Clinical trials

This is a Phase III, multisite exploratory study for women ≥ 65 years of age with early stage estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer. These individuals will be treated randomly assigned to one of two groups: Intervention, treated with 3 months of pre-operative endocrine therapy (pre-ET) OR Control, participants follow standard of care and proceed directly to breast cancer surgery. Both arms will be assessed for tolerance and compliance to the endocrine therapy by patient reported outcome (PRO) measures (patient surveys).

Digital mental and behavioral health interventions have potential to significantly improve accessibility for the large number of breast cancer survivors who need treatments. However, the landscape of digital interventions tested in this population remains limited, with the few that have been tested primarily focused on reducing symptoms of mental disorders. This is problematic given the range of psychosocial needs among breast cancer survivors, including those who may not have active mental health symptoms, yet could benefit from learning effective coping skills. Digital health interventions delivered through smartphones have strong potential to improve access to care for the large number of breast cancer survivors who need mental and behavioral health support. There is a need to evaluate a range of supportive interventions that target different aspects of mental health, including negative thinking, coping skills, and knowledge. Our research team has previously tested individual digital interventions in relatively small samples, and found that they were effective in reducing mood symptoms among women with breast cancer. The ultimate goal of this project is to evaluate how integrating these interventions into a single 8-week long app program affects mood and overall mental health in breast cancer survivors. The digital micro-interventions to be tested in this study are brief interventions that target specific behavioral and cognitive mechanisms of mental health. These include skills such as reducing negative thinking patterns, increasing knowledge of mental health factors, fostering a grateful outlook, promoting the practice of relaxation breathing, savoring positive memories, and acceptance-based mindfulness approaches.

The purpose of this study is to identify the best combination of new intervention components to use with CARRII, the first automated online intervention for alcohol-exposed pregnancies (AEP). This intervention is specifically designed for Native women and others who can become pregnant. Our goal is to maximize the effectiveness of the online intervention while keeping costs manageable for Native communities.

The primary purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility of conducting a clinical trial on the effects of psilocybin for individuals with prolonged grief disorder (PGD).

The purpose of this study is to understand the safety and estimate the efficacy of combining anti-cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3) x anti-Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) bispecific antibody fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells (EGFR FPBMC) for patients with metastatic or unresectable pancreas cancer. Participants receive 8 twice weekly doses and then 8 more doses every 2 weeks of EGFR FPBMC by intravenous infusion.

This research study is testing a decision aid to help patients think through whether to have sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) can be a difficult decision for some patients because the potential benefits and risks may not be clear. This study is being done to learn whether providing structured, easy-to-understand information helps patients feel more informed and less uncertain about their decision. Patients in this study will be given a paper decision aid (DA). Patients will be given other short questionnaires to complete before and after the decision aid.

Binge drinking, and its health/social consequences are substantial public health concerns, with a high prevalence in young adults, especially in the US military. Alcohol consumption in the military is very high and normative, but there is zero tolerance for alcohol-related legal trouble, and Air Force Airmen who experience this (e.g., DUI, sexual assault) typically receive a disciplinary action referred to as an Alcohol Related Incident (ARI). Brief Alcohol Interventions (BAIs) for alcohol misuse are effective in young adults who report binge drinking. Many BAI studies targeted young adults who drink hazardously; these individuals are typically not interested in abstaining but may try decreasing the amount or change the manner in which they drink in order to reduce harmful consequences. The investigators previously published the results of a BAI group-based intervention that reduced ARIs in over 150,000 Airmen on average by 16%. Since 2010, the BAI has been disseminated to most USAF Airmen in Technical Training. However, it is clear additional research is needed to enhance the efficacy of the intervention and reduce risks associated with problem drinking. One strategy to improve health outcomes is well-timed, tailored, and automated text messages. Building on the researchers' preliminary study where text messages reduced driving after drinking as well as total drinks consumed before driving, text messaging may be highly effective when sent at the precise time that Airmen gain access to alcohol (the first time they are allowed off base), a standard time for all Technical Trainees. One challenge to conducting alcohol research in the military is the lack of privileged communication. As a result, it is difficult to obtain valid self-reports due to a tendency to deny or minimize use. The investigators recently developed and validated a method for collecting anonymous data over time. This will be the first study in the military, as well as the first large scale, adequately powered trial, where intervention effects will be tracked out to a 6-month follow-up. The study's Specific Aims are to randomize approximately 7000 Airmen to either the current BAI versus the BAI+Text messages timed to occur before, during, and after Airmen have access to alcohol; and to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention at the end of training and 6 months post-training using repeated surveys with unique identifiers allowing researchers to match surveys while maintaining anonymity.

The purpose of this study is to understand the safety and estimate the efficacy of anti-CD3 x anti-HER2 bispecific antibody (HER2Bi) armed fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells (HER2 FPBMC) for patients with metastatic breast or prostate cancer. Participants receive 5 weekly doses of CD33 FPBMC by intravenous infusion followed by 4 infusions every other week.

