Dr. Elissa Epel
Elissa Epel, Ph.D., is a Professor at UCSF whose research focuses on healthy aging, psychological and social stress, and resilience. She conducts clinical trials to examine how mindfulness, meditation, and healthy lifestyle modifications can affect cellular aging, weight, diet and metabolism.
Dr. Aric Prather
Aric Prather, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at UCSF. His research focuses on complex interactions between psychological processes and sleep as they relate to physical and mental illness. Much of his research involves understanding how social factors affect the immune system, especially inflammation as a key pathway in health and disease.
Dr. Rachel Radin
Dr. Rachel Radin is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at the UCSF Department of Psychiatry, Center for Health and Community. Her research interests include clarifying the biopsychosocial processes that contribute to eating behavior and metabolic health in adults. Rachel aims to ultimately develop complementary and integrative health interventions to improve the health of individuals with obesity and other health-related conditions.
Study Personnel
Julie Vaccaro
.png)
The UCSF Building Optimal Antibodies Study
Join the BOOST Study and help scientists understand the relationship between stress and COVID-19 vaccination immune responses.
*We are NOT providing the vaccine as part of the study*
About the Study
The Building Optimal AntibOdies Study (BOOST) is assessing how vaccine response is influenced by factors such as age, immune cell age, sleep, mood, and stress. The study aims to discover the best predictors of an optimal antibody response to vaccination and factors that promote long-term antibody response 6-months later. Understanding factors that influence long-term antibody response may help us figure out ways to improve the durability of the vaccine protection against COVID and other diseases. If you would like more scientific background on the study, see our FAQ’s.
The BOOST study involves filling out questionnaires and having your COVD-19 antibodies measured 1-month and 6-months after your second vaccination.
You must join before your first vaccination. We are sorry that we cannot enroll people who have already had their first COVID-19 vaccination.
The BOOST study has completed enrollment thank you for the overwhelming interest!
PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE NOT PROVIDING THE VACCINE AS PART OF THE STUDY, YOU MUST RECEIVE YOUR VACCINE THROUGH UCSF OR ELSEWHERE.
Why Should I Join?
​
By joining you will:
​
-
Earn up to $300 for completing all aspects of the study.
-
Contribute to science and help researchers understand how stress can influence vaccination effectiveness.
Participation Details
If you decide to participate in the study you will be asked to complete a series of online questionnaires and to come into our clinic for three blood draws. You will receive compensation for each time point you complete in the study.
​
See the timeline below and contact us if you have additional questions.
​
PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE NOT PROVIDING THE VACCINE AS PART OF THE STUDY, YOU MUST RECEIVE YOUR VACCINE THROUGH UCSF OR ELSEWHERE.
What is BOOST Study?
The BOOST Study is assessing how vaccine response is influenced by factors such as age, immune cell age, sleep, mood, and stress. We will discover the best predictors of an optimal antibody response to vaccination and factors that promote long term antibody response 6-months later. Understanding factors that influence long term antibody response may help us figure out ways to improve the durability of the vaccine protection against COVID and other diseases.
Who is conducting the study?
This is a research study led by Drs. Elissa S. Epel, PhD, & Aric A. Prather, PhD, of the UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Co-PIs), Drs. Rick Hecht, MD and Ashley Mason, PhD at Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Dr. Jue Lin in Biochemistry, Zaw Maung, MD, MPH of the UCSF Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and others. Learn more about Our Team.
How is my info kept safe?
As researchers, we understand information about your life is personal. It’s our priority to keep the information you share for this study private. All information about you will be de-identified, meaning it’s kept separate from your name, phone number, or email, and no one outside of our study staff will have access to your records, including your employer. If you agree to providing access to your medical record it will in no way affect the care you receive at UCSF.
Questions?
Visit our FAQ Page or contact our research team below.
​
You can also see the Study Timeline in more detail.
What is the goal of the study?
The goal of this study is to better understand how age, immune age, and lifestyle factors (different types of emotions, stress, health behaviors) may influence the effectiveness of the COVID vaccination.
What does participation entail?
Blood draws: You will also be asked to visit our clinic at three-time points for a blood sample to measure antibody response:
​
-
Before your first vaccination
-
One month after your second vaccination
-
Six months after your second vaccination
Questionnaires: In addition to the blood draws, you will be asked to complete brief online questionnaires and daily check-ins about your health, lifestyle, and feelings at four time points. These will occur around the weeks of:
​
-
Your first vaccination (around the first blood draw)
-
Your second vaccination
-
Your last 2 blood draws (1 and 6 months after the second vaccination)
​
Medical Records: We would like to examine if the measures we are studying (stress, immune aging) are related to health conditions, medications, and COVID infections. To do this most accurately, we need to collect this information from medical records. Information collected includes medications, medical diseases, and diagnoses of COVID or other infections, from the year of enrollment through the next five years. This is an optional portion of the study; you do not need to say yes in order to be enrolled. If you agree, you will be asked to sign a separate form authorizing access, use, creation, or disclosure of health information about you.
Some participants have been given an “Oura Ring” (a silver biosensor ring to wear on a finger) to track their heart rate and sleep over the first 8 weeks of the study. We have finished enrollment for the Oura Ring.
Ready to participate?
You must join before your first vaccination. We are sorry that we cannot enroll people who have already had their first COVID-19 vaccination.
The BOOST study will be launching in March, if you are interested in signing up please fill out this form to provide your contact information. We will reach out to you with more information.
PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE NOT PROVIDING THE VACCINE AS PART OF THE STUDY, YOU MUST RECEIVE YOUR VACCINE THROUGH UCSF OR ELSEWHERE.
Study Timeline
Eligibility Questionnaire
Complete a 5-minute survey to find out if you are able to participate!
Enrollment
There are 4 steps for enrollment:
Baseline Questionnaire
15 minutes online before or on the day of your first vaccination appointment
Blood Draw
Come to our clinic at the Rutter Center before or on your first vaccination appointment for a small blood sample
Vaccination
Go to your first vaccination appointment (at UCSF or elsewhere, we are not providing vaccines)
Daily Diaries
Complete a daily diary on your computer or smartphone for 5 minutes each day for 7 days
Second Vaccination Day (about a month later)
Two steps:
Vaccination
Go to your second vaccination appointment (at UCSF or elsewhere, we are not providing vaccines)
*If you are receiving the J&J vaccine you will have your first follow up appointment at this timepoint*
Daily Diaries
Complete a daily diary on your computer or smartphone for 5 minutes each day for 7 days
Follow Up Blood Draw (+1 month after second vaccination)
Three steps:
*If you are receiving the J&J vaccine you will have your first follow up appointment +1 month after your vaccination*
Follow Up Survey
15 minutes online
Blood Draw
Come to our clinic for a small blood sample
Daily Diaries
Complete a daily diary on your computer or smartphone for 5 minutes each day for 7 days
Final Blood Draw (+6 months after second vaccination)
Three steps:
*If you are receiving the J&J vaccine you will have your second follow up appointment at +6 months from your first vaccination*
Follow Up Survey
15 minutes online
Blood Draw
Come to our clinic for a small blood sample
Daily Diaries
Complete a daily diary on your computer or smartphone for 5 minutes each day for 7 days
Study Complete!
Contact the research team
(415) 409-8013
Questions?
Leave us a message with the form below!