Boston University - Clinical & Translational Science Institute

Since its launch in 2004, the overarching aim of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) has been realized in informing the design of therapeutic trials in AD. ADNI3 continues the previously funded ADNI-1, ADNI-GO, and ADNI-2 studies that have been combined public/private collaborations between academia and industry to determine the relationships between the clinical, cognitive, imaging, genetic and biochemical biomarker characteristics of the entire spectrum of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The overall goal of the study is to continue to discover, optimize, standardize, and validate clinical trial measures and biomarkers used in AD research.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Oct 2016

open study

Phase II Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis study seeking to evaluate the efficacy and safety of KD025. Upon eligibility confirmation, a total of sixty (60) adult subjects will be enrolled and randomized into three (3) groups (1:1:1) to either receive orally administered KD025 (two doses) or matched placebo for 28 weeks. The study will be double-blinded for the first 28 weeks followed by an open label extension period of 24 weeks. After un-blinding, the subjects on KD025 will continue on the same KD025 dose whereas the subjects in the placebo group will be re-randomized to one of the KD025 doses.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2019

open study

Flash glucose monitoring is an FDA-approved and widely clinically available, glucose monitoring technology that is worn on the body and measures glucose values every 15 minutes, storing this data for up to 14 days. The Freestyle Libre Pro is already used as a diagnostic technology in clinical care. It provides a full 24-hour glucose profile for each day that the sensor is worn and that can be correlated with daily activities, medication administration, food intake, and other factors that are contextually relevant in meeting glycemic goals for an individual patient. In this study, patients referred to Endocrinology for specialty diabetes care will be randomized to an in-person visit as is typically done or to wear the Freestyle Libre Pro placed by staff at their primary care clinic. Patients who wear the Freestyle Libre Pro will have a professional interpretation of their glucose data completed by an endocrinologist as well as a remote eConsult completed using this glucose data and information from their medical record. The recommendations from the eConsult regarding medication and lifestyle adjustment as well as potential referral on to see Endocrinology will be implemented by the primary care physician at their clinical discretion. The investigators will utilize glycemic measures including hemoglobin A1c, number of clinical visits (outpatient, inpatient and emergency department) for diabetes care, patient reported outcomes including self-efficacy, and patient and provider assessments of burden to determine if eConsults utilizing flash glucose monitoring technology are non-inferior to in-person visits with a diabetes specialist.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2020

open study

The PREEMPT CRC study is a prospective multi-center observational study to validate a blood-based test for the early detection of colorectal cancer by collecting blood samples from average-risk participants who will undergo a routine screening colonoscopy.

Type: Observational

Start Date: May 2020

open study

RATIONALE: Collecting and storing samples of blood, urine, tissue and data from patients with amyloid diseases to test in the laboratory may help the study of this disease in the future. PURPOSE: This research study is collecting samples from patients with amyloid diseases

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jan 2000

open study

This is a randomized, open-label phase II study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of etoposide in patients with the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. Randomization will be performed with a 3:1 allocation ratio. Treatment will be comprised of etoposide administered intravenously at a dose of 150 mg/m2 on Days 1 and 4 in patients with COVID-19 infection meeting eligibility criteria. Subsequent doses of etoposide will be allowed if the investigator and treating physician believe the patient had clinical benefit from etoposide therapy but subsequently has evidence of recurrent clinical deterioration. Subjects randomized to control will receive standard of care treatment. No placebo will be used.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2020

open study

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will compare the effectiveness of amitriptyline versus placebo (inactive medication) in treating chronic laryngitis.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2016

open study

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of 2 doses of crizanlizumab (5.0 mg/kg and 7.5 mg/kg) versus placebo in adolescent and adult sickle cell disease (SCD) patients with history of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) leading to healthcare visit.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2019

open study

Prone positioning is a well studied and validated treatment for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), however there are no randomized studies on the use of prone positioning in the non-intubated patient. It is unknown if this intervention would be helpful in preventing further respiratory deterioration in terms of increasing supplemental oxygen requirements, endotracheal intubation, and ICU admission. The Awake Prone Position for Early hypoxemia in COVID-19 (APPEX-19) Study is a pragmatic adaptive randomized controlled unblinded trial. APPEX-19 randomizes non-ICU patients with COVID-19 or who are under evaluation for COVID-19 to lie in a prone position (i.e, with their stomach and chest facing down) or to usual care.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2020

open study

The LimFlow System is intended for endovascular, minimally invasive procedures in patients who have a clinical diagnosis of chronic limb-threatening ischemia and who have been determined to have no surgical or endovascular treatment option (i.e., "no option").

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2019

open study

This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with remdesivir plus tocilizumab compared with remdesivir plus placebo in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2020

open study

This is a Phase 1/2/3, randomized, placebo-controlled, observer-blind, dose-finding, vaccine candidate-selection, and efficacy study in healthy adults. The study consists of 2 parts: Phase 1: to identify preferred vaccine candidate(s) and dose level(s); Phase 2/3: an expanded cohort and efficacy part. The study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of 2 different SARS CoV 2 RNA vaccine candidates against COVID 19 and the efficacy of 1 candidate: - As a 2-dose (separated by 21 days) schedule; - At various different dose levels in Phase 1; - In 3 age groups (Phase 1: 18 to 55 years of age, 65 to 85 years of age; Phase 2/3: 18 to 85 years of age [stratified as ≤55 or >55 years of age]). The candidate selected for evaluation in Phase 2/3 is BNT162b2 (mid-dose).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2020

