What is the study about?

Many women experience urine leakage while exercising and this can become a significant barrier to physical activity. With this research we aim to investigate the variances in pelvic floor structure and function between female runners who experience running-induced urinary incontinence and runners who do not. We will draw comparisons with sedentary females experiencing stress-induced urinary incontinence and those who do not.  

What does participation involve?

• Telephone eligibility screening (<40 minutes);
• Online questionnaires (<1 hour);
• In-lab assessment (1.5 to 3 hours): includes a pelvic floor exam, ultrasound imaging, and a a measurement of pelvic floor strength and flexibility with a custom device. Runners only: complete a 38-minute treadmill run and repeat the pelvic floor measurements. 

Who can participate?

• Female 18 years of age and older;
• Body Mass Index lower than 30 due to the limitations of our measurement tools;
• No major urogenital surgery, pelvic organ prolapse (above grade 2), or pain with vaginal penetration (tampons, gynaecological exams);
• No pregnant / have not birthed in the past year;
• Runners: run at least twice a week for a minimum total distance of 10km; consistently for more than a year.
  • Those with urinary incontinence: regularly while running (at least once per week) and only occasionally with non-exercise activities (once or less per month).
• Sedentary: only low-impact activities of daily living
  • Those with urinary incontinence: at least once per week with daily activities (cough, sneeze, laugh, etc.)

Additional eligibility criteria will be evaluated via the telephone screening and questionnaires.

Contact information

Please reach out to our study team for more information or visit our website. Professor Linda McLean is the principal investigator for this study.

What is the study about?

Many women experience urine leakage while exercising and this can become a substantial barrier to physical activity. With this research we aim to determine whether 2 conservative approaches can be used to reduce or eliminate urine leakage experienced during running.

What does participation involve?

• Pre-Intervention:
  Telephone eligibility screening (<40 minutes);
  Online questionnaires (<1 hour);
  Baseline in-lab assessment* (2.5 hours);
  Random assignment to one study group: pessary, tampon, or no intervention.
• 12-Week Intervention: Run with your assigned intervention as per your regular running routine. Periodically record urinary symptoms via an online survey.
• Post-Intervention:
  Online questionnaires (<40 minutes);
  Post-intervention in-lab assessment* (2.5 hours).
• Follow-Up: Online questionnaires at 4, 12, and 24 weeks post-intervention (<40 minutes).

*Laboratory visits include pelvic floor assessments and a 38-minute treadmill running task.

Who can participate?

• Female 18 years of age and older (assigned female at birth with no medical transition);
• You run at least twice a week for a minimum total distance of 10 km, consistently for one year;
• You can run at least 5 km in under 50 minutes (6km/h minimum);
• You experience urine leakage regularly while running (at least once per week) and only occasionally with non-exercise activities (maximum once per month);
• Body Mass Index under 30 due to the limitations of our measurement tools;
• No major urogenital surgery, pelvic organ prolapse, or pain with vaginal penetration;
• Not pregnant/ have not birthed in the past year.

First come, first served.

Contact information

Please reach out to our study team for more information or visit our website. Professor Linda McLean is the principal investigator for this study.

What is the study about?

This research seeks to investigate the advance preparation of movements involving a distributed network of cortical and subcortical brain structures, and how brain processes related to response preparation and initiation are impacted by the characteristics of the to-be-performed task.

What does participation involve?

Performance of rapid limb movements while muscle activity is recorded. A time commitment of approximately 1.5 hours is needed, and electrical and/or acoustic stimulation techniques may be administered (depending on the specific trial group).

Who can participate?

Participants must be between 18 and 60 years old, have no history of neurological and/or motor dysfunction, and have normal or corrected to normal vision and normal hearing.

Contact information

Please contact Professor Anthony Carlsen or visit the visit the website. Selection of participants will be done on a first-come, first-served basis.

What is the study about?

The purpose of this study is to assess strategies devised to optimize objective and subjective sleep quality with the use of cold exposure.

What does participation involve?

Participation in this study will include: a maximal progressive exercise test for evaluating your aerobic capacity (VO2 max), a cold-water immersion (1 preliminary session (90 minutes) and 2 experimental sessions (3 to 4 hours each)), followed by body measurements and blood samples.

Who can participate?

Participants who are:

• Between the ages of 18 and 35;
• Healthy and active;
• Male or female;
• Not suffering from sleep disorders.

More eligibility criteria will be screened through a questionnaire. 

Contact information

Please reach out to the study team for more information or call 613-562-5800 ext 2655. Renée Morin is the principal investigator for this study, working under the supervision of Professor Pascal Imbeault.

What is the study about?

Researchers at the Human Environmental Physiology Research Unit (HEPRU) at the University of Ottawa are currently seeking volunteers to participate in studies assessing how the body responds during rest and exercise in the heat. We wish to examine how heat exposure affects vulnerable populations such as the elderly, those who suffer from chronic conditions, and those who work in extreme heat conditions. Our main objective is to establish exposure limits to protect vulnerable populations from heat related complications.

