Columbia University

This study tested a computer tool called PREVENT, designed to help homecare nurses decide which patients need their first visit most urgently after leaving the hospital. It involved nearly 2,000 patients with conditions like heart failure and diabetes. The goal was to see if usin…

This study tested the safety of giving a very high dose of a common cholesterol-lowering drug (lovastatin) for just three days right after someone has a stroke. Researchers wanted to see if this short, intense treatment was safe for the liver and muscles, and if it might help peo…

This study tested whether a high dose of the common antiviral drug Valtrex (valacyclovir), used to treat herpes, could slow the progression of mild Alzheimer's disease. It involved 130 patients who had both Alzheimer's and evidence of a herpes simplex virus infection. Over 18 mon…

This study tested two ways to help heart failure patients recover at home after a hospital stay. One group got a follow-up phone call from a care coordinator. The other group had access to a community paramedic who could visit their home and connect them to a doctor by video. Res…

This study tested whether a mobile phone app called Mobile Diabetes Detective (MoDD) could help adults with type 2 diabetes. The app was designed to teach problem-solving skills for daily diabetes management. Researchers wanted to see if using the app led to better blood sugar co…

This study tested a counseling program designed to help Congolese refugees and local Zambians in a settlement reduce unhealthy alcohol and drug use. 400 participants were randomly assigned to receive either a brief counseling session or a more extended therapy, depending on their…

This study tested a new program called BREATHE-Peds, designed to help children with asthma and their caregivers work together with their doctor to make decisions about treatment. It involved 67 families from urban community health centers, focusing on kids aged 10-14 with uncontr…

This study tested a new way to find and treat depression in teenagers at local health clinics in Mozambique. Researchers compared a special group talk therapy program to the usual care that was already available. The goal was to see if this new approach could work well in areas w…

This study tested a new system designed to help people with serious mental illnesses avoid unnecessary arrests and stay connected to treatment. When police ran a routine check during an encounter, half the participants triggered a message alerting the officer to call a mental hea…

This study tested a new support program for people with or at risk for HIV and substance use disorder who were leaving jail. The program aimed to improve access to essential services like HIV testing, addiction medication, and overdose prevention training. Researchers worked with…

This study tested a phone app and monitoring service designed to help minority patients with lung cancer better manage the side effects of their immunotherapy drugs. The goal was to help patients stay on their treatment longer and avoid unnecessary trips to the hospital. Research…

This study tested whether customizing a brain training program (called Cognitive Remediation) could improve thinking skills and daily function for people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Researchers first tested participants' basic hearing processing and then assig…

This small pilot study tested whether a new hybrid cardiac rehab program using telehealth could work for people recovering from a heart attack. The program mixed 5 in-clinic sessions with 19 home-based sessions over 12 weeks, aiming to make rehab more convenient. Researchers comp…

This study tested whether taking a daily vitamin D pill could reduce serious lung problems in children and teens with sickle cell disease. Researchers compared daily vitamin D to a larger monthly dose over two years to see which was better at preventing infections, asthma attacks…

This study tested whether advanced genetic sequencing could find the cause of physical problems seen on a baby's ultrasound during pregnancy. Researchers compared pregnancies that received this sequencing to similar ones that did not, following the babies for a year after birth. …

This study tested whether a special coaching program for pregnant women could help prevent postpartum depression. The program taught parenting skills focused on improving infant sleep and reducing crying. Researchers compared the coaching to standard care in 216 women identified …

This study tested a new, personalized anesthesia plan designed to prevent serious lung problems after major abdominal surgery. Researchers compared this new plan to standard anesthesia care in 794 patients at high risk for these complications. The goal was to see if a specific se…

This study tested whether a mobile chat counseling program could help reduce HIV risk and improve mental health for gay and bisexual men in Romania. 300 HIV-negative men at risk were randomly assigned to receive either eight weekly live chat sessions with a trained counselor or e…

This study tested a combination HIV prevention strategy for men in Kisumu, Kenya, who are at risk of getting HIV. It offered participants a daily preventive pill (PrEP) along with extra support like self-testing kits and text message reminders to help them take the pill consisten…

This study tested a program called Free Time for Wellness (FT4W) to help low-income mothers in New York City get more physical activity. Researchers offered different combinations of free weekly fitness classes, childcare, and peer support to 89 moms to see what worked best. The …

This study tested a new program designed to help gay and bisexual men in Romania start and consistently take daily medication to prevent HIV, known as PrEP. The program combined in-person counseling with a mobile app for support and reminders. Researchers wanted to see if this ap…

