Observational Study of Advanced Meditation Practices
This study, called "Quest to Analyze One Thousand Humans Meditating," is looking at how an advanced multi-component meditation practice affects your body and mind. Researchers want to understand the molecular, physiological (how your body works), and emotional changes that happen during an intensive 7-day meditation retreat. They are especially interested in how meditation impacts your heart rate variability, gut microbiome (the bacteria in your gut), and the expression of genes, proteins, and metabolites (substances involved in metabolism) in your blood. You can join if you are at least 21 years old, speak English, are attending the advanced 7-day meditation retreat, and are willing to wear a Garmin device. The study aims to enroll 3000 participants and its current status is unclear.
- Study design
- This is an observational study, meaning researchers will observe participants without assigning them to different treatment groups. It aims to enroll 3000 participants.
- What's involved
- You would need to be a registered attendee of the advanced 7-day meditation retreat and wear a Garmin device for the entire retreat.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Researchers will measure effects at 4 years after the meditation retreat.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
Quest to Analyze One Thousand Humans Meditating
At a glance
Conditions
NCT06583395
Where you'd take part
This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.
VitaMed Research, LLC
Palm Desert, Californiano site contact published
Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.
Study leadership
- Tobias Moeller-Bertram, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · VitaMed Research LLC
Who to contact
This trial hasn't published a contact. View it on ClinicalTrials.gov
What this trial measures
- Effect of Meditation in an Advanced Retreat Setting on Heart Rate Variability in a Global Population4 years
In Phases 1, 2, and 3 of this study, heart rate data will be collected using a Garmin wrist device at the beginning of the meditation retreat and continuously for up to ten months after the retreat. Beat-to-beat interval data will be used to calculate heart rate variability. Time domain measures will include the mean of R-R intervals (mRR), standard deviation of all R-R intervals (SDRR), root mean square of successive R-R differences (RMSSD), and the percentage of R-R intervals that vary by at least 50 ms (pRR50). Frequency domain measures will include very low frequency (VLF), low frequency (LF), and high frequency (HF) measures.
- Effect of Meditation in an Advanced Retreat Setting on the Gut Microbiome and Metabolites in a Global Population.4 years
In Phases 1, 2, and 3 of this study, metagenomic analysis will be carried out on stool samples collected before and after the retreat. This analysis will assess changes in gut microbes and metabolites as a function of multiple variables, including age and sex.
- Effect of Meditation in an Advanced Retreat Setting on the Multi-omic Expression of Genes, Proteins, and Metabolites in the Blood in a Global Population4 years
In Phases 2 and 3 of this study, an integrative analysis of multi-omic assessments will be carried out in whole blood and plasma samples collected before and after the retreat. Whole blood will be analyzed for gene expression while proteomic and metabolomic analysis will be carried out in blood plasma.
- Effect of Meditation in an Advanced Retreat Setting on Physical and Emotional Health outcomes in a global population.4 years
In Phases 1, 2, and 3 of this study, physical and emotional states will be assessed using the Short Form (SF)-36 self-report survey instrument. This scale includes measures for the following domains: bodily pain, general health, mental health, physical functioning, role emotional, role physical, social functioning, and vitality. Data will be reported as the average percent change from baseline to follow-up for each domain. When necessary, data will be rescaled such that positive values will indicate improvement from pre- to post-retreat.