| Principal Investigator(s) | Study Title | Description & Eligibility |
| Adams & Kennedy | Hear here and see your ear! | Come do a hearing test, see the inside of your ear, and learn more about hearing healthcare! Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Arlinghaus & Johnson | Food and Families at the Fair | Come help us see if trying to lose weight impacts how parents feed their children. Eligibility: Age 18+ Parent to child age 2-18 Participated in a structured weight loss attempt in the past 18 months |
| Austin, Rajamani, & Marquard | How do you engage in your health? | We want to know how individuals engage in their health (e.g. access to care, technology) and identify ways we can reduce barriers or unmet needs for individuals to actively engage in their health. Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Billings (CTSI) | Help Us Help U: Your Voice in Research | We want to know what you think about health research! Take a brief 5-10 minute survey and take home some swag! YOUR VOICE will help guide future U of MN studies and improve research participant experiences. Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Boissoneault | Pain Under Pressure! | What’s your pain sensitivity? At the Minnesota State Fair, participants will undergo pressure pain tests. Goal? Understand the real-life impact of psychological and behavioral factors like alcohol use on pain. Join us! Eligibility: Age 21+ Consumed alcohol in the last month No pain or loss of sensation in the hands |
| Bosley | What can you earn in a business opportunity? | Come help us understand what people make of business opportunities and potential earnings. You will watch a short video, answer survey questions, and spin the prize wheel! Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Brewer & Van’t Hof | The Great MN Heart Health Check | “The Great MN Heart Health Check” will engage and inform the public about cardiovascular health through a unique interactive exhibit. The MEGA Mini Heart is a large inflatable model of the human heart that provides visitors an up-close look at its complex anatomy and a range of cardiovascular diseases. Eligible participants (MN residents, age 18+) can complete a brief “Heart Health Check” consisting of a physical screening for BMI, Cholesterol, Blood Sugar, and Blood Pressure, and a questionnaire on heart health behaviors. Eligibility: Age 18+ MN resident Active email address |
| Bronstein | Capital Bites | Have you had a positive memorable experience eating food at the State Fair? Perhaps sharing cheese curds with a friend, laughing over a spilled bucket of cookies, or trying the weirdest food item you can find with your family? We’re searching for individuals like YOU to share the stories of their favorite State Fair food experience! Complete a brief survey and share your experience with a member of our staff. Gift cards will be given to people who complete our study. Eligibility: Ages 18 – 50 |
| Covington | Rethinking Reading: What are We Reading and Why? | Books, magazines, recipes, emails, texts, social media – we are surrounded by words! Come help us understand what and how much adults are reading, and how what you read influences how you feel about reading. This series of surveys takes about 20 minutes to complete and will help us understand how adults use reading, and how that might change for people who have had brain injuries or concussions. We’ve got Goldy drawstring backpacks ready for people who help us today! Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Cruze & Deike | Sock It To PAD | Sock It To PAD is a campaign to bring awareness to Peripheral Artery Disease. This screening for PAD analyzes the blood flow to your legs and feet. Although this screening will not result in a formal diagnosis, we encourage you to share the results with your doctor. Eligibility: All are welcome! |
| Delkoski | Byte-Sized Choices: Youth, TikTok, and Sexual Health | This study seeks to describe youth and young adult use of social media platforms, specifically TikTok, in sexual and reproductive health decision-making and how they evaluate the accuracy and validity of information gathered from TikTok. Results will be examined for differences in the reported experiences of youth participants by sexual orientation and gender. Eligibility: Ages 13-26 |
| Ebert | Remember, pay attention, and click! Thinking skills in kids | Help us make better assessments for kids! Our study tests new computer tasks that measure kids’ thinking skills, like memory and attention. Kids will complete 2-4 computer tasks and parents will answer questions about their child’s development. Kids get a prize and parents get a $10 gift card! Eligibility: Kids ages 4 – 10 years old, with normal hearing |
