Studies

We have a number of active studies that are currently recruiting individuals with eating disorders, who have recovered from eating disorders, and who have never had an eating disorder. Please see below for our current research studies and who to contact if you are interested in participating. If you have any further research participation questions, please contact us at edresearch@health.ucsd.edu. 

Research Registry
If you or your child would like to be considered to participate in any future studies, please join our research registry below. As part of this registry, our research team will reach out to you if you or your child is deemed eligible for any future studies, based on your survey responses. 

Join our Research Registry

Active Studies

Incentive Processing and Learning in Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa

ABOUT THE STUDY

This neuroimaging  study aims to examine the neurobiology of eating disorders in women. We will investigate areas of the brain responsible for ‘liking’, ‘wanting’, and learning using brain imaging techniques, computer tasks, a test meal, and self-report questionnaires and interviews. 

WHAT YOU’LL BE ASKED TO DO 

This research study involves one phone call and three study visits over one year: 

  • Brief screening typically over the phone (~30 minutes) 
  • Visit 1 – Interviews/Surveys/Physical Evaluation (~3 hours) 
  • Visit 2 – fMRI imaging/Computer tasks/Surveys/Study Meal (~5 hours) 
  • Visit 3 – 1-Year Follow Up Interviews/Surveys/Study Meal (~4 hours) 

WE'RE RECRUITING

You may be eligible if you are: 

  • between the ages of 18 and 39
  • currently have an eating disorder OR never had an eating disorder 

COMPENSATION

Participants may receive up to $450 for completing all study procedures and will receive pictures of your brain. 

For more information or to see if you are eligible, please visit: https://clinicaltrials.ucsd.edu/trial/NCT05056597 

Avoidance-Driven Decision Making and Learning in Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa

ABOUT THE STUDY

This neuroimaging research study aims to examine the neurobiology of eating disorders in women. We will investigate areas of the brain responsible for avoidance learning using brain imaging techniques, computer tasks, self-report questionnaires, and interviews. 

WHAT YOU'LL BE ASKED TO DO

This research study involves one phone call and two study visits: 

  • Brief screening typically over the phone (~30 minutes) 
  • Visit 2 – fMRI imaging/Computer tasks/Surveys (~3 hours) 
  • Visit 1 – Interviews/Physical Evaluation (~3 hours) 

WE'RE RECRUITING

You may be eligible if you are: 

  • between the ages of 18 and 39

  • currently have an eating disorder OR never had an eating disorder 

COMPENSATION 

Participants may receive up to $150 for completing all study procedures and will receive pictures of your brain. 

For more information or to see if you are eligible, please visit: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06566612 

Precision Functional Mapping during treatment of Anorexia Nervosa

ABOUT THE STUDY

This study uses “Precision Mapping” to advance our understanding of how the brain changes during treatment for anorexia nervosa at the individual level. By repeatedly sampling the same individual (hours of brain imaging data per participant, collected over many sessions), we can create precise, reliable functional activation and functional connectivity network maps for each person and examine how brain structure and function changes over the course of treatment and how this is associated with symptom improvement and treatment response. 

WHAT YOU'LL BE ASKED TO DO

  • Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans before, during (weekly), and after treatment 
  • Questionnaires, interviews and computer tasks 

WE'RE RECRUITING

Participants ages 18 and older who have been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa 

COMPENSATION

Participants will be compensated by cash for MRI scans and completing behavioral questionnaires, and will also receive images of their brain. 

For more information, please reach out to brainstudy@ucsd.edu. 

Testimonial from a Past Participant 

'Having the opportunity to participate in an eating disorder research study, as a result of a personal experience, was rewarding in many ways. The research staff was professional, organized & compassionate; I felt well-informed throughout the duration of the whole study. Not only did I get the opportunity to meet individuals who shared the same interest in learning more about such a life-threatening illness, I was also given generous compensation. I look forward to participating in future opportunities! Thank you UCSD staff for a great experience!'