Boston University - Clinical & Translational Science Institute

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

The primary objective of this evaluation is to understand the effectiveness of the OpenSRP platform on unmet family planning (FP) demand in rural Zambia. The specific objectives are to: 1. assess the impact of the intervention on satisfaction and use of modern family planning methods among last-mile people of childbearing potential; and 2. understand the impact of the intervention on FP inventory management and dispensing. The investigators will employ mixed-methods for data collection for this two-arm cluster-randomized trial. This effectiveness evaluation will be paired with a concurrent implementation evaluation, making it a Type 2 Hybrid Design. For the impact evaluation data will be collected from two main sources at both baseline and endline: 1) existing stock management records (eLMIS and paper records, depending on study arm); and 2) Short phone surveys with people of childbearing potential in the community.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2022

open study

This pilot research study will teach patients how to self-remove intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) through an educational video and simulation and evaluate patient perspectives and experiences related to IUD self-removal with two surveys. Patients will be recruited for this study at the time of presentation to the office for IUD removal. After consenting to the procedure, participants will complete a pre-intervention survey, watch a video explaining how to self-remove the IUD, and use two models to simulate IUD removal. After completion of using the models to practice IUD removal, participants will complete a second short survey. The participant will then be given the option of attempting self-removal and be given time to attempt the removal. If the participant elects to have the provider remove their IUD, the provider will do so. At the end of the encounter, participants will fill out a final survey. Research staff will measure the length of the strings of all IUDs prior to routine disposal of the device.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2022

open study

This is a combined retrospective and prospective, longitudinal, observational meta-cohort of individuals who will enter the cohort with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection and at varying stages before and after infection. Individuals with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection and with or without Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) symptoms will be followed to identify risk factors and occurrence of PASC. This study will be conducted in the United States and subjects will be recruited through inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings. Study data including age, demographics, social determinants of health, medical history, vaccination history, details of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, overall health and physical function, and PASC symptom screen will be reported by subjects or collected from the electronic health record using a case report form at specified intervals. Biologic specimens will be collected at specified intervals, with some tests performed in local clinical laboratories and others performed by centralized research centers or banked in the Biospecimen Repository. Advanced clinical examinations and radiologic examinations will be performed at local study sites with cross-site standardization.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Oct 2021

open study

The near-elimination of HIV transmission with antiretroviral therapy (ART) has provided the world with a clear path to end the HIV epidemic through the mass provision of ART at diagnosis, i.e. test-and-treat. Despite the substantial prevention benefits of ART, the investigators found minimal knowledge of treatment-as-prevention (TasP) in two population-based surveys recently conducted in South Africa. In addition, current public health messaging and clinical HIV counselling in South Africa do not emphasize the prevention benefits of ART. In this formative research study the investigators will develop an app-based educational video intervention that will provide information on Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) that is locally-appropriate and can be integrated into routine HIV counselling. The intervention will be piloted in a clinical trial of patients in South Africa receiving HIV post-test and adherence counselling services, to determine feasibility and acceptability, impact on U=U knowledge and attitudes, impact on stigma and psychological well being, and preliminary evidence for ART uptake and adherence. The study builds on a longstanding collaboration between Boston University and the Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office (HE2RO) at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. The study is highly innovative because the investigators take a novel approach - disseminating information on the prevention benefits of ART - to improve the wellbeing of people living with HIV (PLWH) and motivate early uptake of ART in South Africa. The investigators hypothesize that disseminating treatment-as-prevention on its merits could substantially improve the wellbeing of PLWH and increase demand for ART, enabling countries to maximize the impact of test-and-treat.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2022

open study

This phase II/III trial compares the effect of adding radiation therapy to the usual maintenance therapy with atezolizumab versus atezolizumab alone in patients who have already received atezolizumab plus chemotherapy for the treatment of small cell lung cancer that has spread outside of the lung or to other parts of the body (extensive stage). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as atezolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Giving radiation therapy in addition to atezolizumab may extend the time without extensive small cell lung cancer growing or spreading compared to atezolizumab alone.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2020