The purpose of this study is to find out if patients with prostate cancer who have vasomotor symptoms, commonly called hot flashes, from their Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) will consistently wear a smartwatch device to track their health data, log hot flashes on their smartwatch, and how these data compare with daily surveys about their hot flashes. Participants will be asked to wear the smartwatch for 4 weeks and to log their hot flashes on their smart watch pressing a button on the watch. Participants will be asked to complete surveys (sent through a text message link) to describe their experiences with hot flashes.

Proximal humerus fractures can be a debilitating injury in the elderly, impacting the ability to function independently or complete activities of daily living due to pain and restricted shoulder motion. Evidence has shown that reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) is an effective option to improve pain and function for patients with acute displaced proximal humerus fractures. Given that patients undergoing rTSA for proximal humerus fractures typically experience worse functional outcomes, worse patient-reported outcomes, and higher rates of complication compared to those with elective indications for surgical intervention, it is critical to determine a secure path to recovery for these patients after surgery. Early rehabilitation has been proposed to be safe and effective for patients who undergo rTSA for elective indications; however, there is a paucity of research evaluating safety and effectiveness of timing of rehabilitation for rTSA patients in the trauma setting. Currently, there exists a great variability in postoperative rehabilitation protocols across orthopaedic practices. This study's objective is to determine the safety and effectiveness of early postoperative rehabilitation on the outcomes and postoperative complications of patients undergoing rTSA for proximal humerus fractures in order to provide more specific recommendations for this patient population.

The aim of this study is to compare standard post operative rehabilitation with a simplified wooden block stretching protocol that will yield similar results.

This study is examining whether short-term supplementation with inorganic nitrate, in the form of beetroot juice, can enhance blood vessel health, insulin sensitivity, and exercise capacity in individuals with prediabetes. We will be comparing the responses in individuals who are taking metformin to those who are naive to metformin. The results from this study may help identify non-pharmacological interventions in prediabetes.

In this study, semaglutide will be compared to placebo (a look-alike inactive substance, a "sugar pill") to determine if its use will prevent weight gain after liver transplantation (LT). In addition, researchers will be testing to determine if semaglutide prevents the development of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) after transplant through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and laboratory results.

The investigators are examining the role of circulating T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in the induction of the antibody responses. The investigators hypothesize that Tfh cell activation is impaired in Bangladeshi children and that this activation failure is associated with a history of antibiotic use. The results of the investigators' preliminary studies suggest that antibiotic treatment could have a detrimental effect on the development of an appropriate adaptive immune response against Cryptosporidium. Antibiotic treatment for children with cryptosporidiosis, rotavirus and adenovirus 40/41is not currently recommended (supportive therapy only), although usually given to children in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This study will randomly assign children with diarrhea due to Cryptosporidium, rotavirus or adenovirus 40/41 to two groups. Supportive treatment would be provided in both groups, but in group #1, antibiotic treatment would be withheld while group #2 will receive usual care which normally will include antibiotic treatment. The investigators will monitor the children for one year to measure T follicular helper function, antibody production, and reinfection.

Sepsis, a life-threatening condition due to a dysregulated response to infection, is the leading cause of global mortality and is frequently driven by tuberculosis (TB) and drug-resistant bacteria in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among people living with HIV. The prevailing standard of care in the region, ceftriaxone alone, is insufficient as it does not address TB, drug-resistant bacteria, or adrenal insufficiency, which is common in HIV-related sepsis. Therefore, the investigators propose a randomized 2x2 factorial clinical trial to compare 28-day survival from sepsis between study participants who along with a standard of care that includes immediate conventional anti-TB treatment receive 1) hydrocortisone to treat septic shock and 2) rifampin, isoniazid, levofloxacin and linezolid to treat TB and other drug-resistant bacteria in order to deliver important and scalable knowledge that may alter the standard of care for sepsis in HIV endemic settings of sub-Saharan Africa. Improving understanding of the physiology and treatment alternatives for HIV related critical illness globally will have reciprocal benefit for health in the U.S.

The purpose of this study is to find out if the Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine can be used safely to treat Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease. Researchers will compare responses from patients with MAC lung disease after receiving an injection of BCG or placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug) Participants in the study: * Receive a BCG or placebo injection at UVA study center on Day 0 * Come to UVA study center on Day 60 * Come to UVA study center at the end of the study * Answer surveys and questionnaires about how you are doing * Have blood drawn 3 times, on injection day, day 60, and at end of study * Give the study team personal and demographic information * Discuss any new symptoms with the study team * Provide monthly sputum samples per usual care

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if treatment of patients with two doses of ketamine plus levetiracetam versus levetiracetam alone leads to more effective control of status epilepticus.

This is a phase 1 study for patients with newly diagnosed MGMT unmethylated IDH wild-type glioblastoma utilizing autologous activated T-cells armed with bispecific antibody (EGFR-BATs) that recognize the tumor. The investigators hypothesized that the combination of infusions of EGFR BATs and low-intensity focused ultrasound would induce blood-brain barrier opening and increase the permeability of the adoptive immunotherapy. The investigators will radiolabel the EGFR BATs with 89Zr-oxine for subsequent PET imaging to determine the trafficking and uptake of this approach. There is a concern that several infusions of EGFR BATs before BBB opening could change the immune tumor microenvironment that would not allow a permissive BBB after LIFU. Therefore, Arm A will have two LIFU with BBB opening after the 4th and the 8th infusion, and Arm B will have three LIFU with BBB opening after the 1st, 4th, and 8th infusions. This study will determine the safety and feasibility of the combination of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) with microbubbles BBB opening and EGFR BATs and the access of the adoptive cell immunotherapy to the tumor microenvironment to inform future studies.

