Vanderbilt Clinical Trials

Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have reduced health related quality of life (HRQOL) and impaired exercise capacity. Despite fourteen approved therapies, most patients die within ten years. Increasing physical activity is highly efficacious in PAH, resulting in six-minute walk distance (6MWD) and HRQOL improvement that often exceeds the effect of medications. Prior activity studies required inpatient rehabilitation, which is impractical, hard to sustain, and poorly scalable to a rare disease. The Investigators propose a randomized trial of smart texts versus usual care for 6 months. The Investigators will randomize 100 PAH patients to the mHealth intervention or usual care. The Investigators will test the effect of a text-based mHealth intervention on HRQOL in PAH using the PAH-specific emPHasis-10 questionnaire. The Investigators will also test the effect of an mHealth intervention on exercise capacity, measured by a supervised home-based 6MWD test. Finally, the Investigators will examine the effect of the intervention on time to clinical worsening (composite of PAH therapy escalation, PAH hospitalization, and death) one year after randomization.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2023

open study

Ventilated pediatric patients are frequently over-sedated and the majority suffer from delirium, a form of acute brain dysfunction that is an independent predictor of increased risk of dying, length of stay, and costs. Universally prescribed sedative medications-the GABA-ergic benzodiazepines-worsen this brain organ dysfunction and independently prolong duration of ventilation and ICU stay, and the available alternative sedation regimen using dexmedetomidine, an alpha-2 agonist, has been shown to be superior to benzodiazepines in adults, and may mechanistically impact outcomes through positive effects on innate immunity, bacterial clearance, apoptosis, cognition and delirium. The mini-MENDS trial will compare dexmedetomidine and midazolam, and determine the best sedative medication to reduce delirium and improve duration of ventilation, and functional, psychiatric, and cognitive recovery in our most vulnerable patients-survivors of pediatric critical illness.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2021

open study

The investigational drug to be studied in this protocol, BCA101, is a first-in-class compound that targets both EGFR with TGFβ. Based on preclinical data, this bifunctional antibody may exert synergistic activity in patients with EGFR-driven tumors.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2020

open study

The purpose of this observational study is to find the best measures to define how well a person with eosinophilic disorder is doing. People with EoE, EoG, EoN and EoC normally undergo endoscopy and/or colonoscopy where cells are collected for microscopic analysis. Treatments are then decided based on how the cells look. We are aiming to compare different tissue components such as inflammatory cell types with clinical symptoms. We want to see if scores on standard questionnaires can give us an idea how well the person is doing.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jul 2015

open study

The primary objective of the Vanderbilt Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (VADRC) is to provide local and national researchers with access to a well-characterized and diverse clinical cohort, including participant referrals, biosamples, clinical data, and neuroimaging data. The VADRC Clinical Core will create an infrastructure to support research efforts of both local and national investigator studies to develop early detection, prevention, and treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease. The Clinical Core intends to enroll up to 1000 participants, including individuals who are cognitively unimpaired, have mild cognitive impairment, or have Alzheimer's disease. This cohort of about 1000 participants will be called the Tennessee Alzheimer's Project. Participants will be seen annually for comprehensive clinical characterization and then referred to other studies to enhance Alzheimer's disease research activities.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Oct 2021

open study

The 2021 ACR RA treatment guideline, based on widely acknowledged low to moderate quality evidence, recommends switching to a non-tumor necrosis factor (TNFi) biologic (choose among existing medications, currently, rituximab, abatacept, tocilizumab, or sarilumab) or a targeted synthetic DMARD arm (tsDMARD; choose among existing medications, currently, tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib) in patients with active RA despite the use of a TNFi-biologic. In practice, most patients receive another TNFi-biologic, i.e., a second TNFi-biologic first. This is not based on solid evidence, but on arbitrary algorithms often proposed by health insurance plans, and/or physician experience and habit (TNFis launched 22 yrs ago vs. the first tsDMARD 8 years ago vs. first non-TNF-biologic launched 17 years ago). This study will fill a critical knowledge gap by generating CER data for important PROs between these treatment options, switching to a non-TNFi biologic or a tsDMARD in patients with active RA despite the use of a TNFi-biologic.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2021

open study

ARTFL LEFFTDS Longitudinal Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (ALLFTD) represents the formalized integration of ARTFL (U54 NS092089; funded through 2019) and LEFFTDS (U01 AG045390; funded through 2019) as a single North American research consortium to study FTLD for 2019 and beyond.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Mar 2020

open study

Using a single-case multiple baseline across participants design, this study aims to explore the effectiveness of parent-implemented Broad Treatment Speech Recast supplemented with traditional clinician-led articulation therapy on speech production in elementary-aged deaf and hard of hearing children. To address these objectives, the following research questions will be investigated: 1. Does drill-based articulation therapy, administered by a speech-language pathologist, improve speech sound production in DHH children when parent-implemented BTSR is concurrently utilized at home? 2. Does the combination of parent-implemented BTSR and clinician-led traditional articulation therapy result in generalization of speech sound accuracy at the conversation level?