open study

Disparities in health begin in early childhood. Early life experiences influence brain development and have significant implications on future health and developmental outcomes. Low-income children are at greater risk of developmental delays in large part due to a lack of an enriched environment. Disparities in early childhood development increase risk for stunted academic achievement throughout the life course. Primary care is a universal exposure in early childhood and therefore is also a significant entry point for promoting optimal child development. There is a need to provide effective, low-cost, and scalable interventions in primary care to support early childhood development.The CenteringParenting intervention is designed to reduce negative health and developmental outcomes within a model of group routine child health care. To date, there is no evidence of the benefits of the CenteringParenting intervention on school readiness, or improvements in parental behaviors that support optimal developmental milestones and achievement. The intent of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the CenteringParenting intervention on school readiness in early childhood, as measured by language development at 24 months, (in addition to health care utilization, child routine care maintenance, parenting stress, caregiver behaviors and attitudes).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2019

open study

The investigators hypothesize that there is liver injury (inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis) in adults with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD), which is asymptomatic, under-recognized, and undiagnosed. In addition, the investigators believe that the genetic and environmental factors that play an important role in the development of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) liver disease, can be identified by comparing a cohort database of clinical disease information to linked biospecimen and DNA samples.

Type: Observational [Patient Registry]

Start Date: Dec 2013

open study

We believe extreme longevity is due to specific genes which function to delay aging and prevent disease. The purpose of our research is to identify the genes/mutations associated with healthier aging; to understand the biological functions of these genes/mutations; and to develop therapies to replicate these preservative genetic activities in individuals who do not have the genetic profile for longevity.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jul 1998

open study

With the advent of universal eligibility for HIV treatment ("treat all") and same-day and community-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, retention in care after a patient has started ART remains the main challenge to achieving optimal outcomes in HIV treatment programs. Consistently across both time and geography, the highest risk for loss from care is during a patient's first six months after ART initiation, with about quarter of all patients not retained by the end of month 6. One of the reasons for the high attrition from care in this early retention period is that the model of care offered to most newly-initiating and re-initiating patients has barely evolved from its original outlines. Patients in their first six months on ART are generally not eligible for lower-intensity, patient-centered "differentiated service delivery" models that make remaining in care easier for experienced patients. Instead, most early patients must still make multiple clinic visits that include clinical consultations with providers, and most can receive only 1-2 month supplies of medications at a time. This protocol is for the PREFER-Zambia study, an activity of the Retain6 project. Retain6 aims to develop new models of care for patients' first six months on ART. PREFER-Zambia will collect data on patients' characteristics, clinical and non-clinical needs, and preferences for different types of services during their first six months after initiating ART. The investigators will conduct an observational, prospective cohort survey of newly-initiated or re-initiated adult ART patients at a selected set of 12 healthcare facilities in Zambia. Results are expected to inform the design of better models of service delivery for the early treatment period.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Sep 2022

open study

With the advent of universal eligibility for HIV treatment ("treat all") and same-day and community-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, retention in care after a patient has started ART remains the main challenge to achieving optimal outcomes in HIV treatment programs. Consistently across both time and geography, the highest risk for loss from care is during a patient's first six months after ART initiation, with about quarter of all patients not retained by the end of month 6. One of the reasons for the high attrition from care in this early retention period is that the model of care offered to most newly-initiating and re-initiating patients has barely evolved from its original outlines. Patients in their first six months on ART are generally not eligible for lower-intensity, patient-centered "differentiated service delivery" models that make remaining in care easier for experienced patients. Instead, most early patients must still make multiple clinic visits that include clinical consultations with providers, and most can receive only 1-2 month supplies of medications at a time. This protocol is for the PREFER-South Africa study, an activity of the Retain6 project. Retain6 aims to develop new models of care for patients' first six months on ART. PREFER-South Africa will collect data on patients' characteristics, clinical and non-clinical needs, and preferences for different types of services during their first six months after initiating ART. The investigators will conduct an observational, prospective cohort survey of newly-initiated or re-initiated adult ART patients at a selected set of 18 healthcare facilities in South Africa. Results are expected to inform the design of better models of service delivery for the early treatment period.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Sep 2022

open study

The investigators will compare the application of two different creams for the treatment of low-risk skin cancers-superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC) and squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCCis). 5-Fluorouracil cream is currently FDA approved for the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma and is routinely used by dermatologists across the country and at Boston Medical Center (BMC) for SCCis. The normal treatment regimen is 4 weeks of the 5-fluorouracil cream for both skin cancers. The application of a compounded cream consisting of 1:1 ratio 5-fluorouracil with calcipotriene will be tested. This combination cream has been shown to clear pre-skin cancers called actinic keratoses and prevent future skin cancers from developing. This combination cream for 7-14 days to see if this shorter treatment course provides clearance of the 2 types of skin cancer. This combination cream is successfully used in this manner to treat other subtypes of related skin cancers. This will be a pilot study with The primary endpoint for this pilot randomized single blinded clinical trial will be the response to treatment (yes versus no). The lesions will be assessed clinically for clearance of cancer, as would normally be done and is consistent with how comparable studies have assessed clearance. Participants will be followed closely afterwards for three years with visits at 6 months, which does not vary from standard practice. If the lesions are not clear of cancer or equivocal clinically, the lesions will be re-biopsied and normal standard of care procedure will take place.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2022