What does participation involve?

Several studies are being conducted. Please contact the research team for more details.

Who can participate?

• Males & females (18-85 years );
• Non-smokers;
• Sedentary or physically active individuals;
• Healthy adults and adults suffering from chronic conditions (type II diabetes, hypertension).

Contact information

For more information or to express interest please contact the research team or call 613-562-5800 ext 4270 or visit the website. Professor Glen Kenny is the principal investigator for this study.

What is the study about?

Do you have Parkinson’s Disease and experience Freezing of Gait? Help us test a wearable device for real-time prediction and prevention of freezing.

What does participation involve?

The session will be conducted during a single visit to the University of Ottawa (200 Lees Avenue). Participants will be reimbursed for parking expenses.

Who can participate?

We are looking for participants who:

• Have Parkinson’s Disease;
• Experience freezing of gait at least once a day;
• Are able to walk unassisted for 25 meters; and
• Do not use any wearable or implanted electronic device (e.g. pacemaker, deep brain stimulator).

Contact information

For more information, please contact Ayham Al-Akhras, who is working under the supervision of Professor Julie Nantel.

What is the study about?

Cold exposure, appetite control, and weight loss in individuals living with obesity.

What does participation involve?

Approximately 40-80 hours at the laboratory over 13 weeks for screening, experimental sessions, diet and/or cold exposure intervention, blood draws. Participants will receive free assessment of body composition and resting metabolic rate, and nutritional counselling. Participants will receive a $150 stipend.

Who can participate?

Selection criteria:

• Healthy premenopausal women and men 18-55 years old
• Non-smokers
• Stable body weight (+/- 2kg) in the past 6 months
• No allergies and/or specific dietary restrictions (vegan, gluten free diet)
• Less than 150 minutes per week of activity
• BMI 30-40 kg/m²
• Able to read and answer questions in English

Note: there are other inclusion criteria that will be evaluated at the laboratory.

Contact information

For more information, please contact the study team. Professor Éric Doucet is the principal investigator for this study.

What is the study about?

We are studying the efficacy of a novel micronutrient-enriched powder for the treatment of iron deficiency in females between the ages of 18-35 years old.

What does participation involve?

Over a six-month period, participants will:

• Have to consume a fortified beverage each day
• Complete 1 virtual visit and 3 in-person visits to Carleton University
• Complete short online questionnaires
• Provide a total of 4 blood samples to measure iron levels
• Receive a $50 gift card after each in-person visit

Who can participate?

• Women who are of the biological female sex
• 18-35 years of age
• Located in the greater Ottawa region
• Non-pregnant & non-lactating
• Not taking any vitamin or mineral supplements containing iron and/or zinc

Please note that all study-related questionnaires, communications and procedures will be carried out in English. Participants must be able to read and communicate in English in order to participate in this research.

Contact information

For more information, please contact The Iron Study Team. Professor Bénédicte Fontaine-Bisson is the principal investigator for this study.

What is the study about?

Due to the growing incidence rates and the lasting effects of knee joint injuries, the long-term goal of this research program is to provide clinical measurements that will aid in knee injury management and prevention. This study will identify movement patterns linked to knee stability and joint health, which will serve as evidence to develop improved injury prevention and management programs.

What does participation involve?

A maximum of three data collections will take place over the span of 2 years. Each collection will last approximately 2 hours and will include a variety of running and jumping tasks, including:

• Single-leg hops
• Squats and lunges
• Vertical Jumps
• Side-Cuts

The study will take place at the Human Movement Biomechanics Laboratory, located at Lees Campus, University of Ottawa, room E020.

Who can participate?

In order to understand how knee joint function changes in children and adolescents who have suffered a knee joint injury, we must also consider how a healthy knee joint functions in children and adolescents. We are looking to recruit boys and girls, on a first come/first served basis, between the ages of 8 and 18 years old who currently participate in organized sports.

Contact information

For more information, please reach out to the study team. Professor Allison Clouthier is the principal investigator for this study.

What is the study about?

Determining decisional needs and interventions to support patients making health decisions about brain and heart conditions.

What does participation involve?

You would be asked to complete a 20–25-minute survey. The survey can be completed online, over the phone, by postal mail, or in-person according to your preference.

Who can participate?

Patients or family members/caregivers of patients faced with treatment decisions for brain-heart conditions or with one condition and at risk of developing the other.

Contact information

For more information, please reach out to the study team. Professor Krystina Lewis is the principal investigator for this study.

What is the study about?

Do you prefer to receive your health care services in French? We are looking for French-speaking people to participate in a study on the difference in scores obtained during a cognitive assessment in French or in English.

What does participation involve?

Two assessment appointments of respectively 60-minute and 45-minute duration within 2 to 14 days.

Who can participate?

Inclusion criteria:

• Be aged 55 or over
• Live in Ontario
• Have French as a mother tongue and use it in at least one area of your daily life
• Have a knowledge of English from minimal to excellent
• Have a cognitive state that is relatively stable (no change expected in the next 2 to 14 days)

Contact information

For more information, please reach out to the study team. Professor Jacinthe Savardis the principal investigator for this study.

