UAB - Center for Clinical and Translational Science

A greater understanding of plasticity after central vision loss can inform new therapies for treating low vision and has the potential to benefit millions of individuals suffering from low vision. The treatment of low vision is particularly relevant to the mission of the National Eye Institute (NEI) to support research on visual disorders, mechanisms of visual function, and preservation of sight. The comparison of different training and outcome factors is in line with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Research Domain Criteria (RDOC) framework and studies in an aging population are consistent with the mission of the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2022

open study

This phase II trial tests whether ado-trastuzumab emtansine works to shrink tumors in patients with HER2-positive salivary gland cancer that has come back (recurrent), spread to other places in the body (metastatic), or cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable). Trastuzumab emtansine is a monoclonal antibody, called trastuzumab, linked to a chemotherapy drug called emtansine. Trastuzumab attaches to HER2 positive cancer cells in a targeted way and delivers emtansine to kill them. Trastuzumab emtansine may work better compared to usual treatment of chemotherapy with docetaxel and trastuzumab in treating patients with salivary gland cancer.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2022

open study

Although there is evidence in the literature that gammaglobulin replacement therapy can lead to a reduction in the prevalence of pulmonary infection and improved lung function, there is no published study to guide immunologists regarding the use of spirometry in titrating IG therapy to assist in the management of immunodeficiency patients with regards to gammaglobulin replacement therapy. The investigators propose to study the use of spirometry to identify patients that could potentially benefit from an increase in IGRT. The investigators will identify 22 common variable immune deficiency (CVID) study subjects on stable IGRT replacement therapy equivalent to 0.40 to 0.60 gm/kg per 4 weeks who have evidence of mild to moderate obstruction as assessed by an FEF25-75% between 50% and 80% of predicted. Patients who are on Hizentra will be preferentially recruited. Of these 22, 11 will be identified at random and treated for 6 months at their current dose (control population). The remaining 11 study subjects (treatment group) will have their level of IGRT increased by the equivalent of 0.05 gm/kg in dose per 4 weeks, adjusted for bioavailability as per manufacturer's instructions. On average, rounded up to the nearest gram, this will typically increase their dose of Hizentra by 2 gm per week.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2024

open study

This phase III trial uses the Decipher risk score to guide intensification (for higher Decipher gene risk) or de-intensification (for low Decipher gene risk) of treatment to better match therapies to an individual patient's cancer aggressiveness. The Decipher risk score evaluates a prostate cancer tumor for its potential for spreading. In patients with low risk scores, this trial compares radiation therapy alone to the usual treatment of radiation therapy and hormone therapy (androgen deprivation therapy). Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays or particles to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Androgen deprivation therapy blocks the production or interferes with the action of male sex hormones such as testosterone, which plays a role in prostate cancer development. Giving radiation treatment alone may be the same as the usual approach in controlling the cancer and preventing it from spreading, while avoiding the side effects associated with hormonal therapy. In patients with higher Decipher gene risk, this trial compares the addition of darolutamide to usual treatment radiation therapy and hormone therapy, to usual treatment. Darolutamide blocks the actions of the androgens (e.g. testosterone) in the tumor cells and in the body. The addition of darolutamide to the usual treatment may better control the cancer and prevent it from spreading.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2021

open study

This is a multicenter, open-label phase II study in subjects with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma with at least two prior lines of therapy. The main study consists of three phases: a 28-day screening phase, treatment phase that consists of 28-day cycles of isatuximab with elotuzumab, pomalidomide, and dexamethasone and a follow-up phase.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2022

open study

AB-101 is an off-the shelf, allogeneic cell product made of "natural killer" cells, also called NK cells. White blood cells are part of the immune system and NK cells are a type of white blood cell that are known to kill cancer cells. This clinical trial will enroll patients with relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma of B-cell origin and is conducted in two phases. The primary objectives of Phase 1 are as follows: 1) to evaluate the safety of AB-101 given alone or in combination with rituximab (including the DLBCL specific cohort) or in combination with bendamustine and rituximab; 2) to evaluate the potential clinical activity of AB-101 when given in combination with rituximab or in combination with bendamustine and rituximab (combination cohorts only); and 3) to identify the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D). The primary objective of Phase 2 is to determine whether AB-101 in combination with rituximab or in combination with bendamustine and rituximab has anti-cancer activity in patients. Patients will be assigned to receive either AB-101 alone as monotherapy, in combination with rituximab (including DLBCL specific cohort) or in combination with bendamustine and rituximab. All patients will receive at least 1 treatment cycle of AB-101, followed by scheduled assessments of overall health and tumor response. Patients receiving AB-101 in combination with rituximab may receive up to 3 additional cycles of treatment. Patients receiving AB-101 in combination with bendamustine and rituximab may receive up to 5 additional cycles of treatment. Patients enrolled into the DLBCL specific cohort receiving AB-101 in combination with rituximab may receive up to 3 cycles of treatment.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2021

