Clinical Trials

Have you been taking medication to treat high blood pressure for at least 3 months? In this study, researchers explore whether a smartphone app can help people eat less salt and improve their blood pressure. Participants must be at least 18 years old, be taking medication to treat high blood pressure, and have a smartphone. The study is taking place in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Are you scheduled for cardiac bypass surgery? Cardiac surgery is effective for improving the health of patients with cardiovascular disease, but many patients experience complications. In this clinical trial, researchers are collecting data to learn how different types of bypasses affect patients. You must be 50 to 70 years old to participate and be scheduled for elective cardiac surgery. The study is taking place in Aurora, Colorado.

Are you an adult diagnosed with COPD? If so, you may be able to participate in a clinical trial where researchers are studying whether a home delivery program with foods meant to help increase the amount of omega-3 that you eat can help with COPD. You must be at least 40 years old and diagnosed with COPD to participate. The study is taking place in Baltimore, Maryland.

This study will pilot test a just-in-time (JIT) adaptive intervention to reduce severe respiratory illness, for children with severe cerebral palsy (CP). The intervention program, called RE-PACT, delivers timely, customized action planning and health coaching when mobile text messaging with families predicts hospitalization risk is elevated. A total of n=90 caregivers of children with severe CP will be enrolled from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and can expect to be on study for up to 6 months.

Are you a smoker with COPD who is willing to use an e-cigarette to reduce how much you smoke? If so, you may be able to participate in a study that is trying to learn more about the effect of switching from smoking cigarettes to using e-cigarettes on COPD symptoms. You may be able to participate if you are 21 to 74 years old, have mild to moderate COPD, and are willing to try e-cigarettes to cut back on your smoking. The study is taking place in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

The purpose of this research is assess imaging and identification of soft plaque that undergoes large deformations or strain will identify plaque vulnerable to rupture which could lead to 'silent strokes'. Validation of current study results with MRI will foster use of real-time ultrasound (US) strain imaging and strain indices as a screening tool for identifying normal human participants susceptible to increased vascular aging and developing plaque prone to rupture or micro-embolization.

Current research will evaluate Lagrangian carotid strain imaging (LCSI) for prediction of vascular health on volunteers. In this study, investigators will evaluate age-related strain variations (due to plaque deposition) in the carotid artery, establishing groundwork that will help identify typical and atypical values for these indices. Investigator's hypothesis is that plaques with higher strain indices (softer plaques) are more prone to rupture than plaques with lower strain indices (stiffer) plaques, thus requiring intervention. Clinical criteria for treatment has focused primarily on the degree of stenosis. Long-term objectives are to provide non-invasive methods for screening participants at risk for vascular aging or plaque rupture in asymptomatic participants, expanding upon current criteria for risk assessments based on focal transient ischemic attack (TIA) or strokes. Variations in vessel strain have been associated with, or are precursors to, plaque deposition, vascular aging, or cerebrovascular diseases. Increased arterial strain and pressure changes have been linked to brain aging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based vascular indices, and memory deficits commonly linked to Alzheimer dementia. Stiffening and thickening of the arterial walls have also been associated with cerebrovascular disease. Investigators hypothesize that strain indices as vascular biomarkers can be utilized for screening possible 'vulnerable participants' validated with MRI, with the potential ability to improve endothelial function and reverse vascular aging. Strain indices may enable differentiating study participants with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) from other dementias. Cognitive testing is unable to make this differentiation.

Are you an adult planning to get a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implant to treat heart failure? If so, you may be able to take part in a clinical trial about heart failure. Researchers are testing whether a dietary supplement can improve heart function for people with advanced heart failure. To participate, you must be at least 18 years old and be scheduled for elective LVAD implantation. The study is taking place in Seattle, Washington.

Do you have chronic kidney disease? If you are at least 21 years old, you may be able to participate in this study of a medication typically used to treat gout to see if can be used to treat people with chronic kidney disease. The study is taking place in Boston, Massachusetts.

Are you at least 18 years old and have heart failure? Researchers in this clinical trial are testing whether a new type of hormone therapy may help with symptoms and quality of life for people who have heart failure. Participants will take medication by mouth daily. The study is taking place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The goal of this work is to develop and test a noninvasive ultrasound-based imaging technology to better identify patients at high risk of stroke so that appropriate and timely intervention may be administered to prevent it.