open study

The purpose of this study is to investigate several approaches for improving spatial perception and speech intelligibility in multitalker listening situations for hearing-aid users. The hypotheses are that spatial perception and speech intelligibility will be improved by (1) increased high-frequency audibility, (2) speech envelope enhancement, and/or (3) appropriate sound image externalization.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2022

open study

The goal of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to test whether a smoking cessation induction intervention delivered during a dental cleaning appointment increases the utilization of evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for smoking cessation within 7 months post-dental cleaning appointment. Approximately 400 cigarette smokers who are scheduled for a dental cleaning appointment at the Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine (BUGSDM) patient treatment center will be recruited and enrolled. Participants will be randomized to either the intervention or control group

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2021

open study

To achieve global goals for the treatment of HIV, most high-prevalence countries are experimenting with and scaling up differentiated service delivery models (DSD). A handful of efforts have been formally described and evaluated in the literature; many others are being implemented formally or informally under routine care, without a research or evaluation goal. For most countries, however, we have little evidence on the big picture-the proportion of clinics offering alternative models, eligibility criteria and the proportion of patients considered eligible, the number of patients actually participating, health outcomes such as viral suppression, empirical resource utilization compared to traditional care, variations among the models, duration of patient participation, fidelity to model guidelines, effects on clinic efficiency, and sustainability without external donor support. AMBIT is a set of data synthesis, data collection, and data analysis activities aimed at generating information for near- and long-term decision making and creating an approach and platform for ongoing evaluation of differentiated models of HIV treatment delivery in the future. The project will collect and analyze a wide range of existing data sets pertinent to DSD. This protocol is for an analysis of existing medical record data collected by the Ministry of Health, implementing partners, and other completed, ongoing, or new evaluations, trials, and observational studies. Outcomes to be reported include coverage/uptake of DSD, patients' outcomes, and distribution of each model. There will be no study interaction with individual patients, providers, caregivers, or others for this analysis.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Dec 2019

open study

To achieve global goals for the treatment of HIV, most high-prevalence countries are experimenting with and scaling up differentiated service delivery models (DSD). A handful of efforts have been formally described and evaluated in the literature; many others are being implemented formally or informally under routine care, without a research or evaluation goal. For most countries, however, there is little evidence on the big picture-the proportion of clinics offering alternative models, eligibility criteria and the proportion of patients considered eligible, the number of patients actually participating, health outcomes such as viral suppression, empirical resource utilization compared to traditional care, variations among the models, duration of patient participation, fidelity to model guidelines, effects on clinic efficiency, and sustainability without external donor support. AMBIT a set of data synthesis, data collection, and data analysis activities aimed at generating information for near- and long-term decision making and creating an approach and platform for ongoing evaluation of differentiated models of HIV treatment delivery in the future. The project will collect and analyze a wide range of existing data sets pertinent to DSD. This protocol is for an analysis of existing medical record data collected by the Ministry of Health, implementing partners, and other completed, ongoing, or new evaluations, trials, and observational studies. Outcomes to be reported include coverage/uptake of DSD, patients' outcomes, and distribution of each model. There will be no study interaction with individual patients, providers, caregivers, or others for this analysis.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Dec 2019

open study

To achieve global goals for the treatment of HIV, most high-prevalence countries are experimenting with and scaling up differentiated service delivery models (DSD). A handful of efforts have been formally described and evaluated in the literature; many others are being implemented formally or informally under routine care, without a research or evaluation goal. For most countries, however, we have little evidence on the big picture-the proportion of clinics offering alternative models, eligibility criteria and the proportion of patients considered eligible, the number of patients actually participating, health outcomes such as viral suppression, empirical resource utilization compared to traditional care, variations among the models, duration of patient participation, fidelity to model guidelines, effects on clinic efficiency, and sustainability without external donor support. AMBIT a set of data synthesis, data collection, and data analysis activities aimed at generating information for near- and long-term decision making and creating an approach and platform for ongoing evaluation of differentiated models of HIV treatment delivery in the future. The project will collect and analyze a wide range of existing data sets pertinent to DSD. This protocol is for an analysis of existing medical record data collected by the Department of Health, implementing partners, and other completed, ongoing, or new evaluations, trials, and observational studies. Outcomes to be reported include coverage/uptake of DSD, patients' outcomes, and distribution of each model. There will be no study interaction with individual patients, providers, caregivers, or others for this analysis.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Dec 2019

