in accordance with security and privacy rules.

We follow all established national privacy standards used in all doctors' offices, hospitals and other businesses where personal medical information is stored.

Your Rights

Informed Consent Before Participation

Withdraw At Any Time

Strictly Confidential

Your records relating to this study and any other information received will be kept strictly confidential, except as required by the law.

If you decide to participate in the study and later feel that you no longer wish to be part of it, you may withdraw at any time.

You will receive a detailed outline of all details of the study, including treatment, risks and procedures, and given the chance to ask questions to study staff, before you decide whether to participate.

Ready to make a

difference?

Is this study not for you?

Join our new trial email list to be notified of new trials that could be a fit for you.

© 2024 Trialfacts. All Rights Reserved. | (415) 704-1575 USA | (07) 3054 7094 AUS support@trialfacts.com | Privacy Policy