Center for Biobehavioral Health Research

To support the conduct of cutting-edge clinical and translational research focused on improving the understanding of biobehavioral mechanisms and phenomena in relation to health, such as sleep, circadian, pain, stress, and aging. The Center supports the use of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches to measurement and analysis.

To serve as the pre-eminent resource for support of biobehavioral research that may employ a wide array of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies at Yale and within the broader research community.

1. Provide a robust infrastructure that supports interdisciplinary patient-oriented outpatient or overnight (“inpatient”) clinical and translational studies.
2. Provide fee-based research services available to the Yale research community to support outpatient and overnight biobehavioral and translational studies. 
3. Provide fee-based research services and space to external researchers (e.g. industry, non-Yale academics) to support outpatient and overnight biobehavioral and translational studies, including validation studies. 
4. Provide staff training, consultation on study design and data management to support research teams seeking lab services. 

Dedicated space with two hotel-style private bedrooms with double beds. A third room serves as a sitting/living area with a kitchenette. There is a fully equipped wheelchair accessible bathroom.

• 3 private rooms for overnight
• Full bathroom and shower, wheelchair accessible
• Kitchenette
• 2-room observation room with video camera and one-way glass

The space offers a variety of research amenities that are available for individuals or groups to use for research purposes. Please contact us regarding scheduling use of the Center.

The state-of-the-art Sleep Laboratory is equipped for researchers to conduct, score, and analyze both ambulatory and laboratory-based polysomnographic and behavioral sleep studies. The laboratory includes two hotel-style private bedrooms with double beds. A third room serves as a sitting/living area with a kitchenette, which may also be used as a third bedroom. There is a fully equipped and wheelchair accessible bathroom. Three polysomnographic studies can be conducted simultaneously. The following services are available:

• Full polysomnographic sleep measurement with digital video recording in-lab
• Full polysomnographic sleep measurement for ambulatory studies
• Use of space for overnight or daytime observations/biobehavioral data collection
• Ambulatory sleep apnea screening
• Wrist actigraphy analysis of activity/rest and sleep/wake, including wrist actigraphs for loan and consultation for acquisition, scoring, and data interpretation of actigraphy data
• Light therapy for circadian rhythm interventions
• Consultation on selection, analysis, and interpretation of physiological, behavioral, and self-report sleep measures

We offer a range of services that may be tailored to individual research projects. A Moderator is available to run focus groups or conduct individual interviews.

• 12-seat focus group room equipped with digital video monitoring, one-way glass, computer projection, and webinar capability
• Individual interviewing capability with digital video monitoring
• Consultation for pre-group activities and data analysis available
• Range of options for use of space and support of moderators and/or assistant for focus group facilitation

• Acquisition and temporary storage of blood, saliva, hair, urine, and feces specimens for evaluation of biomarkers 
• Centrifuge in biosafety cabinet and bench for biomarker specimen preparation
• Storage in -80 and -20 freezers and refrigerator
• Coordination of supply acquisition and transport of samples to other labs for processing 
• Computer labeling system for samples, linked to OnCore

• Pulse oximetry
• Six Minute Walk Test
• 24-hour blood pressure monitoring
• 24-hour heart rate/ECG monitoring

• Dedicated rooms for observation of individuals or groups, both adults and children
• Tables and chairs available, including child-sized furniture
• Neuropsychological testing
• Computers and software available to record observations

Staff support is available to perform Quantitative sensory testing (QST) according to the protocols established by a specific research study. The service will include the assessment of the participant and report results to PI. If the PI prefers, a designated person of his/her group of study can be trained on the use of the equipment (TSA2 fMRI thermosensory stimulator) for an hourly fee and later rent the equipment.

•      Fully equipped physical examination room

In some studies, participants are required to provide blood samples for genetic testing, immunoassay, and others. YSN has many licensed RNs who can be available to collect blood according to the requirements of each study in coordination with the PI’s or provide the consumables needed to perform the task. PI’s are welcome to draw blood using their team and the Center can provide them with all consumables to perform it.

• Actigraphy: A small number of Actiwatch 2 and Spectrum devices are available. Actiware Software from Respironics is available for actiwatch analysis.
• QST equipment: two types of specialized equipment, the QST used in research participants to measure their response to stimulus and the ELLA platform for single and multiple biomarker analysis in biospecimens. We will open both pieces of equipment for researchers to use within the Yale community. Training is provided for those with no experience in using the equipment.
• iPads, computers, and some software

• On occasion, experiments or techniques that are not listed in our main menu of services might be required. If it can be done in our facilities and does not overlap with the services provided by CORE facilities on campus, we will assist researchers for an hourly labor fee, providing that they will acquire all consumables needed, or we might charge an additional fee for the consumables we use at the listed price in the supplier website.
• Work jointly with study teams to provide individualized staffing needs for specific study protocols.  An onsite lab manager will be available.  Additionally, Yale School of Nursing has several licensed RNs and other practitioners and students interested in research study participation.
• PhD-prepared biostatistician available for collaboration in research design, short-term statistical consultation, data analysis
• Qualitative data coding services