| Eder & Olson | Unmasking COVID: To vaccines and beyond! | We are surveying people to learn about their perspectives on vaccines and their safety. Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Feiock | Is informed consent even informed? | Informed consent is an essential piece of conducting ethical clinical research. But, we know that consent forms are written at a level that is too advanced for the intended audience. Attention to readability of consent forms is important. Not only is it important to address the ethical question of whether or not consent can truly be obtained if the individual consenting does not fully comprehend the material, but it may also address issues of difficulties in recruitment and client compliance in veterinary clinical trials. Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Finestack | Kid Talk Study: How Do Kids Learn Language? | Language is a complex and amazing human skill that we do not fully understand. In this study, your child will have the opportunity to learn to talk like a creature from outer space that uses the same words that we do but talks a little differently. We will see how your child learns the space creature’s language with different types of instruction. Results of this study will help speech-language pathologists support the language development of children having trouble learning language. Eligibility: Children ages 5 – 8 years Typically developing |
| Firestone & Grzybowski | Bone Appetite | Dog food, cat food, treats and more! Come tell us about what you feed your dogs or cats. We want to learn all about your pets’ diet, how you decide what to feed them, and how you prepare their food. Bone Appetite! Eligibility: Age 18+ MN resident Dog or cat owner |
| Frye & Borofsky | What Does Your Water Bottle Say About You? | We have recently seen a boom in sales of name-brand water bottles including the Stanley Cup, Hydroflask, and Owala. Does carrying one of these bottles impact our drinking habits? By surveying State Fair attendees, we will investigate if/how carrying a name-brand water bottle influences someone’s drinking habits, perception of water’s impact on our health, and history of kidney stones. This research could shed light on how cultural shifts in water bottle usage might positively influence our hydration habits, potentially leading to better health outcomes. Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Fulkerson | What foods do you keep in your home? | The foods we eat are important because food helps us express our culture and brings people together. We created a checklist of foods and beverages available in the home called the Home Food Inventory. You will be asked to complete the food checklist in your home, tell us the foods you ate in the last 24 hours, and complete the food checklist a second time. Your information will help ensure the inventory is valid, and easy and quick to complete in English or Spanish. Eligibility: Age 18+ Do most of the grocery shopping or cooking in the household Live within 45 minutes of the UMN Twin Cities campus Speak English or Spanish at home |
| Garriock | All of Us | Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Goldberg | The PREC(ar)IOUS Family Study | Families experience and cope with stress in a variety of ways and the type of work you do may be a reason why this happens. Take our survey to help us understand how working families survive and thrive. Eligibility: Age 18+ Provide primary financial support to a child and/or dependent Provide primary caretaking responsibilities Worked at least 1 position for pay in the past 12 months |
| Grzybowski, Bender & Firestone | Wild Encounters | Rabbits and Raccoons and Deer… Oh My! Come take a walk on the wild side and share what kinds of animals you’ve encountered this summer! We’re trying to understand how often adults interact with wildlife, what animals they’ve seen, and what these interactions look like. Take a brief survey and tell us about your Wild Encounters! Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Gunnar & Mliner | HERO Study | The HERO Study is a multisite research project across the United States enrolling 6,000 participants. The goal of this study is to learn how different children respond to stress and how to best measure stress in children. Parents with healthy children ages 4 months – 5 years are invited to participate in the HERO Study at the MN State Fair. Study activities include: 1) parent questionnaire, 2) child’s growth measurements and small samples of hair, saliva, and cheek swabs, 3) attention skills games on a tablet. Families will receive a UMN drawstring backpack and a $40 gift card in thanks for their participation. Eligibility: Parents and healthy children ages 4 months – 5 years |
| Hawe & Guy | Within Arms Reach | How do we coordinate our movements? Play a video game by moving your arms in different ways so we can measure how you reach. This information will help us understand what might be different in individuals with neurologic conditions such as cerebral palsy and stroke. Eligibility: Ages 6+ Able to move arms without restrictions |
| Hooke & Tucker | How Do You MOOVE? | We want to learn about pre-teens and teens growth and physical activity and how these might impact their coordination. Eligibility: Ages 8 – 18 Able to stand and move independently |
