Social Neuroscience & Health Lab

Am i eligible for this study?

You may be eligible for this study if you are a female between 18-75 years old, have a recent breast cancer diagnosis, and have NOT begun any cancer treatment (EXCEPT surgery)

What do you mean by cancer treatment?

Chemotherapy/immunotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone (endocrine) therapy, or a combination of those are what we refer to as treatments. Surgery is not considered. You can have surgery and still participate. Just make sure you reach out to us BEFORE starting your first treatment session if you do plan to have treatment.

Do i get anything from participating in this study?

You can earn up to $240 for completing the study ($95 for each wave, plus a $50 bonus for completing all sessions). For each wave, if you only complete the virtual session, you will receive $30; if you only complete the in-person session, you will receive $65. If you choose to withdraw before completing a full session, your compensation will be prorated at $16/hour. You will also be compensated for parking during in-person sessions.

Are there any risks to participating?

The biggest risks include mild discomfort during the finger prick blood sample, as well as feeling confined and hearing loud noises during the MRI scan.

Are mri scans dangerous?

MRI scans are not dangerous and cause no side effects for those who have been approved to enter the scanner. We screen out anyone who might have an MRI safety risk, and our MRI technicians double-check participants’ safety before they enter the scanner.

What if i want to stop participating?

You may withdraw at any point for any reason without penalty.

What are my rights as a research participant?

All research studies that enroll human participants must receive approval from an Institutional Review Board of experts who review the study to make sure it is safe, ethical, and scientifically sound. This is to protect your rights and welfare. Researchers are required by law to explain the benefits and risks of participation in a way that is easy to understand. This is called informed consent. Participants can also withdraw at any time for any reason without penalty. If you have questions or concerns about your rights as a research participant, you can contact the IRB at (919)-966-3113 or IRB_subjects@unc.edu.

Can i receive free medical treatment or health advice?

The blood samples and brain scans are not the same as tests you would receive as part of health care treatment. The data will not be reviewed by a doctor, and it will not appear on your medical record. Occasionally a technologist or researcher may notice something abnormal about your MRI brain scan, in which case it will be reviewed by a qualified doctor to determine if there is anything of clinical importance. If something is found to be important then you and/or your primary care provider will be notified. Any further follow up and costs associated with the incidental finding will be your responsibility.

What are the covid-19 precautions for this study?

In-person sessions will take place in UNC medical buildings, in which current CDC recommendations for COVID-19 precautions are followed. This may include screening for symptoms and mask requirements. If you want the researchers to wear a mask regardless of current requirements, we are happy to do so.

What data will you collect?

We will collect information about your demographics, health, mood, brain function, and immune system function.

Who will have access to my data?

Your identifiable data (e.g., name, email, phone number, medical record number) will only be viewed by research personnel. Privacy and confidentiality will be maintained through the de-identification of all data (this means that we will remove any information that could identify data as belonging to you). Anonymized data may be stored in an open-access data repository where it will be stored indefinitely, and anyone (including individuals outside of our research team) will be able to download it for future research.

how will you use my data?

Data from all of our participants will be analyzed to answer a variety of questions related to how brain function changes over the course of cancer treatment. Anything we find may be published in academic journals and posted online. Any data we publish will not be linked to your personal information.

Who is sponsoring this study?

This research is funded by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and may be funded by a research grant in the future. The researchers do not, however, have a direct financial interest with the sponsor or in the final results of the study.