Pharmacogenomics of Stimulant Treatment Response

Yes, all of our studies are completely free. After completing the 4-week PGx-STaR study, you'll receive up to $60 in gift cards and a personalized pharmacogenetic report.

A pharmacogenetic report uses your DNA to guide medication prescribing across many areas, including psychiatry, cardiology, and others. For ADHD, there are currently no established guidelines for most medications, so it may not directly benefit your ADHD treatment. Joining PGx-STaR study is primarily about contributing to science, though the report may be useful if medications like atomoxetine (Strattera) or other psychiatric medications, such as antidepressants, are ever considered for you in the future.

No, this is not a medication trial. Please speak with your physician about what medication will be prescribed for you. If you are prescribe a methylphenidate-based medication, you may be eligible for the study. We simply want to learn how you respond to the medication.

Concerta, Biphentin, Ritalin SR (extended release only), Foquest, Quillivant, QuilliChew ER, and Jornay PM.

[Note: Lisdexamphetamine (Vyvanse) and Adderall are not methylphenidate-based and are not eligible for this study.]

Absolutely. We enroll you after you confirm methylphenidate prescription and before starting the first dose. Booking a pre-call now means no delays once you're ready.

No, a referral is not required for this study. There is no physician involvement apart from providing you or your child a prescription for a methylphenidate-based medication. You may mention to your physician you are interested to take part in a University of Calgary ADHD research study.

Yes, if you're planning to switch to a methylphenidate medication. If you're currently on a stimulant, a 2-week washout (break) is required before starting. It means stopping your medication for two weeks so we can measure your symptoms before the new medication begins. We recommend doing this during a school break, and always with your doctor's approval.

This is completely optional; you choose on the initial consent form. The needle-free device sticks to your skin: press the button, wait 5 minutes, and a small vacuum draws blood from the capillaries into the container. Most people find it easy and painless, but you can opt out if you have any concerns. Unlike the saliva sample which predicts how your body should metabolize medication, the blood sample measures how much of the medication is actually in your blood, giving us a more complete picture of why a medication works for some people and not others.