2015 Gulf War Illness Study

posted Jun 24, 2015, 6:30 PM by Baraniuk Lab   [ updated Apr 5, 2018, 11:29 AM ]
*Update: This study has ended. We are no longer accepting participants at this time.

Exercise, Brain Scan and Spinal Tap Study to understand Gulf War Illness (GWI).  

We are currently recruiting adults with and without GWI to participate in a 3 day research study to understand the underlying mechanisms of GWI. Exercise causes the brain to “short-circuit” in GWI subjects. The MRI locates problem areas. Tests on blood and the fluid around the brain (Lumbar Puncture) tell us what is going wrong in GWI.  Compensation for time and travel will be paid. 

Dr. Baraniuk and his team will assess your health and medications to decide if you can take part in the study. If so, then you will be scheduled to come to Georgetown University Clinical Research Unit (CRU) for your screening examination and tests. You will fill out an extensive set of questionnaires over the internet to provide background information about your health and other aspects of your life.

Research participants will have blood work, interviews, and physical examination. If you agree to take part and your blood tests are normal then you may start the study:
On Day 1 you will have a magnetic resonance imaging brain scan (MRI) and then a bicycle exercise test, hand grip, heart rate and blood pressure tests. 
You will stay overnight in the CRU so the staff can check for changes brought on by the exercise.
On Day 2 you will have the same tests, but in the opposite order, with the exercise test before the MRI. Finally, you will have a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) to collect a sample of the fluid from around your brain so we can determine what has gone wrong with the brain in GWI, how to fix the problem, and how to develop new treatments.
On Day 3  you will review the study results with Dr. Baraniuk and then be discharged to return home.
Lumbar Puncture: We have discovered markers that tell the difference between GWI subjects and veterans and other people without GWI. We want to see if these markers can diagnose GWI, and help us fix what has gone wrong in the brain.

Please contact us if you are interested in participating: 
Telephone 202-687-8231, FAX 202-687-9886
E-mail: baraniuklab@gmail.com
Georgetown University Medical Center



To donate to our research efforts on GWI please visit http://giving.georgetown.edu/where-to-give/gumc/research and select the "Make a Gift" box to the right.  Under "Giving Options" select "Other" and type in Gulf War Illness.
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