open study

A randomized trial to determine whether simultaneous treatment with spectacles and patching has an equivalent VA outcome compared with sequential treatment, first with spectacles alone followed by patching (if needed), for previously untreated amblyopia in children 3 to <13 years of age.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2020

open study

This study will use brain Positron Emission Tomography/ Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PET/MRI) and an investigational radioactive drug called [Zr-89]oxine to track the location of white blood cells (also called leukocytes) in the body. PET/MRI will be used to visualize labeled white blood cells and determine if they enter the central nervous system in conditions associated with brain inflammation (also called neuroinflammation). By better understanding the role of neuroinflammation in fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and multiple sclerosis, the investigator hopes to be able to better diagnose and treat patients in the future.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2021

open study

This study aims to identify if postoperative aspirin use leads to a delay in fracture healing. NSAIDs have long been avoided in the management of fractures, due to the belief that they may impair fracture healing. As aspirin is frequently prescribed for long-term management of various medical conditions, it is worth understanding if continuing to take aspirin during the process of fracture healing has a clinically significant effect on the rate of fracture healing.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2019

open study

The primary objective of this substudy is to measure the concentration and the regional brain distribution of activated brain microglia/macrophages using the PET ligand [18F]DPA-714 in participants enrolled in the UAB Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Parkinson's Disease (Clinical Research Core) and Longitudinal [18F]DPA-714 Imaging in a Parkinson Disease Cohort studies. The PET tracer [18F]DPA-714 binds to the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO, also known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor) in the mitochondria of activated microglia/macrophages and provides a non-invasive measure of neuroinflammation. The amount and distribution of [18F]DPA-714 in the brain will be correlated to clinical data acquired through the separate ongoing UAB Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Parkinson Disease (Clinical Research Core) and Longitudinal [18F]DPA-714 Imaging in a Parkinson Disease Cohort studies. The primary objective of this study is to determine if patients with PD have higher levels of neuroinflammation than healthy controls as measured with [18F]DPA-714-PET/MRI.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2018

open study

Multi-center, single arm, prospective trial to estimate safety, feasibility, technical outcomes, and clinical outcomes of percutaneous cryoablation with neo-adjuvant trans-arterial embolization of the tumor in patients with T1b renal cell carcinoma. Continuous safety monitoring will be performed with stopping rules for patient accrual or study continuation.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2024

open study

VERIFY will validate biomarkers of upper extremity (UE) motor outcome in the acute ischemic stroke window for immediate use in clinical trials, and explore these biomarkers in acute intracerebral hemorrhage. VERIFY will create the first multicenter, large-scale, prospective dataset of clinical, transmagnetic stimulation (TMS), and MRI measures in the acute stroke time window.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jun 2022

open study

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-period cross-over study of nebulized ensifentrine (3 mg) or placebo administered BID for two 8-week Treatment Periods. All participants with receive both ensifentrine and placebo during participation. There are 7 in-clinic visits over a total duration of up to 24 weeks participation.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2022

open study

The purpose of this research study is to begin an exercise program for patients with a cystic fibrosis (CF) exacerbation.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2022

open study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of embolization of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) using the Onyx™ Liquid Embolic System (LES) for treatment of symptomatic subacute or chronic subdural hematoma (SDH)

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2020

open study

The goal of this Clinical Study is to understand the outcomes by informing therapy choice for adjuvant treatment in clear cell renal cell carcinoma by using molecular residual disease. The main question[s] it aims to answer are: - what is the progression free survival of a cohort of high risk resected RCC patients when treated based on MRD - what is the overall survival of high risk resected RCC patients when treated based on MRD Participants will forgo adjuvant therapy with pembrolizumab if they have no detectable molecular residual disease. Participants will continue on with standard of care pembrolizumab if they do appear to have molecular residual disease.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2023

open study

This clinical imaging study will use the small molecule translocator protein (TSPO) ligand, Fluorodeoxyglucose(18F)-labeled DPA-714, to visualize and quantify neuroinflammation in individuals with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) . The brain uptake of DPA-714 will be contrasted with healthy subjects.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2023

open study

Cognitive aging in people with HIV (PWH) is of increasing concern for several reasons: 1) between 52%-59% of PWH experience cognitive impairment known as HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND) which impacts everyday functioning and quality of life; 2) HAND increases in severity and prevalence with age; and 3) 70% of PWH in the United States will be 50 and older by 2030. Fortunately, cognitive training programs can individually target specific cognitive impairments in PWH and possibly reduce the severity and prevalence of HAND and improve everyday functioning and quality of life. This approach is based around the underlying concept of intra-individual variability as controlled through higher level allocation of cognitive resources, known as executive functioning. This feasibility study will use a two-group pre-post experimental design of adults with HAND including: 1) a 20-hours of Executive Functioning Training group (enroll 60, n=48 with attrition), and 2) a no-contact control (enroll 60, n=48 with attrition). Aim 1 - Feasibility: To determine feasibility and acceptability of the intervention (i.e., attrition, feedback). Exploratory Aim 1 - Cognition: Compare adults who receive Executive Functioning Training to those who receive no training to determine whether they improve in global cognitive ability and overall cognitive IIV. This high impact study is innovative in the following ways: 1) This is the first study aimed to reduce cognitive IIV in PWH. 2) This is the first study to use IIV as a guide to target solely executive functioning training to improve global cognitive ability, which may reduce the severity and prevalence of HAND. 3) Over the last decade, the epicenter of HIV has emerged in the Deep South where this study will occur. Most participants in this study will be older PWH who identify as lower social economic status (SES) and/or African Americans and experience HAND symptoms.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2023