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). Caretakers of the infants delivered by MOMs participants will be offered the opportunity to enroll in this sub-study, which is designed to evaluate the impact of extended-release buprenorphine (BUP-XR), relative to sublingual buprenorphine (BUP-SL), on infant neurodevelopment. The additional data collected in this sub-study will be combined with data from the main MOMs trial.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2021

open study

This study is an ancillary (add-on) study to the clinical trial entitled "Effect of Nitric Oxide in Cardiac Surgery Patients With Endothelial Dysfunction", which has Clinical Trials.gov identifier NCT02836899. NCT02836899 trial randomizes cardiac surgical patients to receive either Nitric Oxide (NO) or a placebo during and after cardiac surgery. This ancillary study aims to assess the effects of Nitric Oxide on vascular responsiveness and on endothelial function during hemolysis in patients with pre-operative endothelial dysfunction undergoing cardiac surgery requiring prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2018

open study

PEPPER is a randomized study comparing the three most commonly used anticoagulants in North America in patients who have elected to undergo primary or revision hip or knee joint replacement surgery. The anticoagulants being compared are enteric coated aspirin, low intensity warfarin, and rivaroxaban.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2016

open study

Canagliflozin is an oral drug which is currently approved for use in patients with type 2 diabetes by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Canagliflozin acts by increasing salt and sugar loss in the urine, and has shown to protect heart, kidney, and blood vessel function in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, it is unknown how canagliflozin protects the kidneys from disease. Therefore, this study plans to learn more about how canagliflozin works to protect against diabetic kidney disease in adults with type 2 diabetes. This study will use state-of-the-art kidney imaging, kidney biopsies and detailed testing of kidney function to determine the mechanisms of protection afforded by canagliflozin.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2022

open study

This study is an open-label nonrandomized exploratory proof of concept and descriptive 4-year immunogenicity study to assess immunogenicity after administration of a 2-dose regimen of 9-valent human papillomavirus vaccine (9vHPV) vaccine separated by 12 months (months 0, 12).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2022

open study

This is a randomized clinical trial (RCT) to assess the efficacy of bariatric surgery vs medical weight loss vs. the "usual standard of care" to optimize a morbidly obese patient with end-stage osteoarthritis of the hip or knee joint for total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The study population will include patients with hip or knee joint osteoarthritis and BMI (Body Mass Index) > 40 kg/m2 who are evaluated in the joint arthroplasty clinic at Boston Medical Center. The primary objective of the study is to determine if bariatric surgery or medical weight loss is more effective than the usual standard of care in optimizing a morbidly obese patient with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee joint for TJA. This will be determined by comparing the number of patients within each group who are able to lose weight through either bariatric surgery, medical weight loss, or the usual standard of care to achieve a BMI ≤ 40 kg/m2 to eventually undergo TJA. The secondary objectives of this study are to compare total operative time, postoperative complication rates, readmission rates, percentage of total body weight lost, revision rate, and reoperation rate. The ability of patients within each study arm to maintain a BMI ≤ 40 kg/m2 for up to 2 years after undergoing TJA will also be assessed, as well as their level of satisfaction before and after being in the study.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2022

open study

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Solius Photobiological System in improving serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in vitamin D deficient/ insufficient adults of various skin types. The invetigators will conduct an double-blinded randomized clinical trial in 100 adults to compare the changes in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels between subjects who received and do not receive weekly exposures to Ultraviolet B Radiation (UVB) generated by the Solius Photobiological System for 16 weeks.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2022

open study

This phase I trial studies the side effect and best dose of ibrutinib in combination with rituximab, etoposide, prednisone, vincristine sulfate, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin hydrochloride in treating patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive stage II-IV diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. Ibrutinib may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Monoclonal antibodies, such as rituximab, may interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as etoposide, prednisone, vincristine sulfate, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin hydrochloride, 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 ibrutinib and etoposide, prednisone, vincristine sulfate, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin hydrochloride may work better in treating patients with HIV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2017

open study