kid with arms outstretched and super-hero cap and mask on blue background for the BRAVE Research Center (formerly known as BRAVE Youth Lab)

Current Studies

Invitation to Participate in a Research Study on Emotional Development

Funded by the National Institutes of Health

If you have a son or daughter between the ages of 10-16, he or she may qualify for a research study at the UW Department of Psychiatry. This study will examine brain function and other biological changes in healthy youth, as well as youth with anxiety, depression, or PTSD. Some participants may also have a history of trauma. We are looking for 10-16 year olds and their parent/guardian to participate in this research. Study activities include a clinical interview, MRI brain scan, questionnaires, and biological samples. This study does not involve any radiation, medication, or needles. Youth who have metal in their bodies, including braces, are not eligible to participate.

  • Your child will receive up to $640 for participation in all research activities over two years.
  • Click here to complete an online screening form. If you complete the full web screen and phone screening, you will have the option to receive a $10 e-gift card.

Invitation to Participate in a Research Study on Parent-Child Learning

Funded by the National Institutes of Health 

If you have a son or daughter between the ages of 10-14, he or she may qualify for a research study at the UW Department of Psychiatry. This study will examine how trauma and abuse affect brain development in youth, as well as social and biological functioning in families, to lead youth to resilience or vulnerability. Visits include a clinical assessment visit, three MRI brain scan visits completed over three consecutive days, and a final visit with computer games and other tasks.” Study activities include a clinical interview, MRI brain scan, questionnaires, and biological samples. This study does not involve any radiation, medication, or needles. Youth who have metal in their bodies, including braces, are not eligible to participate. 

  • Your child will receive up to $510 for participation in all five visits.
  • Participants traveling 60 miles or more each way to participate in the Parent-Child Learning study are eligible for a $50 travel bonus, two nights of paid lodging, and per diem meal allowance.
  • Click here complete an online screening form. If you complete the full web screen and phone screening, you will have the option to receive a $10 e-gift card.

Information about our Virtual Reality Emotion Regulation Study

If your child currently resides at the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center, they may be eligible to participate in a research study conducted through the UW Department of Psychiatry. This study will examine whether a novel virtual reality videogame controlled by deep breathing is feasible for youth, and whether it can work to improve youths’ ability to self-regulate and relatedly, reduce mental health symptoms.  Study activities include playing the virtual reality game and filling out surveys. This study does not involve any radiation, medication, or needles.

  • Your child will receive $30-$40 for each study session they complete.

Emotional Development Study

The ability to identify and control our emotions is such an important skill in life. Adolescence is a time when the brain circuits regulating our emotions begin to strengthen. However, adolescence is also a time when a number of mental illnesses can arise in youth, including anxiety disorders, depression, and PTSD. We also know that having a history of significant adversity in one’s life can increase risk for developing one of these mental illnesses. But, we don’t know enough about how brain development is different in kids who have anxiety and depression, nor how childhood adversity might affect adolescent brain development. If we can better understand brain development in this critical phase of life, then hopefully we can develop better preventions and treatments down the road to help kids at risk for mental illness. We are looking for kids to help us out and participate in this two-year study to answer these questions. Specifically, we need healthy kids with no history of mental illness, as well as kids with anxiety, depression, or PTSD between the ages of 10-16. Please note that your child is not eligible if he/she has braces. If you would like to learn more, please click the banner below, or contact us by email or phone with specific questions. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you! —The BRAVE Research Team

Parent-Child Learning Study

The purpose of this research study is to understand more about how youth learn from watching their caregiver and how that process may be different in youth that have been exposed to traumatic experiences or have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We are also interested in whether we can see these differences in the brain during the learning process. We are doing this research because we know that during adolescence, youth are able to learn from their parents about feelings of safety but don’t know very much about how this happens. For example, it could be that the safety learning process is affected by traumatic experiences or PTSD. We hope that any differences we find will help us improve the ability to diagnose these youth in the future and create better treatment options. Please note that your child is not eligible if he/she has braces. If you would like to learn more, please click the banner below, or contact us by email or phone with specific questions. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you!The BRAVE Research Team 

Parent-Child Learning Study and Emotional Development Study

Learn more and Complete an Online Screening!

For more information, please call (608) 265-3610 or email brave@psychiatry.wisc.edu