open study

This phase III trial studies how well vitamin D3 given with standard chemotherapy and bevacizumab works in treating patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Vitamin D3 helps the body use calcium and phosphorus to make strong bones and teeth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as leucovorin calcium, fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan hydrochloride, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as bevacizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving vitamin D3 with chemotherapy and bevacizumab may work better in shrinking or stabilizing colorectal cancer. It is not yet known whether giving high-dose vitamin D3 in addition to chemotherapy and bevacizumab would extend patients' time without disease compared to the usual approach (chemotherapy and bevacizumab).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2019

open study

Study ROR-PH-301, ADVANCE OUTCOMES, is designed to assess the efficacy and safety of ralinepag when added to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) standard of care or PAH-specific background therapy in subjects with World Health Organization (WHO) Group 1 PAH.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2018

open study

This trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in combination with platinum doublet neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) before surgery [neoadjuvant phase], followed by pembrolizumab alone after surgery [adjuvant phase] in participants with resectable stage II, IIIA, and resectable IIIB (T3-4N2) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The primary hypotheses of this study are that neoadjuvant pembrolizumab (vs. placebo) in combination with NAC, followed by surgery and adjuvant pembrolizumab (vs. placebo) will improve: 1) event free survival (EFS) by biopsy assessed by blinded central pathologist or by imaging using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR); and 2) overall survival (OS).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2018

open study

The current study will examine the impact of frequent social interaction through communication technologies during COVID-19 pandemic in the cognitive status of socially-isolated older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Patients will take place in an experimental crossover study, participants will complete one month of an intervention and one month of as passive control. The goal of this study is to determine: A.) if frequent social interaction through ICT during COVID-19 pandemic will have a significant positive impact in cognitive performance on testing, and B.) how social isolation and cognitive status influence misconceptions around the current pandemic.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2020

open study

This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of pembrolizumab (MK-3475) versus placebo as adjuvant therapy in participants with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and complete radiological response after surgical resection or local ablation. The primary hypotheses of this study are that adjuvant pembrolizumab is superior to placebo with respect to: 1) recurrence-free survival (RFS) as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR); and 2) overall survival (OS).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2019

open study

This randomized phase III trial studies lymph node dissection and radiation therapy to see how well it works compared to radiation therapy alone in treating patients with breast cancer previously treated with chemotherapy and surgery. Lymph node dissection may remove cancer cells that have spread to nearby lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x rays or protons to kill tumor cells. It is not yet known if radiation therapy works better alone or with lymph node dissection in treating patients with breast cancer previously treated with chemotherapy and surgery.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2014

open study

The Kids FACE FEARS (Kids Face-to-face And Computer-Enhanced Formats Effectiveness study for Anxiety and Related Symptoms) is a large pragmatic comparative effectiveness study evaluating face-to-face vs. online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for the treatment of child and adolescent anxiety. Families will be recruited from pediatric health centers serving primarily racial/ethnic minority youth in urban, suburban, and semi-rural regions. Patient-centered outcomes will be evaluated across a two-year follow-up period; parents, patients, providers, and other key stakeholders will be actively engaged throughout all aspects of the research.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2019

open study

This phase II trial with a safety run-in component will evaluate whether the addition of pembrolizumab to Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) re-irradiation will improve the progression-free survival for patients with recurrent or new second primary Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2018

open study

In this study, participants will have standard Androgen Deprivation Therapy and undergo standard external beam radiation therapy to the prostate and at-risk lymph nodes by Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. The subsequent *boost* radiation therapy to the prostate alone will be given using the CyberKnife, rather than using the standard Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. This study will also see how CyberKnife affects the quality of the participant's life.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2011

open study

This is a single arm, open label study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of propylene glycol-free melphalan hydrochloride in patients with AL amyloidosis. Treatment will be comprised of propylene glycol-free melphalan hydrochloride administered intravenously at a dose of 70-100 mg/m2/day on Days -3 and -2 as conditioning prior to autologous stem cell transplantation.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2018

open study

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of AKCEA-TTR-LRx after administration for 65 weeks to patients with hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloid polyneuropathy (hATTR-PN), as compared to the NEURO-TTR trial (NCT01737398). For more information, please visit http://www.neuro-ttransform.com/.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2020

open study

This is a sub-study of NIDA CTN Protocol 0080: Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Expectant Mothers (MOMs; Unique protocol ID: 2019-0429-1). Participants in MOMs will be offered the opportunity to enroll in this sub-study, which is designed to evaluate conceptual models of the mechanisms by which extended-release buprenorphine (BUP-XR), may improve mother-infant outcomes, compared to sublingual buprenorphine (BUP-SL). The additional data collected in this sub-study will be combined with data from the main MOMs trial. It is hypothesized that: (1) the buprenorphine blood levels will vary, depending on which formulation of buprenorphine was received, (2) the variation in buprenorphine blood levels will be associated with fetal behavior (including fetal heart rate variability) (3) the variation in buprenorphine blood levels will be associated with differences in mother outcomes (including medication adherence and illicit opioid use) (4) the variation in buprenorphine blood levels and in fetal behavior will be associated with infant outcomes (including neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and infant development).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2020

open study

This study will evaluate the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of ravulizumab administered in adult patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) severe pneumonia, acute lung injury, or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive ravulizumab in addition to best supportive care (BSC) (2/3 of the patients) or BSC alone (1/3 of the patients). Best supportive care will consist of medical treatment and/or medical interventions per routine hospital practice.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2020

open study