| Huang | AI in Teledentistry | This study will develop a mobile health (mHealth) practice that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to assess dental photos and detect tooth structure loss such as trauma, caries, and tooth wear from these images. We will take photos of your teeth using a smartphone and an intraoral camera. You will also complete a short questionnaire about your feeling of receiving dental photography. Eligibility: Ages 6+ with at least one chipped, decayed or broken front tooth |
| Hu_nh & Arnold | Driven by safety: Are U aware? | You deserve to be safe at work! Complete a brief survey to gauge awareness and knowledge of occupational safety issues and training opportunities. This survey will help us identify gaps in knowledge and better understand how we can improve access to safety information and other resources. Eligibility: Workforce participants age 18+ including those who are employed, temporarily unemployed, self-employed, contract, & seasonal workers |
| Ip | Kid Brain Power Study | Are you interested in seeing what your brain looks like? Help us discover how our environment may influence children’s brain and cognitive development. Children will play games on an iPad while wearing an awesome scientist cap that shines light on the brain to understand how it works. Eligibility: Children ages 3 – 7 and their caregivers |
| Johnson | This Is What America Looks Like! | Children between the ages of 9 and 12 use their creativity to draw a picture responding to the statement, “This is America.” Their art becomes part of a study exploring how children imagine our nation. The pictures add to a digitized collection of more than 600 drawings created by children in the United States and Poland. Drawing materials are provided for this fun exercise which takes about 20 minutes. Eligibility: Kids ages 9-12 |
| Johnson & Cabelka | Physical Therapist Traits: What Matters to You? | Do you have specific things you look for in a physical therapist? Participants will be asked questions about their preferences for specific outpatient physical therapist characteristics. We will also collect some information about participants. Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Kaja | WOW, Parents! (Wellness on the Web with Parents) | Parents and children see a lot of fitness, nutrition, and other wellness content on social media. We want to learn what parents think about fitness, nutrition, and online information. This will help us create better resources for families. Parents will complete a brief survey on their opinions and knowledge of fitness and nutrition information on the internet. Eligibility: Parent of child 10-20 years old Have an internet-connected computer, laptop, phone, tablet, or other device at home Child or children also have access to an internet-connected device at home |
| Kang | Cure genetic diseases: The Minnesota Neurogenetics Repository | We study genetic diseases that affect muscles and brains to learn how to better treat them – to do that, we need DNA samples from people who are both affected and unaffected by these diseases, and both young and old. If you’d like to learn more, come on down and ask us your questions! Eligibility: All ages & health status welcome! |
| Krampf & Hedberg | Crunchy Conundrum | In a brief 10 to 15-minute survey, you can assist us in unraveling the complexities of a pressing issue: the identification of a foodborne illness outbreak in our modern, digitally interconnected world. Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Kreft & Goren | Who Likes Politics Anyway? The Rural-Urban Divide in Political Attitudes | With just a 10-15 minute survey, you can help us understand the rural-urban divide in American politics (I know, I know, politics can be scary, but we promise this survey is not!) We want to understand how place-based identities affect political attitudes. Do people from rural areas and urban areas have different levels of trust in the government? Do they feel that they can influence the government in the same way? Help us answer these questions for a chance to win a $150 Target gift card! Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Kuvar & Mills | Your Thoughts in VR | Fair attendees will watch 3D videos using a VR headset and will be asked to categorize the types of thoughts they experience while watching the videos. Eligibility: Age 15+ No history of motion sickness or seizures |
| Lawton | Peds Community Engagement | |
| Levy & Lonergan-Cullum | Care Aware: Understanding Opioids in Minnesota | According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, about 290,000 adults in Minnesota need treatment for addiction. National data suggests that only 10% of those who need treatment receive it. Through a 10-15 minute survey, we want to assess the public’s view and understanding of opioid addiction and treatment options, including familiarity with harm reduction and support for public health policy on addiction. Eligibility: Age 18+ MN resident |