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2025

open study

This is a Phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center, Phase II, dose escalation study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and efficacy of Ya-101 in subjects with multiple system atrophy.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2025

open study

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the ProTractX3™ DCB for the treatment of benign esophageal strictures.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2023

open study

This study will use an observational cohort to cross-sectionally and longitudinally relate vascular health to clinical, imaging, and biological markers of early Alzheimer's disease and cerebrovascular disease among aging adults. Adjusting for relevant clinical covariates, we will test the hypothesis that vascular health is associated with clinical, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), neuropsychological, and cerebrospinal fluid markers of early cerebrovascular and Alzheimer's disease changes (i.e., prior to the onset of significant cognitive decline or dementia). Secondarily, we will examine medical and genetic factors that might mediate associations between vascular health and brain aging, such as inflammatory processes, insulin resistance, and genetic factors (e.g., APOE, a susceptibility risk factor for dementia). Findings will advance knowledge regarding the role that vascular health plays in brain aging.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Sep 2012

open study

Among people living with HIV, heavy drinking increases the risk of heart disease and death. Studies suggest that alcohol changes the number and kind of bacteria in your gut and these changes increase the risk of heart disease and death. This randomized controlled trial will determine whether a pill containing healthy gut bacteria can increase the number good bacteria in the gut, lower levels of inflammation, and lower the risk of heart disease and death.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2023

open study

This phase III trial compares the effect of giving triptorelin vs no triptorelin in preventing ovarian damage in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer receiving chemotherapy with an alkylating agents. Alkylating agents are part of standard chemotherapy, but may cause damage to the ovaries. If the ovaries are not working well or completely shut down, then it will be difficult or impossible to get pregnant in the future. Triptorelin works by blocking certain hormones and causing the ovaries to slow down or pause normal activity. The triptorelin used in this study stays active in the body for 24 weeks or about 6 months after a dose is given. After triptorelin is cleared from the body, the ovaries resume normal activities. Adding triptorelin before the start of chemotherapy treatment may reduce the chances of damage to the ovaries.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2025

open study

ME&MG is a standalone software (digital solution) running on patients smartphones, connected to a web portal for physicians. It is intended to be used as an unsupervised digital self-assessment tool for the monitoring of disabilities in patients living with MG. ME&MG contains digital active tests for the assessment of ptosis, breathing, dysarthria, upper- and lower-limb (arms and legs) weakness, treatment follow-up, and validated e-questionnaires related to daily activities, pain, fatigue, sleep, and depression disorders. The objectives of this study are to validate the accuracy, reliability and reproducibility of the unsupervised at-home self-assessment of symptoms on the patient's smartphone with ME&MG versus the standard in-clinic testing, as well as to evaluate the safety of the solution, its usability and satisfaction.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2024

open study

This phase I/II trial tests the safety and efficacy of split-course adaptive radiation therapy in combination with immunotherapy with or without chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with stage IV lung cancer or lung cancer that that has spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced). Radiation therapy is a standard cancer treatment that uses high energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Split-course adaptive radiation therapy uses patient disease response to alter the intensity of the radiation therapy. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies such as pembrolizumab, ipilimumab, cemiplimab, atezolizumab or nivolumab may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Chemotherapy drugs like carboplatin, pemetrexed, and paclitaxel work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving split-course adaptive radiation therapy with standard treatments like immunotherapy and chemotherapy may be more effective at treating stage IV or locally advanced lung cancer than giving them alone.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2023

open study

This single arm study is designed to demonstrate the feasibility of a radically different approach for an exceptionally high-risk subset of MES with widely metastatic disease (WMES). We incorporate the use of evolutionary principles that apply to species and population dynamics as related to adaptation and extinction to populations of cancer cells that similarly adapt and that we are attempting to make extinct, resulting in a cure for the patient. Such principles include an initial intense first strike to deplete the bulk of the cancer cells, followed by a series of sequential second strikes towards eliminating residual, resistant populations, followed by a prolonged period of maintenance chemotherapy to eliminate any remnant cells, using agents generally regarded to be active against newly diagnosed ES.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2026

