Research Plan Template
Name(s):
Research Plan (to Accompany Form 1A)
A) Rationale
Include a brief synopsis of the background that supports your research problem and explain why this research is
important and if applicable, explain any societal impact of your research.
Drug addiction is one of the leading causes of death in America. In 2017, 70,200 people died from drug overdose. This
world-wide problem has no approved withdrawal procedure for the individuals admitted to the hospital experiencing
life-threatening symptoms due to drug withdrawal. While methadone is commonly used to treat withdrawal
symptoms, it is not recommended for use with all patients due to the dependency some patients develop to
methadone.
Phenylethylamine (PEA) is a neurotransmitter and is known as the "love hormone" due to its natural euphoric effects.
While studies have been conducted with the PEA hormone, there have been no connections to studies which
experiment with replacing methadone with phenylethylamine. Due to this natural high the users often experience,
this science fair project will be based off the fact that this natural substance can inhibit the body to depress
withdrawal symptoms while not putting the patient at risk for addition to withdrawal drugs.
B) Research Question(s), Hypothesis(es), Engineering Goal(s), Expected
Outcomes.
How is this based on the rationale described above?
Research Question(s): How can the researchers be sure that the planarian are addicted to caffeine? Does the amount
of caffeine or phenylethylamine affect the rate at which the planaria build an addiction to the drugs?
Hypothesis(es): If Phenylethylamine suppresses the symptoms of withdrawals due to the caffeine addiction, then will
it work as a natural replacement for methadone for drug users?
Engineering Goal(s): n/a
Expected Outcomes: To record the effects of the natural neurotransmitter Phenylethylamine and record whether the
planarian's withdrawal symptoms are suppressed.
Procedure(s)
Detail all procedures and experimental design including methods for data collection. Describe only your project. Do
not include work done by mentor or others.
Part I: Material Setup
Obtain materials from the following links from Carolina Biological:
Brown Planaria, Living: https://www.carolina.com/platyhelminthes/brown-planaria-
living/FAM_132954.pr?question=planarian
Phenylethylamine (PEA) Supplements:https://www.bulksupplements.com/products/phenylethylamine-hcl-pea-
powder?variant=29386516660335¤cy=USD&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwb3rBRDrARIsALR3XeY2xCsyk6LHmdm4RWFYnkIC
cdnU2Om13KpLSfYADlDbbgp9EoND8mwaAl3YEALw_wcB
Caffeine Supplements: https://www.carolina.com/specialty-chemicals-b-
c/caffeine/FAM_851570.pr?question=caffiene
Bacteria Plates:https://www.carolina.com/bacteria/pigmented-bacteria-set-plate-cultures-
living/154746.pr?question=bacteria+plates
2. Keep materials in assigned positions (PEA) supplements are kept in a locked medical cabinet in Ms. Allard’s school
classroom
Part II: Planaria Caffeine Addiction
Place (4) Planarian on (1) bacteria plate containing caffeine and mark initial gridlines (where the planarian are located)
with a sharpie on the top of the bacteria plate
Research Plan Template
Name(s):
Record the number of times the planarian cross the gridlines with 0,5,10, and 15 minute time increments
After the planarian have been exposed to caffeine for 24 hours remove the planarian from the bacteria plate
containing caffeine
Transfer the planarian to (1) bacteria plate containing no caffeine and record behavioral results (repeat step 2) and
note movement over gridlines
The decrease of movement after the 24 hour mark and transfer on plain bacteria plate depicts the addiction to
caffeine the planaria now have. Procede to part III if these are the results depicted by the planarian if not visi the
following link for additional references
t:https://medicine.temple.edu/sites/medicine/files/files/seadap_drug_withdrawal_behavior_in_planarians.pdf
Part III: Addition and Behaivoral Effects of Phenylethylamine
Continue with planarian used in Part II. Transfer planaria from the plain bacteria plate to (1) bacteria plate containing
the drug phenylethylamine
Record the initial location of the planaria as the first gridline then record the number of times the planaria cross the
gridline with 0,5,10, and 15 minute time increments
Analyze the data and continue monitoring the planaria until locomotive behaivor decreases
Record the behaivor of the phenylethylamine and compare to the following link to determine if the planaria are
experiencing withdrawals:
https://medicine.temple.edu/sites/medicine/files/files/seadap_drug_withdrawal_behavior_in_planarians.pdf
Part IV: Planarian Care
Note: Follow these steps to maintain optimal health of the planaria
Feed the planarian a pea sized amount of egg yolk from a boiled egg and allow them to eat for 30 minutes. Change
the water after each feeding.
Repeat step 1 once every seven days
Keep the water temperature 21-23 degrees celsius
Keep the water clean and use a pipet to move the planarian when changing water
Risk and Safety
Identify any potential risks and safety precautions needed.
Caffeine and phenylethylamine can be hazardous in case of skin contact, eye contact, and inhilaton. Safety measures
include proper PPE such as aprons, gloves, goggles, and washing hands before and after experimentation. Chemicals
and organisms are kept in proper storage in a locked biology laboratory.
Data Analysis
Describe the procedures you will use to analyze the data/results.
1. record the number of gridlines the planarian cross between the time intervals 0,5,15, and 24 hour intervals
2. analyze the results and visit the following link for references on drug dependence with planaria:
t:https://medicine.temple.edu/sites/medicine/files/files/seadap_drug_withdrawal_behavior_in_planarians.pdf
IF Applicable
Below are subject-specific guidelines for additional items to be included in your
research plan/project summary as applicable.
Human participants research:
a. Participants: Describe age range, gender, racial/ethnic composition of participants. Identify vulnerable populations
(minors, pregnant women, prisoners, mentally disabled or economically disadvantaged).
Research Plan Template
Name(s):
b. Recruitment: Where will you find your participants? How will they be invited to participate?
c. Methods: What will participants be asked to do? Will you use any surveys, questionnaires or tests? What is the
frequency and length of time involved for each subject?
d. Risk Assessment: What are the risks or potential discomforts (physical, psychological, time involved, social, legal,
etc.) to participants? How will you minimize risks? List any benefits to society or participants.
e. Protection of Privacy: Will identifiable information (e.g., names, telephone numbers, birth dates, email addresses)
be collected? Will data be confidential/anonymous? If anonymous, describe how the data will be collected. If not
anonymous, what procedures are in place for safeguarding confidentiality? Where will data be stored? Who will have
access to the data? What will you do with the data after the study?
f. Informed Consent Process: Describe how you will inform participants about the purpose of the study, what they
will be asked to do, that their participation is voluntary and they have the right to stop at any time.
Vertebrate animal research:
a. Discuss potential ALTERNATIVES to vertebrate animal use and present justification for use of vertebrates.
b. Explain potential impact or contribution of this research.
c. Detail all procedures to be used, including methods used to minimize potential discomfort, distress, pain and injury
to the animals and detailed chemical concentrations and drug dosages.
d. Detail animal numbers, species, strain, sex, age, source, etc., include justification of the numbers planned.
e. Describe housing and oversight of daily care
f. Discuss disposition of the animals at the termination of the study.
Potentially hazardous biological agents research:
a. Give source of the organism and describe BSL assessment process and BSL determination.
b. Detail safety precautions and discuss methods of disposal.
Hazardous chemicals, activities & devices:
• Describe Risk Assessment process, supervision, safety precautions and methods of disposal.
Phenethylamine and caffeine can both be irritating to the skin, eyes, stomach, and lungs. We will be wearing
gloves, aprons and goggles at all times when working with the chemicals. We are also using planarian but they have
no risk to humans. The chemicals will be disposed of by the Cobb county chemical waste disposal company.
