UAB - Center for Clinical and Translational Science

Our goal is to better understand how DBS modifies local neuronal activity and to pioneer device technologies that can record local DBS-evoked potentials (DLEPs) to guide therapy. Our vision is for a patient's unique electrophysiology to guide both electrode targeting during surgery and programming in clinic, eventually as an integrated component of the implanted pulse generator. Our results will inform directional DBS for PD and serve as a model for translation to other diseases where knowledge on DBS circuit interactions is at an even earlier stage.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2024

open study

This phase III trial compares the addition of an immunotherapy drug (durvalumab) to usual chemotherapy versus usual chemotherapy alone in treating patients with MammaPrint High 2 Risk (MP2) stage II-III hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as durvalumab, 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, such as paclitaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide 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. There is some evidence from previous clinical trials that people who have a MammaPrint High 2 Risk result may be more likely to respond to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Adding durvalumab to usual chemotherapy may be able to prevent the cancer from returning for patients with MP2 stage II-III hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2023

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: 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

Prospective, non-randomized, multi-center clinical investigation of the NEXUS™ Aortic Arch Stent Graft System (NEXUSTM) for the treatment of thoracic aortic lesions involving the aortic arch with a proximal landing zone, native or previously implanted surgical graft, in the ascending aorta and with a brachiocephalic trunk native landing zone.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2020

open study

In a multi-ethnic population, a genome-wide polygenic risk score (PRS) for systolic blood pressure (SBP), incorporating over one million common genetic variants, predicts blood pressure (BP) traits and the risk of adverse cardiovascular events beyond traditional risk factors. Delivering SBP PRS information to young and middle-aged adults with hypertension (HTN) and poor cardiovascular health (CVH) may enhance their motivation to adopt healthier lifestyles, improve blood pressure control, and ultimately reduce the risk of future cardiovascular disease (CVD). This randomized controlled trial will assess the impact of SBP PRS disclosure and theory-based genomic counseling on systolic blood pressure and health behaviors. A total of 300 adults aged 18-55 years will be enrolled and randomized to receive either routine clinical care or SBP PRS results with structured genomic counseling based on the Health Belief Model (HBM). Participants will be followed for 12 months. The primary outcome is change in 24-hour mean SBP from baseline to one year. Secondary outcomes include changes in physical activity, diet, medication adherence, smoking, lipid and glucose levels, and body composition. The study will also evaluate how behavior change is influenced by health beliefs, including perceived risk and self-efficacy. This study aims to advance the use of genomic tools in hypertension management and cardiovascular disease prevention.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2025

open study

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of bilateral stimulation of the subcallosal cingulate white matter (SCCwm) using Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) as an adjunctive treatment of non-psychotic unipolar Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adults.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2024

open study

The goal of this multi-center randomized, parallel group trial is to determine the effect of human milk diets ranging between 180 and 200 mL/kg/day on the body composition outcomes of moderately preterm infants born between 27 and 31 weeks of gestation.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2025

open study

Plexiform neurofibromas (PN) are known to cause significant morbidity in children with NF1. The recent FDA approval for selumetinib in children 2 years and older with inoperable symptomatic PN was based on the finding that selumetinib shrinks the majority of PN in children with NF1 and results in clinically meaningful benefit such as improvement in pain or range of motion. However, many morbidities, such as blindness or nerve damage, cannot be fully reversed with PN shrinkage. Therefore, there remains a critical need in this patient population to determine if young participants with PN in high-risk locations may benefit from early medical intervention prior to the development of clinical problems. This study will determine whether participants with asymptomatic PN in high-risk locations can potentially benefit from early treatment with selumetinib.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2025

open study

This phase III trial compares the effect of adding surgery to a standard of care immunotherapy-based drug combination versus a standard of care immunotherapy-based drug combination alone in treating patients with kidney cancer that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab, ipilimumab, pembrolizumab, and avelumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Axitinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Surgery to remove the kidney, called a nephrectomy, is also considered standard of care; however, doctors who treat kidney cancer do not agree on its benefits. It is not yet known if the addition of surgery to an immunotherapy-based drug combination works better than an immunotherapy-based drug combination alone in treating patients with kidney cancer.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2021

open study

The goal of this Phase 3 clinical trial is to compare the efficacy of niraparib versus temozolomide (TMZ) in adult participants with newly-diagnosed, MGMT unmethylated glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The main question it aims to answer is: Does niraparib improve overall survival (OS) compared to TMZ? Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment arms: niraparib or TMZ. - study drug (Niraparib) or - comparator drug (Temozolomide - which is the standard approved treatment for MGMT unmethylated glioblastoma). The study medication will be taken daily while receiving standard of care radiation therapy (RT) for 6-7 weeks. Participants may continue to take the niraparib or TMZ adjuvantly as long as the cancer does not get worse or completion of 6 cycles of treatment (TMZ). A total of 450 participants will be enrolled in the study. Participants' tasks will include: - Complete study visits as scheduled - Complete a diary to record study medication