open study

The study hypothesis is that BCG naïve non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients treated with intravesical Gemcitabine + Docetaxel (GEMDOCE) will result in a non-inferior event-free survival (EFS) compared to standard treatment with intravesical BCG. The purpose of this study is to test whether Gemcitabine + Docetaxel is a better or worse treatment than the usual BCG therapy approach. The primary objective of this study is to determine the event free survival (EFS) of BCG-naïve high grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients treated with intravesical BCG vs Gemcitabine + Docetaxel. Secondary objectives are as follows: to compare changes in cancer-specific and bladder cancer-specific QOL from baseline to treatment between BCG-naïve high grade NMIBC patients receiving BCG and GEMDOCE, to determine the cystectomy free survival (CFS) of BCG-naïve high grade NMIBC patients treated with intravesical BCG vs GEMDOCE, to determine the progression free survival (PFS) of BCG-naïve high grade NMIBC patients treated with intravesical BCG vs GEMDOCE, and to determine the safety and toxicity of BCG-naïve high grade NMIBC patients treated with intravesical BCG vs GEMDOCE.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2023

open study

This clinical imaging substudy will use the small molecule translocator protein (TSPO) ligand, Fludeoxyglucose(18F)-labeled DPA-714, to compare neuroinflammation in individuals with high or low grade asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (aCAD) who are participating in the separate Neuroinflammation in Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Disease study lead by Dr. Ron Lazar (IRB-300007806). The positron emission tomography (PET) tracer [18F]DPA-714 binds to the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO, also known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor) in the mitochondria of activated microglia/macrophages and provides a non-invasive measure of neuroinflammation.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2025

open study

This research study will determine the proportion of patients with lowest minimal residual disease (MRD) response obtainable after receiving 6 cycles of study treatment. Minimal residual disease is multiple myeloma cells below the level of 1 cancer cell out of 100,000 in the bone marrow. For patients who become MRD "negative" (i.e. less than 1 cancer cell out of 100,000) at the end of 6 cycles of therapy, this study will study if that good response can be maintained with 3 additional cycles of treatment instead of use of autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT). For patients who are MRD "positive" at the end of 6 cycles of therapy, this study will answer whether more patients can become and remain MRD "negative" with AHCT plus teclistamab in combination with daratumumab when compared with patients who undergo AHCT followed by lenalidomide (an established anti-myeloma drug) plus daratumumab.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2023

open study

This first-in-patient phase 2a pilot study will assess the safety and tolerability of MW01-6-189WH (hereafter called MW189) in patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2022

open study

Using a highly innovative methodology, the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST), the purpose of this randomized factorial trial is to identify components of a intervention (CASCADE) to enhance the decision support skills of family caregivers of persons with newly-diagnosed advanced cancer. Using a 2x2x2x2 full factorial design, 352 family caregivers of persons with newly-diagnosed advanced cancer will be randomized to receive one or more nurse coach-delivered decision partnering training components, based on the Ottawa Decision Support Framework and Social Support Effectiveness Theory: 1) psychoeducation on effective decision partnering principles (1 vs. 3 sessions); 2) decision partnering communication training (yes vs. no); 3) Ottawa Decision Guide training (yes vs. no); and monthly follow (1 monthly follow-up call vs. monthly follow-up calls for 24 weeks).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2022

open study

The prevalence of gout has been steadily increasing over several decades and is correlated with the rising burden of obesity, chronic cardiac and renal disease; all conditions overrepresented in the Southeastern U.S. - particularly in African Americans. Through a novel emergency department led intervention we aim to improve the care patients with gout receive, both during acute exacerbations and long-term. A secondary goal of the project is to concurrently enhance participation of minorities in biomedical research in the Deep South.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2021

open study

The purpose of this protocol is to begin an exercise program combined with behavioral counseling for patients who are hospitalized with a cystic fibrosis exacerbation. The exercise program will begin during the hospital stay. Beginning an exercise program during this period of reduced mobility and isolation may be an ideal time to deliver a structured exercise prescription along with a behavioral program to promote long-term adherence to exercise (structured physical activity) . Hospitalized patients have an acute awareness that their lung function is declining and may be more motivated and open to changing their behavior and adding exercise to their treatment regimen.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2020

open study