Clinical trials

This study will investigate dialysis recipients' responses to important vaccines. Research suggests that a medication commonly used by transplant recipients may improve vaccine responses. The investigators will be conducting a clinical trial to see whether a short course of low-dose Sirolimus improves the response to vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza (flu) in patient with kidney disease over 60 years old who receive haemodialysis.

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare responses to Varicella Zoster vaccination between transplant patients on different medication regimens, and their healthy co-habitants. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Are there differences in vaccination immunological responses in transplant patients on different immunosuppression regimens? 2. Are there differences in vaccination immunological responses between transplant patients and their healthy co-habitants? Participants will all receive a 2-dose course of SHINGRIX recombinant Zoster vaccination, and have immunological responses measured and compared at 5 timepoints between 1 week to 1 year post-vaccination.

The general purpose of this study is to compare Chitosan-dextran (Chitodex) gel versus current standard of care, Gelfoam, as a middle ear (ME) and external auditory canal (EAC) packing agent as part of tympanoplasty, ossiculoplasty and mastoidectomy procedures.