Volunteer Opportunities

Houston-area residents are invited to participate in the following nutrition research projects designed to help CNRC scientists learn more about the nutritional needs of children. Free transportation and parking are available.

Fitness Zone
14- and 15-year old boys and girls are needed to give their opinions about a new computer program designed to help teens get active. Stipend. Call Jennifer, 713-798-7075 or email jld@bcm.tmc.edu

Super Tasters Study
Healthy Caucasian children, 9 years of age and younger, and their mothers are needed for a study aimed at understanding how children's food likes and eating habits change with age. Call 713-798-0425.

PEA POD Study
Healthy infants, from birth to three months old, are needed in a new study that is collecting data on how much of a baby's body weight is fat and how this measurement changes as babies grow.  Mothers may enroll before or after delivery.  Stipend.  Call Marilyn at (713) 798-7002

Breastfeeding: Pump Up The Volume!
Breastfeeding mothers with babies less than 8 weeks old may be eligible. Mothers will receive an electric breast pump of their choice (~$250 value) and free consultation with a certified lactation consultant. The study will compare the effectiveness of different breast pumps and strategies used to increase milk production. Sandra, 713-798-6779

Iron Absorption From Rice Cereal Study
Healthy, 15- to 18-month-old toddlers are needed in a new study comparing two forms of iron used to fortify infant rice cereal. The study requires four 1 ½ -hour visits to the CNRC. Stipend. Call Paz, 713-798-7125.

Food, Fun & Fitness
African American girls, 8 to 10 years of age, are needed for a study that tests internet-based programs to promote healthy eating and physical activity. There are no meetings to attend. The entire study will be conducted over the Internet, on the program web site. To participate, girls must have a computer at home with internet access and an email address. Contact Ashanti , 713-798-0504 or acanada@bcm.tmc.edu .

Calcium Absorption in Infancy
Healthy, full term infants, from birth to 2 months of age, are needed for a new study comparing calcium absorption from breast milk versus a new formula. Breastfeeding mothers will receive free use of an electric breast pump; mothers of formula fed infants will receive free formula. Mothers may enroll before or after delivery. Call 713-798-7085.

BEEF Study: Beef Eating Enhances Fe (Iron)
Children 4 to 8 years of age are needed for a new study investigating how soy and beef proteins affect iron and zinc absorption in the body. In order to participate, children should like to eat Frito chili pie. Stipend. Call Paz, 713-798-7125.

Hypertension Prevention Using Soy
Normal weight, post-menopausal women, 40 to 60 years of age, with systolic blood pressure between 130 and 160 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure between 80 and 100 mmHg, and who are not on any hypertensive medication or hormone replacement therapy, are needed for a 6-week study evaluating the benefits of soy isoflavones in hypertension prevention. Call 713-798-6783.

Babies First Study
Breast-fed and bottle-fed infants, 2 to 11 months of age, and their mothers are needed for a study on infant eating patterns, food preferences, and growth. Stipend. Call 713-798-6740.

Metabolism Studies
Normal-weight children ages 6 to 9 and 13 to 17, and obese teens ages 13 to 17, are needed for metabolism studies. Children should be healthy, not on medications and not have a diabetic parent or sibling. Study includes 12 weeks of supervised exercise with an exercise physiologist. Stipend. Call Amy, 713-798-7083.

Viva La Familia
Hispanic families with children 4 to 18 years of age are needed for a study aimed at understanding the factors causing childhood obesity. Stipend. Call Marilyn, 713-798-7002.

Breast-Feeding Study
New mothers, 18 - 35 years of age, healthy, not taking birth control and non-obese who are exclusively breast-feeding infants less than 10 weeks of age are needed for a study investigating factors that affect breastmilk production. Participants should not have parents or siblings with diabetes. Stipend. Call Amy, 713-798-7083.

Biological Diversity of Growth
Children who have previously participated in any CNRC studies involving body composition measurements and are presently less than 22 years old, as well as Hispanic, African-American, and Caucasian young adults, 19 to 22 years of age, are needed for this study. Stipend. Call Marilyn, 713-798-7002.