open study

The purpose of this study is to compare how long the participants are disease-free (progression-free survival) and and the length of time until a participant dies (overall survival), when treated with amivantamab and chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin calcium (folinic acid) or levoleucovorin, and irinotecan hydrochloride (FOLFIRI) versus either cetuximab or bevacizumab and FOLFIRI given to participants with Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene/ neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog (KRAS/ NRAS) and v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF) wild-type recurrent, unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer who have previously received chemotherapy.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2024

open study

NRG-CC015 is a prospective, randomized phase III clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of two distinct digital approaches for delivering a mindfulness-based intervention: a live, instructor-led version delivered over Zoom (MAPs LO), and an app-based, self-paced version (MAPs App). Participants will include younger breast cancer survivors (BCS) who were diagnosed with breast cancer at or before age 50 years, have completed their primary cancer treatment (i.e., surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy) at least 6 months earlier, and report elevated depressive symptoms.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2025

open study

This phase III trial compares the effect of adding tivozanib to standard therapy pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab alone for the treatment of patients with high-risk renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Tivozanib is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of the abnormal protein that signals tumor cells to multiply. This helps stop the spread of tumor cells. Giving pembrolizumab and tivozanib together may work better than pembrolizumab alone in treating patients with RCC.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2025

open study

This phase I/II trial tests the safety, side effects, best dose, and effectiveness of iberdomide in combination with belantamab mafodotin and dexamethasone in treating patients with multiple myeloma (MM) that has come back after a period of improvement (relapsed) or that does not respond to treatment (refractory). Multiple myeloma is a cancer that affects white blood cells called plasma cells, which are made in the bone marrow and are part of the immune system. Multiple myeloma cells have a protein on their surface called B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) that allows the cancer cells to survive and grow. Immunotherapy with iberdomide, may induce changes in body's immune system and may interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Belantamab mafodotin has been designed to attach to the BCMA protein, which may cause the myeloma cell to become damaged and die. Dexamethasone is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It is used to reduce inflammation and lower the body's immune response to help lessen the side effects of chemotherapy drugs. Iberdomide plus belantamab mafodotin may help slow or stop the growth of cancer in patients with multiple myeloma.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2025

open study

This is a pragmatic phase III, randomized, blinded, double placebo-controlled, three-arm trial of elderly patients following cardiac surgery to assess the relationship between nighttime intravenous (IV) and sublingual dexmedetomidine on postoperative delirium and functional outcomes after surgery.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2025

open study

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of teclistamab in combination with daratumumab and lenalidomide (Tec-DR) and talquetamab in combination with daratumumab and lenalidomide (Tal-DR) versus daratumumab, lenalidomide, dexamethasone (DRd).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2022

open study

This Phase II/III trial will evaluate the what kind of chemotherapy to recommend to patients based on the presence or absences of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) after surgery for colon cancer.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2022

open study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in participants from previous Merck pembrolizumab-based parent studies who transition into this extension study. This study will consist of three phases: 1) First Course Phase, 2) Survival Follow-up Phase or 3) Second Course Phase. Each participant will transition to this extension study in one of the following three phases, depending on the study phase they were in at the completion of the parent study. Participants who were in the First Course Phase of study treatment with pembrolizumab or lenvatinib in their parent study will enter the First Course Phase of this study and complete up to 35 doses or more every 3 weeks (Q3W) or 17 doses or more every 6 weeks (Q6W) of study treatment with pembrolizumab or a pembrolizumab-based combination or lenvatinib according to arm assignment. Participants who were in the Follow-up Phase in the parent study (post-treatment or Survival Follow-up Phase) will enter the Survival Follow-up Phase of this study. Participants who were in the Second Course Phase in their parent study will enter Second Course Phase of this study and complete up to 17 doses Q3W or 8 doses Q6W of study treatment with pembrolizumab or a pembrolizumab-based combination according to arm assignment. Any participant originating from a parent trial where crossover to pembrolizumab was permitted upon disease progression may be eligible for 35 doses as Q3W or 17 doses Q6W of pembrolizumab (approximately 2 years), if they progress while on the control arm and pembrolizumab is approved for the indication in the country where the potential eligible crossover participant is being evaluated.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2018

open study

This pilot clinical study evaluates the safety and imaging performance of panitumumab-IRDye800 (pan800), a fluorescent, EGFR-targeted imaging agent - in patients undergoing neurosurgical resection of intracranial lesions.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2026

open study