Vanderbilt Clinical Trials

This research will leverage novel pilot research conducted by the investigators to take important first steps in addressing neurocognitive late effects by intervening early, during treatment, with a promising computerized cognitive remediation program to prevent the downward trajectory of neurocognitive function experienced by pediatric brain tumor survivors. Specifically, we propose to test the feasibility, acceptability, and initial proof of concept of a neuroplasticity-based adaptive cognitive training program (Cogmed) to train working memory (WM) and attention in newly diagnosed youth with a brain tumor. Further, we will test the feasibility of using this intervention in a true prospective design beginning pre-surgery to examine the effects of this intervention in deflecting the downward trajectory of cognitive function in children with brain tumors during treatment. We will also use functional neuroimaging (near infrared spectroscopy - "NIRS") to examine the effects of this program on brain activation in frontal regions that are affected by treatment. Findings from this pilot study will inform the development of a large multi-site randomized efficacy trial to test an individualized cognitive training program. Aim 1. To test the feasibility and acceptability of enrolling youth (7 to 16 years-old) with newly diagnosed brain tumors at time of diagnosis, following patients for 10 weeks, delivering the Cogmed computer-based training program in a randomized trial at 10-weeks post-diagnosis, and following patients to 1 year post-diagnosis. Aim 2. To test the initial acceptability and efficacy of the Cogmed training program on cognitive function in newly diagnosed pediatric brain tumor patients.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2014

open study

The purpose of this study is to compare the use of modern ring external fixation versus internal fixation for fracture stabilization of severe open tibia fractures.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2011

open study

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of CERAMENT™|G used in conjunction with standard-of-care treatment compared to standard-of-care treatment alone in the care of subjects with open fractures of the tibial diaphysis.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2017

open study

This study evaluates the long term safety and effectiveness of the Nucleus Hybrid L24 Implant in a group of newly implanted adults.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2015

open study

The goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of treatment of post-op wound infection in long bones after fracture fixation or joint fusion and either: (Group 1) operative debridement and PO antibiotic treatment for 6 weeks; or (Group 2) operative debridement and IV antibiotics for 6 weeks. Primary Hypothesis: The rate of treatment failure by one year in Group 1 will be non-inferior to the rate in Group 2. Treatment failure is defined as wound problems that require surgery >2 weeks after initial debridement, infection recurrence, infection with a new pathogen, joint erosion, implant failure, medical problems related to the treatment administration which necessitates a switch from one arm to the other.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2012

open study

The primary goal of this Multicenter Study is to develop and to evaluate a method for measuring donor-specific cell free DNA in blood samples from transplant recipients as markers of rejection. Blood samples obtained periodically from heart transplant recipients are assessed for cell free DNA relative to clinical data in order to determine whether changes in the level of cell free DNA indicate rejection. This research study proposes testing a blood sample obtained from the heart transplant recipient. The research seeks to establish whether this blood test will show when the patient is beginning to or already rejecting the transplanted heart. BACKGROUND Identifying if a transplant patient is beginning to or already rejecting the heart is necessary, so that appropriate treatment can be started to halt the rejection. Heart catheterization with biopsy is the usual method used for assessing whether a patient may be rejecting the heart. There are also a number of other methods that transplant physicians will use to look for signs of rejection including other blood tests, echocardiograms, obtaining pressure readings during heart catheterization, and micro-array testing of blood obtained during biopsy. These technologies are limited in ability to consistently and accurately identify the presence of rejection. The usual method of checking for rejection involves obtaining a sample of the heart tissue (heart biopsy); biopsy can only be accomplished through heart catheterization which is an invasive procedure that has risks associated with disturbing the heart such as puncturing the heart or causing the heart rate to change or damaging tissue in the heart. Overtime, repeating this invasive procedure can diminish the ease of the procedure because the veins can become scarred and more difficult to access. For these reasons, researchers believe that it would be good to have a blood test that gives information about the possibility of rejection so that it may not be necessary to do as many heart biopsies. Also, a blood test may be able to provide information about the heart or about rejection that is currently not available at all.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Sep 2013

open study

The primary objective of the study is to determine whether, in patients with symptomatic, advanced heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction, treatment with LCZ696 for 24 weeks will improve Pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, which reflect hemodynamic and clinical status, compared to treatment with valsartan.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2017

