An Evening with Dr. Gillian Einstein: May 18

Thank you to Dr. Einstein. Please consider helping to move her research forward by informing appropriate patients of the following study:

 Study Purpose We are interested in how estrogen levels following the surgical removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy) affect attention and memory.

 

Why Participate? The goal of this study is to be able to provide women considering oophorectomy more information about the possible outcomes of that procedure. We very much want women to be able to make decisions that are as informed as possible regarding their care.  Eligibility  Between the ages of 30—51, planning to have a bilateral oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) in the next 12 months or have had a bilateral oophorectomy in the past 8 years Fluent in English  Compensation You will be compensated $50 per visit for your time. You will also be reimbursed for expenses such as transportation and parking fees (up to $20 per visit).  Participation Details All study visits will take place at Baycrest Health Sciences. The total estimated time for the first study session is 3.5 hours. If you are interested in participating, you will be asked to do the following:   Fill out a background questionnaire Provide urine and saliva samples in order to determine levels of ovarian hormones and APOE genotype Paper and pencil tasks assessing attention
and memory  MRI scan of your brain Interview about your experiences of having an oophorectomy (optional component) What is an MRI? An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan is a non-invasive method of producing a detailed image of your brain. Prior to the scan, you will be screened to ensure safety in the magnetic environment. Before entering the scanner, you will be asked to remove any metal objects on your body, change into a gown and lie still in the scanner for one hour during the procedure.  The Research Team This study is a multisite collaboration between North York General Hospital, Baycrest Health Sciences and the University of Toronto.  Principal Investigator: Dr. Gillian Einstein, Director of the Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Women’s Health and Professor in Psychology at the University of Toronto with expertise in women’s health and the effects of estrogens on the brain.
Consulting Physician and Co- Investigator: Dr. Wendy Meschino, Clinical Geneticist and Head of the Charlotte and Lewis Steinberg Familial Breast and Ovarian Cancer Clinic, Genetics Program, North York General Hospital.
Co-Investigator: Dr. Cheryl Grady, Senior Scientist and MRI Expert, Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care.

Informed Consent Your participation in this study is voluntary and if you agree to participate, you may withdraw your consent and discontinue your participation in the study at any time. Your personal information will be confidential and accessible only to qualified study personnel.  Contact Information If you would like more information or if you are interested in participating, please contact the Study Coordinator at 416-978-6582. We will be glad to speak to you about scheduling an appointment at your convenience as well as to answer any questions you may have.

If you have questions for this study’s Principal Investigator, Dr. Gillian Einstein, please call her at 416-978-0986.  

Tests and interviews will be administered by qualified personnel from the Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Women’s Health.