Alberta is utilizing community pharmacies which are performing rapid and PCR testing for people with respiratory symptoms to help detect what respiratory viruses are in the community and potentially develop new vaccines and treatments. If you are at least 5 years of age and are sick with at least 2 respiratory symptoms that have started within the last 7 days, you may be eligible. We will ask you to go to your nearest participating pharmacy to undergo nasal swabbing and answer a brief survey. Text 1-855-600-5644 to see if you are eligible.

We want to talk to caregivers about their experiences talking to doctors about their child's behaviours. A lot of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, like autism, have unsafe behaviours. They may hurt themselves, be aggressive to others, or do things that put them in danger like running away. A doctor can help these children, but sometimes the doctors want or need to help with other problems before they help with these behaviours. If you have talked to a doctor about your child's behaviours, or have tried to talk about these behaviours with a doctor, we want to hear from you. We are talking with caregivers about how they talk to doctors about these behaviours, if there are any challenges, and what has helped. This will help us understand how doctors can better respond to these behaviours and support families.

Egg Freezing is an increasingly common fertility treatment, and IVF is currently responsible for approximately 2% of all live births in Canada. The IVF and egg-freezing procedures involve administering high doses of hormones, which have been associated with changes to body composition. These changes have the potential to impact body image, however, the relationship between these treatments and individuals' body image remains poorly understood. This study aims to address this knowledge gap and provide insights that could improve patient care and support during fertility treatment and care.

This study is about understanding why some Albertans use an online tool called MyHealth Alberta to see and manage their health information while others do not. MyHealth Alberta lets people look at things like their lab test results, medications, and immunizations on their computer or phone. The study wants to find out what makes it hard for people to use this tool and what could be done to help more people use it easily. The goal is to listen to Albertans from different backgrounds and places to learn about their experiences with MyHealth Alberta. The study will collect ideas on how the tool could be better and more accessible for everyone. Using a group discussion method called the World Café, the study will create a friendly space where people can share their thoughts and work together.

Over 30% of people with epilepsy also struggle with a mental health disorder, the most common one being depression. Depression can make epilepsy symptoms more severe and harder to manage, making it difficult for people with epilepsy and depression to adhere to their treatment plans. This can lead to a lower quality of life for people living with both conditions. This study aims to identify the information and tools people with epilepsy need to help manage their depression. To support this process, our team is conducting a questionnaire, focus group and World Café interviews to better understand the information needs of people living with epilepsy and depression, as well as the tools that may help them manage their condition. This study seeks to address the following research questions: 1. What are the information needs of people with epilepsy who are affected by depression? 2. What tools are available to facilitate the management of depression in epilepsy?

Dr. Jason Weatherald and other researchers from the Department of Medicine at the University of Calgary are conducting a research study. Long COVID Syndrome (Long COVID) is defined by persistent symptoms (including breathlessness, chest pain and fatigue) after COVID-19 illness that continue for more than 12 weeks and cannot be explained by another diagnosis. The goal of this project is to explore the underlying cause of the ongoing symptoms of patients suffering from Long COVID. You are invited to participate in this research study, if you have ongoing symptoms after COVID-19, would like to volunteer as a person who has recovered from COVID-19 or you have pulmonary vascular disease of another type. Your participation in this research study is voluntary. Taking part in this study will require you to complete some tests used to find out the cause of unexplained shortness of breath in patients including a Chest x-ray, Pulmonary function tests, Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and Right Heart Catheterization (RHC) with exercise. If you are interested in the study please call at 403-210-7861 to get more information about the study.

While we know that yoga may improve IBS symptoms, we do not know exactly why. During this study, participants will undergo an MRI scan and blood draw, then participate in 9 week of free yoga practice developed to improve IBS symptoms. By participating in this study, you will help researchers better understand how lifestyle changes can improve IBS symptoms.

This randomized controlled trial is to see the effects of a drug called sertraline on anxiety in children and adolescents with Neurodevelopmental Conditions / Disorders (NDDs): including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Tic Disorders, Fragile X syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis, 22q11 deletions. Though Sertraline has been studied in children, and adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and with major depression, research is needed to confirm whether sertraline can help improve anxiety in children and youth with NDDs.

Researchers at the University of Calgary are interested in understanding the experiences of individuals with a life-limiting illness. We want to know how patients make sense of grief as it relates to their illness through the creation of legacy work, which is the process of creating something tangible that outlives oneself. Examples of legacy work include poems, audio-recordings, letters, short-stories, drawings, photographs, paintings, and music. We will be completing interviews (virtually or in person) to ask individuals about their experiences. You will receive a $25 gift card for participating in this study.

Women’s mental healthcare has mostly been based on research done on men, so we don’t fully understand how hormones affect women’s brains during menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause. Also, our healthcare system focuses on medical treatments like medication and trying to change thoughts and emotions, instead of looking at ways to directly heal the brain and improve mental health. A key tool for improving mental healthcare is the Electroencephalogram (EEG). An EEG measures brain activity and helps find areas where the brain isn’t working properly, which can happen after emotional or physical trauma. While researchers in the US and Europe have created EEG databases, none focus on women. Our goal in this study is to conduct 800-1000 EEGs of women at different stages of life, to understand what a healthy female brain looks like during menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. We will analyze the EEG data and properties so we can discover what type of non-invasive therapy can help heal a woman's brain best at whatever stage in life she finds herself. This information is important for creating better mental health care choices for women in Alberta.