open study

This study is being conducted to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and activity of KD025 in adult subjects with chronic Graft versus Host Disease (cGVHD).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2016

open study

This study will apply novel, noninvasive structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods to patients with mild and moderate breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) for the first time to test fundamental hypotheses about relationships between lymphatic compromise and imaging biomarkers that may portend disease progression and individualized therapy response.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2015

open study

This is a registry of human hepatocytes (liver cells) for research purposes.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Apr 2004

open study

Our hypothesis is that optimal treatment of the dysfunctional metabolic pathways which underlie PAH will improve pulmonary vascular function and consequences of the disease.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Sep 2012

open study

This research registry studies Yttrium Y 90 resin microspheres in collecting data from patients with liver cancer not capable of being removed by surgery (unresectable) for the radiation-emitting Selective Internal Radiation-Spheres (SIR-spheres) in non-resectable (RESIN) liver tumor registry. The information generated will help doctors better understand treatment patterns involving Y90 therapy, gain additional insights in the long-term outcomes for patients, as well as guide future research for using Y90 therapy, especially for those conditions where data is currently very limited or lacking.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jul 2015

open study

This is a global prospective, observational, multi-center registry to evaluate the long-term safety profile for patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) who are treated with teduglutide in a routine clinical setting. The registry will also evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes in patients with SBS. SBS patients treated and not treated with teduglutide will be enrolled.

Type: Observational [Patient Registry]

Start Date: Jun 2014

open study

The drugs, lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone, are approved by the FDA. They have not been approved in the combination for multiple myeloma or any other type of cancer. Bortezomib is currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Lenalidomide is approved for use with dexamethasone for patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy and for the treatment of certain types of myelodysplastic syndrome (another type of cancer affecting the blood). Dexamethasone is commonly used, either alone, or in combination with other drugs, to treat multiple myeloma. Please note that Bortezomib and Lenalidomide are provided to patients participating in this trial at no charge. Melphalan and cyclophosphamide, the drugs used during stem cell collection and transplant, are also approved by the FDA. Melphalan is an FDA-approved chemotherapy for multiple myeloma and is used as a high-dose conditioning treatment prior to stem cell transplantation. Cyclophosphamide is used, either alone, or in combination with other drugs, to treat multiple myeloma. These drugs have been used in other multiple myeloma studies and information from those studies suggests that this combination of therapy may help to treat newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. In this research study, we are looking to explore the drug combination, lenalidomide, bortezomib and dexamethasone alone or when combined with autologous stem cell transplantation to see what side effects it may have and how well it works for treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Specifically, the objective of this trial is to determine if, in the era of novel drugs, high dose therapy (HDT) is still necessary in the initial management of multiple myeloma in younger patients. In this study, HDT as compared to conventional dose treatment would be considered superior if it significantly prolongs progression-free survival by at least 9 months or more, recognizing that particular subgroups may benefit more compared to others.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2010

open study

The goal is to determine how lifestyle and exercise impact the well-being of individuals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and long QT syndrome (LQTS).

Type: Observational [Patient Registry]

Start Date: May 2015

open study

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and pain are the most common causes of Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) discharge delay, with untreated PONV occurring in 20-30% of post-surgical patients. The effect of guanfacine (GF) administration on pain and nausea scores will be assessed with two groups. One group will receive 1 mg of GF to take orally and the other group will receive a similar appearing placebo (containing no drug) to take orally.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2016

open study

The purpose of this multi-center pilot study is to determine if the drug tocilizumab (Actemra) is effective in the treatment of patients with refractory adult polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2014

open study

The purpose of this study is to determine whether early (before NICU discharge) or late (55-60 weeks post-menstrual age) inguinal hernia repair is safer for premature infants who have an inguinal hernia.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2013

open study

This phase II trial studies how well giving chemotherapy before surgery works in treating patients with aggressive upper urinary tract cancer. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin hydrochloride, cisplatin, gemcitabine hydrochloride, and carboplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Removing the affected upper urinary tract by surgery is the recommended treatment for upper urinary tract cancer, but can cause loss of kidney function and prevent patients from being able to receive chemotherapy after surgery. Giving chemotherapy before surgery, when the kidneys are working at their maximum, may allow less tissue to be removed during surgery and may be more effective in treating patients with high grade upper urinary tract cancer.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2015

open study