The purpose of this study is to understand the safety and estimate the efficacy of combining anti-CD3 x anti-CD33 bispecific antibody (CD33Bi) armed fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells (CD33Bi FPBMC) for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) where they still have detectable disease ("MRD+") after some treatment. Participants receive 4 weekly doses of CD33 FPBMC by intravenous infusion followed by 4-6 weeks of standard treatment with a hypomethylating agent (type of treatment such as decitabine or azacitidine) and possibly a drug called venetoclax. This is considered 1 cycle of study treatment and may be repeated up to 4 times during the study.

This is clinical trials is to evaluate the effect of exercise with weight loss medication compared to weight loss alone. The study will enroll 24 adults from 30-65 years old with overweight or obesity. The main questions it will answer includes: * Does exercise combined with weight loss medication reduce body weight and body fat more than weight loss medication alone * Does exercise combined with weight loss medication improve other risk factors more such as the sugar in the blood, cholesterol, fitness, and quality of life Participants will: * Take a weight loss medication (tirzepatide) monthly under the supervision of their primary care physician * (Exercise group only) Will perform exercise \~3 times a week at the University of Virginia). Walking on a treadmill and resistance training * Visit the study site at the beginning of the study and after the study to evaluate weight, body fat, and other health measures

The purpose of this study is: * To see if insulin resistance (how sensitive your muscle tissue is to insulin) is associated with lower cardio fitness in people with Type 1 diabetes compared to healthy controls, before and after a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) exercise program. * To see if being overweight and having Type 1 diabetes is associated with lower cardio fitness compared to overweight healthy controls, before and after a HIIT exercise program.

The purpose of this Phase IIa study is to identify the most effective antibiotic regimen to treat small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in impoverished Bangladeshi children.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a large public health threat in Tanzania with an estimated incidence of 195 per 100,000 people in 2022 and 36% of cases going undiagnosed. Nutritional and financial barriers combine to compound the burden of TB in Tanzania and many other high burden countries. Objectives: In this study, we aim to evaluate the effect and cost-effectiveness of conditional cash transfer added to the current facility-based approach to improve TB screening among household contacts (HHCs) of index people diagnosed with TB disease (PWTB) in rural Tanzania; and characterize the prevalence of undernutrition among HHCs of index PWTB and quantify the effect of undernutrition severity on the progression to active TB disease. Methods: In this prospective, interventional cohort study we plan to enroll 360 PWTB and their households within 2 months of TB treatment initiation. The duration of the study is 3 years in total: 2-year enrollment period, divided equally between the current standard of care phase and the added conditional cash transfer phase. All participating households will be visited 2 months after enrollment to complete TB screening for all HHCs and perform anthropometric measurements, and then followed a 2-year period to evaluate for incident TB disease among HHCs. Data analysis: The proportion of households completing TB screening procedures for all HHCs during phase 1 will be compared to that during phase 2 using a chi-square test to evaluate the effect of conditional cash transfer on completion of HHC TB screening. A similar approach will be used to compare proportions of HHCs diagnosed with active TB disease based on nutritional status. We will use regression and Bayesian modeling to quantify the effect of demographic, nutritional and socioeconomic predictors on completion of HHC TB screening and the incidence of TB disease among HHCs to prioritize higher risk subgroup for TB prevention effort. Impact: Successful completion of this proposal will informTB programs in many high burden countries with implementable interventions that can be scaled in rural communities to prioritize TB prevention efforts to the HHCs at the highest risk of developing TB disease

The primary objective of this study is to examine whether exercise training alone, liraglutide treatment alone or exercise training plus liraglutide treatment increases cardiac and skeletal muscle microvascular blood volume, improves vascular function of the conduit vessels, and enhances insulin's metabolic action in humans with Metabolic Syndrome. Subjects will be randomized to one of the 4 groups: control, exercise training, liraglutide treatment, and exercise + liraglutide. They will be studied at the baseline and then after 24 weeks of intervention.

The purpose of this study is to develop new ways to make medical images of the lungs and liver of adults using a technique called four-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (4D-MRI). This technique produces three-dimensional movies of the inside of the chest and abdomen while the patient is breathing. (The fourth dimension is time!) This new way of medical imaging is being developed to help cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is used to treat cancerous tumors. For radiation therapy to be effective, the precise size, shape, and location of the tumor within the body must be known. A particular difficulty for radiation treatment of lung and liver cancer is that the tumor moves during treatment because the patient is breathing. Therefore, tumor motion must also be incorporated into the treatment plan. This study aims to improve radiation treatment planning through better targeting and dose estimation based on 4D-MRI. Before this new imaging method can be used for radiation treatment planning, it must be tested in living, breathing volunteers.