The Columbia Otolaryngology Department is interested in understanding the intersection of vaping, smell, and taste and their impact on individuals' preferences for certain flavors. Participation will involve answering a series of questionnaires in addition to completing a formal evaluation of your smell and taste with standardized measurements. You can…
The use of electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigs or vaping, has increased among former smokers and young adults who have never smoked. Relatively little is known, however, about their health effects (whether they are adverse, have no effect, or are beneficial). The purpose of this research study is to evaluate (1) the association of e-cig use with…
We are inviting patients with active Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) to help us better understand how treatment options affect inflammation in soft tissues. With a combination of blood work, a full-body FDG PET-CT scan, questionnaires, and a soft tissue biopsy (from an area around the belly button), we hope to see how RA interacts with these multiple areas of…
This is a four-session study in which we will be recruiting existing cigarette smokers to explore the competitive dynamics between memory encoding and memory retrieval. To participate, you will first go through a phone screening to determine eligibility and learn about the study. Then you will be asked to visit our facility at the Morningside Campus of…
This study is for patients with Glaucoma. The purpose of this study is to investigate the safety and effectiveness of a study drug called Bimatoprost Sustained Release (SR) compared to treatment with eye drug Timolol. The Bimatoprost SR is an implant that is very small, is biodegradable (dissolves naturally in the body), and contains the bimatoprost drug.
The study aims to compare the effect two different RA treatments on cardiovascular health in patients who are considering a treatment change. The study is recruiting patients who are only taking methotrexate and are switching treatment due to a lack of improvement. The trial will randomize participants to take a TNF inhibitor (Enbrel or Humira) in addition…
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. The most important test to detect progression is visual field testing. However, this test is very subjective, often unreliable, and variable. One of the main causes of unreliable tests is the lack of attentiveness or concentration during the test. Previous studies have shown that listening…
We are doing a research study to learn more about why people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are prone to heart disease. We are recruiting patients diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis without a personal history of heart disease. This study involves one initial full visit as described below, and a brief follow up visit that will take place approximately 2 or…
Glaucoma is a given name of a group of diseases that affect the retinal ganglion cells in the eye and the optic nerve. Glaucoma cause degeneration of the retinal ganglion cells in the retina and their projections (axons) that form the optic nerve. Retinal ganglion cells and their axons transmit all of our vision information from the eye to the brain through…