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2024

open study

The purpose of this study, known as DISCERN, is to compare two different treatments for a type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that does not show a marker known as PD-L1. This study will help us understand if using two types of immune therapy together with chemotherapy is better than using one type of immune therapy with chemotherapy. We're doing this by looking at changes in the subject's cancer's DNA in the blood after starting treatment.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2025

open study

CAPTIVA-MRI is an observational multimodal MR imaging study that is ancillary to the CAPTIVA trial [a 3-arm, double-blind Phase III trial conducted at approximately 115 StrokeNet sites randomizing patients with stroke attributed to 70-99% intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) to aspirin plus ticagrelor, clopidogrel, or rivaroxaban.] The primary goal of this ancillary study is to determine if MRI biomarkers can potentially identify ICAS patients who fail best medical management. The CAPTIVA-MRI study leverages the CAPTIVA trial design and implementation to capture information that will inform and facilitate the next generation of ICAS trials and the management of patients with ICAS.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jun 2024

open study

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effectiveness of unseparated whole blood (referred to as Low-Titer Group O Whole Blood) and the separate components of whole blood (including red cells, plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate) in critically injured patients who require large-volume blood transfusions.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2023

open study

The over-arching goal of the Contrast-Enhanced Spectral Mammography Imaging Screening Trial (CMIST) is to determine if dual-energy contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) can detect more cancers with fewer false positives than digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) in women with dense breasts. Aim 1: To evaluate the performance of CESM compared to DBT at baseline for breast-cancer screening in women with dense breasts. Aim 2: To evaluate the performance of CESM compared to DBT at the 1-year follow up for breast-cancer screening in women with dense breasts.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2023

open study

This is a multicenter randomized clinical trial of 828 overweight and obese individuals with gestational diabetes designed to compare standard to intensive glycemic targets.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2022

open study

The purpose of this study is to assess sense of control and catastrophic symptom expectations as targets for Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT- an intervention focused on changing behaviors and thoughts) for treatment of pediatric psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES, episodes resembling epileptic seizures but with no medical explanation). 11-18-year-olds diagnosed with PNES will engage in twelve sessions of ReACT. Sense of control over actions will be measured by the magic and turbulence task, a well-validated measure of sense of control. Participants will complete the cold pressor test (CPT) in which participants hold their hand in cool water for as long as possible up to 3 minutes. Catastrophic symptom expectations in response to the CPT will be measured by Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Children (PCS-C) pain tolerance (time with hand in water) and cortisol response. Target assessments will occur 7 days before treatment, 7 days after 8th treatment session and 7 days after 12th treatment session. Participants will also complete long term follow-up visits via HIPAA-compliant Zoom at 6 months and 12 months after the 12th treatment session where participants will complete questionnaires. PNES frequency will be measured from 30 days before to 12 months after treatment.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2021

open study

The purpose of ORACLE is to demonstrate the ability of a novel ctDNA assay developed by Guardant Health to detect recurrence in individuals treated for early-stage solid tumors. It is necessary that ctDNA test results are linked to clinical outcomes in order to demonstrate clinical validity for recurrence detection and explore its value in a healthcare environment subject to cost containment.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Sep 2021

open study

Glioblastoma (GBM) adaptive, global, innovative learning environment (GBM AGILE) is an international, seamless Phase II/III response adaptive randomization platform trial designed to evaluate multiple therapies in newly diagnosed (ND) and recurrent GBM.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2019

open study

The main purpose of this study is to identify a safe and potentially effective dose of tuspetinib to be used in future studies in study participants diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndromes with increased blasts grade 2 (MDS-IB2), or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) that is relapsed or refractory after at least one line of prior therapy, or in study participants with newly diagnosed AML. Tuspetinib will be administered as a single agent or in combination with other drugs (venetoclax or venetoclax plus azacitidine), as specified for each part of the study.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2019

open study

This is a multi-site, double-blind, randomized clinical trial of the 5-HT2A receptor agonist psilocybin for smoking cessation. Four sites with experience in conducting psilocybin research will be involved in this trial: Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), and New York University (NYU). The proposed study will treat 66 participants (22 at each site), randomized to receive either: 1) oral psilocybin (30 mg in session 1 and either 30 mg or 40 mg in session 2); or 2) oral niacin (150 mg in session 1 and either 150 mg or 200 mg in session 2), with sessions 1 week apart.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2023

open study

This study is dedicated to help identify biomarkers for depression and suicide. The purpose of the study is to better understand these links to improve medical and psychiatric care in the future. This research is also to test the effects of standard treatment of depression on improvement in depressive and suicidal behavior and on biomarkers (e.g. miRNA) for these disorders.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2022

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

The WeDecide study is a large observational study comparing the long-term effects of matched related donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (MRD HCT) and non-transplant disease-modifying therapies (NT-DMT) for pediatric patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). The study aims to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL), cognitive function, risks, and benefits of both treatments, including survival rates, chronic complications, and organ damage prevention. With 160 children in the MRD HCT group and 320 in the NT-DMT group, aged 3-20.9 years, the study will follow participants for three years, examining factors like disease severity, treatment history, and social determinants of health. By providing a comprehensive comparison, the study seeks to inform clinical decisions and improve understanding of SCD treatment outcomes, ultimately supporting families and healthcare providers in choosing the best treatment options.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jun 2024

open study