ZenZone Trial

Thank you for your interest in the ZenZone Trial!

We are looking for 60 girls aged 14 from Geelong, Melbourne and surrounding regions who are experiencing depression (feeling sad or low in mood) to take part in the trial.

We want to know if having a dairy product every day for 8 weeks is safe, easy, and acceptable. If it works well, it could help us plan a bigger study in the future to see if dairy can improve mood and mental health.

What does this study involve?

If you take part, you will be asked to:

• Eat or drink a dairy product each day for 8 weeks
• Pick up dairy products from our research centre in Geelong on three occasions
• Complete short surveys on your phone using an app
• Attend three online appointments with the study team
• Collect stool and saliva samples at home
• Complete two MRI brain scans in Melbourne (optional)

Study duration

If you take part in this study, you will be in it for about four months in total. The main part of the study lasts eight weeks, when you eat or drink a dairy product each day.

To thank you and your family for your time: 

• You will receive a $100 gift card for taking part in the main study
• Your parent/guardian will receive travel or parking support for study visits, where applicable
• If you choose to take part in the optional MRI brain scans, your family will receive additional travel reimbursement for attending the Royal Children’s Hospital.
• Small thank-you gifts will also be provided during the study to acknowledge your time and effort.

Am I eligible?

If you are interested in participating in the ZenZone Trial, please click on this link to answer a short pre-screening questionnaire. If your answers suggest you may be eligible, we’ll invite you to book a screening appointment over the phone to check carefully before confirming your place in the trial.