What is the study about?

Exploring the challenges, strategies, and perspectives for improving access to primary healthcare services among young adults in minority Francophone communities in Ottawa.

What does participation involve?

Your experience and point of view will be collected via a questionnaire and a focus group of 10 people, conducted in French. Interviews, lasting 60 to 90 minutes, will be held in person at the University of Ottawa's Lees campus and will be recorded. Identifiers will be anonymized to ensure confidentiality.

Who can participate?

We are looking for young French-speaking adults (18-30 years old) in Ottawa who have used the health system in the last 5 years.

Contact information

Please reach out to the study team for more information. Professor Sarah Fraser is the principal investigator for this study.

What is the study about?

Help us learn more about the cultural beliefs, values, social support and health practices of Black women and men, with respect to postpartum depression and anxiety. This knowledge will be instrumental in assisting the clinical community to identify and address the risk factors associated with postpartum depression and anxiety more effectively.

What does participation involve?

After filling out an online questionnaire, participants will be invited for an interview (in-person at 200 Lees Ave, or virtual via Zoom).

Who can participate?

Individuals who:

• Have insights relating to anxiety and depression postpartum
• Either witnessed or have given birth to a child they have parental rights of in the last five years
• Self-identify as Black or a Person with Mixed Origin (with one Black racialized parent)
• Self-identify as woman or man (may differ from the sex at birth)
• Have access to an electronic device (laptop, phone, tablet, etc.)

The questionnaire and interview will be conducted in English.

Contact information

Please reach out to the study team for more information. Tashi Stampp is the prinicipal investigator for this study, working under the supervision of Professor Anne Konkle. 

What is the study about?

We are studying how stress affects the mental health of international students using physiological, psychological, and genetic data to further understand stress mechanisms and intervention methods.

What does participation involve?

Data collection occurs twice over 8 months with the following collected: questionnaires, saliva sample, 5mm-wide hair sample from crown area of scalp.

Who can participate?

You are eligible if you:

• Are 15 years or older and an international student at uOttawa;
• Are not enrolled in any summer courses;
• Can complete the questionnaires in English;
• Do not suffer from severe mental health disorders;
• Do not have chronic endocrine disorders;
• Do not take medications known to influence cortisol levels, such as corticosteroids.

Contact information

Please reach out to the study team for more information. Professor Lei Cao is the principal investigator for this study.

What is the study about?

Care partners are close friends or family members who provide any type of help or assistance to people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Care partners may rely on a wide range of supports in their caregiving role. We are examining types of support MS care partners rely on. We are recruiting care partners currently providing physical, emotional, or informational help to someone living with MS. 

What does participation involve?

Brief online or postal surveys about the supports participants use in their caregiving role. In-person interviews are also available to those living in Eastern Ontario. 

Who can participate?

You may be eligible if you:

• Are aged 18 or older
• Currently provide support to a friend or family member with MS
• Can complete research questionnaires in English
• Reside in Canada

Space is limited. Participation is on a first come, first served basis.

Contact information

For more information, please reach out to the study team. Katherine Cardwell is the principal investigator for this study, under the supervision of Professor Lara Pilutti.

What is the study about?

We are looking at the potential effects of task-based cognitive training paired with non-invasive brain stimulation, no brain stimulation, and/or exercise for people living with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). 

What does participation involve?

The study will involve six testing visits (1-2 hours each), 3 goal setting visits (1.5 hours each) and up to 24 training visits (1.5 hours each).

The training visits will follow a schedule of 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks. Testing visits will take place at the University of Ottawa (200 Lees Avenue, Ottawa) and the University of Québec (283 Boulevard Alexandre-Taché, Gatineau). Training sessions will take place at the University of Ottawa (200 Lees Avenue, Ottawa). 

Who can participate?

We are looking for volunteers with progressive MS (or living with MS for 10 years or more) who are over 18 years of age and have trouble with cognition in everyday life.

The study is available in English only.

Contact information

For more information, please reach out to the study team. Professor Lara Pilutti is the principal investigator for this study.

What is the study about?

Visual exploration of the environment while standing or walking is often required in daily life. The coordination of the head, the torso and the stepping movements is important to maintain balance during this visual search. This coordination may be impacted in older adults and adults with Parkinson’s disease, increasing their risk for falls.

What does participation involve?

We will examine head and torso coordination, as well as balance and stepping parameters during a visual search task using motion capture. Tasks involve identifying words as they appear at a random location on a monitor. Participants will be tested standing, stepping in place, and walking on a treadmill.

Who can participate?

We are recruiting healthy adults or adults with Parkinson’s disease, with normal or corrected to normal vision. Additional eligibility criteria will be assessed in the lab.

Contact information

For more information, please reach out to the study team. Mary Elise MacDonald is the principal investigator for this study, working under the supervision of Professor Julie Nantel.