NOW RECRUITING | Imaging Genetics of Spasmodic Dysphonia Study
The purpose of this research project is to investigate the relationship between brain changes and genetic risk factors in patients with and without family history of spasmodic dysphonia. You are invited to participate in this study if you have spasmodic dysphonia, you are an unaffected relative of a patient with spasmodic dysphonia, or you are a healthy individual. We are especially interested in patients with spasmodic dysphonia who have one or more family members affected with dystonia and their relatives, as well as in unaffected, healthy relatives of patients with an onset of symptoms earlier than 35 years of age. The study is conducted at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging. The study will include an MRI scan of your brain and a blood draw for genetic testing. Funding for this study is provided by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), R01DC011805 grant. All research procedures have been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Human Subject Committee.
To obtain detailed information about the study and your eligibility for participation, please contact us by phone (617) 573-6016 or e-mail Simonyan_Lab@meei.harvard.edu. The preliminary screening will take approximately 20 minutes of your time. If you are eligible for the study participation, we will schedule your visit with our research team at your convenience. Upon the study completion, your out-of-town and/or local travel expenses associated with the study participation will be reimbursed and you will receive up to $200 compensation for your time and effort.