Department of Psychiatry

Psychiatry Scholars Program
Project Description

Effects of the Alpha-7 Nicotinic Agonist DMXB-A on Neuropsychological Functioning in Schizophrenia

This is a Phase II trial of the alpha-7 nicotinic receptor agonist, DMXB-A in schizophrenia. This study proposes to give this investigational new drug to people with schizophrenia while assessing efficacy in improving cognition, tolerability and safety. The trial is a double-blind placebo control design with two doses of DMXB-A and a 1 week washout period between arms. Each subject is enrolled for 15 weeks and receives placebo, DMXB-A 75 mg BID, and DMXB-A 150 mg BID each for 4 weeks. At the end of each arm, the subject has a 90 minute neuropsychological battery and a functional MRI.

The student would be involved in recruitment, screening for medical contraindications, diagnostic evaluations, clinical symptom rating scales, recording adverse events, physical examinations, laboratory examinations, toxicology screens, ECGs. They would have the opportunity to observe neuropsychological testing and functional MRI.

Preceptor Information

Name: Ann Olincy
Department: Psychiatry
Location: Colorado Psychiatric Hospital
  9th Avenue and Colorado Blvd. Campus
Contact: 303-315-5046
  ann.olincy@uchsc.edu
Faculty/Lab Website:  
 

Position Information

Openings: flexible
Funding: Funding for summer stipend may be available at $1700 per month