| Lin | Device-ing Your Health App | Shape the future of health with your voice. Complete our quick survey to co-create a lifestyle app and earn some Fairborne bucks! A personalized mobile health app designed with you in mind. Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Looman & Geiger-Simpson | Sit, Share & Connect | What makes kids and teens strong and resilient? If you’re a youth ages 8-17, your expert advice is needed for our study. You’ll sit, share, and connect with a friend, parent, or researcher for a brief podcast-like interview and a short survey. Eligibility: Youth age 8-17 Parent permission required for youth ages 8-15 |
| MCC | Goldy vs Cancer | Let’s defeat cancer! This year at the Minnesota State Fair the Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota wants all Minnesotans to learn about treatment and prevention for cancer which affects nearly half of the state’s population. Discover leading-edge treatments, meet the doctors and scientists researching the latest breakthroughs and ask experts your questions. Eligibility: Everyone is welcome! |
| McCarty & Michaels | To Give or Not to Give: That is the Question | National data reveals more than 100,000 people in the US on a transplant waiting list as of December of 2023 and more than 40,000 transplants performed in 2022. In addition, there is limited research on knowledge about or motivations for whole body donation after death for medical education/research. The goal of this study is to explore the knowledge and attitudes of Minnesotans related to organ and/or whole body donation after death and their relation to sign-up for donation. Eligibility: Age 16+ MN resident |
| McGovern | I like to move it, move it: Come walk with us! | Our research study aims to better understand balance and walking in healthy adults as a means to compare data to patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). This study uses small wearable devices that attach to your clothing and can measure your body’s location while performing walking and balance tests. This will help us understand how your body responds to these tests. You’ll even get to see your own avatar-like person with our software! Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Poynter | 10,000 Families Study | The 10,000 Families Study (10KFS) is an opportunity to provide information and gain knowledge about environmental exposures, genetics and health in Minnesota! We extend an invitation to families from all communities in Minnesota to enroll in the study. Come learn about our current environmental exposures project and how you can help us understand how exposures contribute to cancer risk. Join us as we work together to build a healthier tomorrow for all Minnesotans! Eligibility: 1st participant: Age 18+ and living in MN, active email address Other family members must live in MN, ND, SD, IA, or WI and can be any age and health state. |
| Remke & Lundquist | What is Grief? | Grief is one experience every human shares. But how much do we really know about it? What is it and what can help? This survey will ask participants about what they believe and understand about grief. Survey results will help us learn more about existing knowledge, potential misconceptions, and general understanding of grief in our communities. This information can help us learn about how public education and support efforts can be useful for promoting grief literacy in our community. Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Rizvi | Understanding Level of Adult Patient’s Participation in Managing their Health Care Delivery Via the Electronic Health Records | Are you managing your health care via the patient portal offered through an electronic health record platform? Do you know patients who are actively engaged in the delivery of health care have greater potential for improved health outcomes and satisfaction? The purpose of this study is to understand the current level of patient engagement leveraging patient portals, identify the gaps in their usage, and collect ideas to enhance adoption and sustained use. Eligibility: Age 18+ Familiarity with the concept of Patient Portals |
| Scattarelli & Mills | Eye say yes (or no) | We’re interested in learning about how people decide whether or not to consent to the collection and use of their data online. Participants will complete a reading task while their gaze is recorded using a web-cam based eye tracker. Participants will respond to survey and interview questions. Eligibility: All ages |
| Schmidt-Dannert & Aksan | Understanding Public Perceptions of Novel Biotechnologies | Have you ever heard of bio-mining? Come visit with us for an opportunity to learn and share your thoughts about a new technology with potential implications for Minnesota. Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Spector & Demerath | Take it to the (bio)bank | Biobanks take samples, like blood, to analyze DNA and connect a person’s DNA to physical measurements, questionnaires, and medical records. Some biobanks create cells from participant samples, cells that could live a very long time. We want to know your thoughts and attitudes about biobanks and ask you to take our quick 7-minute survey. Eligibility: Age 18+ MN resident |
