Eureka Newsletter

Thank you for your participation this year!

Because of your contributions to research, Eureka’s study teams launched 8 new Eureka studies and published 15 new research papers this year! Our New Year’s Resolution is to keep you posted on scientific findings made possible by your participation. Check this newsletter and the Eureka discoveries page to hear what we’re learning.

Thinking about getting your COVID-19 vaccine booster? In the coming weeks, you will have the chance to participate in a COVID-19 Citizen Science Substudy that will help us learn more about the different FDA-approved COVID-19 booster vaccines and the effects of mixing and matching these boosters. Stay tuned for this opportunity!

New findings from the COVID-19 Citizen Science Study
UCSF researchers recently published a new manuscript using data collected from the COVID-19 Citizen Science Study.  This manuscript, published in the BMJ Open journal, sought to determine what types of behaviors could modify a person’s risk of contracting COVID-19.

28,575 participants across 99 different countries contributed data for this study. The data analyzed in the study were collected between March 2020 and October 2020–before COVID-19 vaccinations were widely available. The study found that three variables were strongly associated with increased risk of contracting COVID-19:

– Number of non-household contacts
– Attending large gatherings
– Visiting restaurants

The study also found that younger people were more likely to test positive for COVID-19 compared to older individuals. While the lower risk in older individuals may seem counterintuitive, this finding may be due to increased compliance with social distancing guidelines and other protective measures in this more vulnerable population.

This study highlights the role of modifiable behaviors in mitigating COVID-19 transmission and reducing an individual’s risk of contracting COVID-19. Even though vaccines are widely available now, people can still modify their behaviors to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 while we navigate through this pandemic.

If you suffer from chronic low back pain, join the BACKHOME study! Your participation will help us develop better treatments.

Who
You may be eligible if you are 18 years or older, have had low back pain for three months or more, and live in the United States.

When
If you join, we will send you a few surveys every 3 to 6 months over the next 2 years.  The first survey will take the most time to complete because we’d like to learn about you and your experience with back pain.  The next set of surveys will be much shorter in length.  You can fill out the surveys on your computer or use your mobile phone whenever you have free time.

Learn more

All study participants will receive:

• 🏃‍♀️ A physical activity tracker
• 📈 Personalized report
• 📒 Educational booklet
• 💵 Up to $50 compensation

Some participants will receive:

• Text messages
• Diet and exercise logbook
• Health coaching
• Coaching for the participant’s support person

To be eligible, you must have:

• Been diagnosed with nonmetastatic colon or rectal cancer
• Completed treatment
• Regular access to a smartphone

Where does the study take place?

• This study is being done remotely; you can participate from home
• You will be asked to visit a LabCorp or Quest Patient Service Center convenient to you at the start and end of the study

Questions? E-mail us: toolstobefit@ucsf.edu.

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