| Steevens & Geller | Attitude Check – #MNsotansKickCancer! | A brief survey to learn about Minnesotans’ knowledge and attitudes about cancer prevention and treatment. Our state is home to unique populations with different cancer risks and needs. The Masonic Cancer Center wants to help everyone benefit from scientific and medical advances. Come one, come all! Your voice will help us better understand how to meet the community’s needs. Spin the prize wheel and enter a raffle! Eligibility: Age 18 + |
| Thielen, Lehman & Bastug | Got snot? | Every week, participating households will receive a short questionnaire to find out whether any participating household members have symptoms of a respiratory illness. If anyone in the household has symptoms, we ask you to collect nasal swabs and mail them back to our lab for testing for many different microbes that can cause respiratory illness. You can choose to receive a periodic report about which viruses and other microbes were detected in your houseold. Eligibility: Adults willing to complete brief weekly survey & collect nasal swabs when respiratory illness occurs |
| Toomey | Edibles, seltzers, and weed, oh my! | Marijuana/THC use is legal for adults in Minnesota. We want to know what is happening with these products this year. Where have you seen it? Have you tried it? What have you tried? Does your work have rules about it? Do you think these products are good for your health? Bad for your health? We want to hear from you even if you have not used marijuana/THC! Eligibility: Age 18+ MN resident |
| Turcotte & Tanner | What can you do in 30-seconds? | We would like to understand how children and teens of different ages perform on a common physical function test, the 30-second chair stand test. We will also ask you to answer questions about your mobility, physical activity, and tiredness to see how this relates to the chair stand test. What can you do in 30-seconds??? Eligibility: Kids and teens ages 3-17 No history of movement difficulties |
| Van Beck | The Power of Perception | In the realm of healthcare, the attire worn by physicians plays a significant role in shaping patient perception and trust. However, the impact of physician attire on patient confidence and satisfaction remains a subject of debate and warrants empirical investigation. This proposed study seeks to examine the correlation between physician attire and patient perception of them as their healthcare provider. By elucidating the nuances of this relationship, we aim to provide valuable insights that can inform healthcare policies and practices, ultimately enhancing patient-centered care delivery. Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Westberg | Medicines, Pharmacists and Pharmacies | We are seeking to learn more about experiences with medicines and interactions with pharmacists in the healthcare system, including community pharmacies. This will help the profession of pharmacy develop medication services that improve people’s health. Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Willett, Isenberg, & Haeberle | Swish for Science! | We are interested in the bacteria in your mouth! We will ask you to rinse your mouth so that we can collect bacteria that might cause infections like cavities and infected root canals. Swish & then spin the wheel to win a prize! Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Wise | Demystifying PCOS | Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is very common, but accurate diagnosis can be challenging, and many patients are confused about this syndrome and whether they have it. Previous research shows that PCOS may be both under-diagnosed and over diagnosed. Accurate diagnosis of PCOS is important given that the condition increases the risk of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, higher likelihood of infertility, and increased risk of endometrial or uterine cancer. By assessing knowledge and experience with PCOS symptoms, the proposed study aims to highlight areas of opportunity for improvement of PCOS awareness and diagnostic accuracy. Eligibility: Female or gender-expansive patients aged 18-55 who have ever had a uterus and ovaries |
| Yarosh | Real Families Meet Virtual Reality | What do families need to know about Virtual Reality to decide if it is right for them? We’re asking children (8-17) and their grown-ups to share their curiosities and questions about VR so that scientists like us can focus on answering the right questions. Eligibility: Children ages 8-17 and their grown-ups |
| Yuan | Dead or Alive? In the Eye of the Beholder | Help us understand how people assess the accuracy of the percentage estimation of dead or damaged and living corneal cells. Eligibility: Age 18+ |
| Zilverstand | Babies, Brains, and Developmental Gains! | Calling all expectant mothers! Join us in helping uncover how early life experiences can shape our children’s futures! Come visit us at the UMN D2D building to learn more about the HBCD study, the largest long-term study of early brain and child development in the US. Find out how YOU can help make a difference in the lives of children for generations to come! Eligibility: Age 18+ Pregnant |