This large study tested whether sprinkling a powdered antibiotic (vancomycin) directly into the surgical wound during brain surgery could prevent dangerous infections. Over 1,100 adult patients having brain surgery were randomly assigned to receive either this topical antibiotic …

This study tested two approaches to help public housing residents follow smoke-free rules and reduce secondhand smoke exposure. Researchers worked with 405 residents in New York City public housing buildings. They tried both community-wide encouragement and targeted help for smok…

This study compared two methods for closing C-section incisions: a special skin glue system versus traditional stitches. Researchers wanted to see which method led to better scar appearance and higher patient satisfaction 4-6 weeks after surgery. They also tracked wound infection…

This study tested whether a special informational website could help reduce stress, anxiety, and caregiving burden for close family members of people who survived a cardiac arrest. Researchers enrolled 53 family members and randomly gave some access to the website while others re…

This small, completed study tested whether a new smartphone app could help adults who were distressed by memories of a past stay in an intensive care unit (ICU). The app guides users to record and process a difficult memory from their hospitalization at their own pace. Researcher…

This study tested a new online therapy program designed to support transgender and gender-diverse people in Romania. The program aimed to reduce depression, anxiety, and behaviors linked to HIV risk through 16 weekly video sessions with a trained therapist. Researchers worked wit…

This study tested nitrous oxide (laughing gas) as a potential alternative to repeated opioid painkillers for children and teens experiencing severe sickle cell pain crises. Researchers wanted to see how well and for how long the gas could relieve pain in the emergency room after …

This study aimed to understand how two types of exercise—balance training and aerobic training—affect the brain in people with degenerative cerebellar diseases like spinocerebellar ataxia. Researchers used brain scans to see if one type of exercise caused more beneficial changes …

This study aimed to discover which practice methods best help stroke survivors relearn how to use their weaker arm. Twenty-eight participants with arm weakness from a past stroke were split into two groups to practice a scooping task over two days. Researchers compared how well e…

This study tested whether sending reminder emails to doctors and physician assistants could encourage them to use a state prescription tracking system more often. The goal was to see if this simple nudge would lead to safer prescribing of controlled substances like opioids. Resea…

This study tested whether a special device called a Nanodropper, which delivers very small drops of numbing eye medication, works as well as standard eye drop bottles. Researchers compared the two methods in 56 healthy adults, checking how quickly and how long each eye felt numb.…

This study aimed to understand why weight loss surgery is so effective for obesity by looking at changes in the brain. Researchers measured chemicals in the spinal fluid of 51 adults with obesity before and after surgery, comparing them to people who lost weight through a strict …

This study tested whether a fun, interactive program using hip-hop music and dance could improve knowledge about Alzheimer's disease and dementia. It involved over 2,200 parents and their elementary school children from New York City communities. Researchers wanted to see if this…

This study tested a digital tool designed to give women a clearer picture of their personal breast cancer risk. It combined information from medical records with details provided directly by patients to create a more complete risk profile. The goal was to see if this tool helped …

This study aimed to understand why people with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) who are on treatment still experience severe fatigue and reduced exercise capacity. Researchers observed 34 ambulatory SMA patients who had been on standard SMA therapies for at least 6 months. They meas…

This study looked at whether regularly getting 1.5 hours less sleep increases the risk of heart disease, weight gain, and diabetes in women. For 6 weeks at a time, 54 healthy women either slept their normal amount or had their sleep shortened. Researchers measured blood pressure,…

This small, early-stage study aimed to understand how lowering insulin levels affects blood sugar in people at risk for fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes. Eighteen participants with obesity and insulin resistance underwent two specialized medical procedures where their natu…

This study aimed to understand and help with the money problems young cancer patients often face, known as 'financial toxicity.' Researchers worked with 26 young patients and their caregivers to test a new questionnaire and a support program. The goal was to create better tools t…

This study investigated whether helping adults who sleep less than 7 hours per night to get more sleep could lower their blood pressure during sleep. Researchers compared an 8-week sleep improvement program to a control group. They measured blood pressure over 24 hours and tracke…

This study aimed to understand how Latino adults in New York City react to learning their personal genetic risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. Researchers compared two groups: one that learned their risk based on family history and ethnicity, and another that also learned th…

This study tested a new visual tool designed to help patients with a common heart rhythm problem (atrial fibrillation) make better decisions about a treatment called catheter ablation. The tool showed patients what symptom improvements they might realistically expect after the pr…

This study looked at over 650 public K-12 schools to see if common safety tactics—like metal detectors, active shooter drills, and armed personnel—are linked to fewer school shootings. Researchers also checked if these policies are connected to higher rates of student suspensions…

This study tested whether using trained community health workers in Black churches could improve depression screening and help more people get treatment. Researchers compared a special program that included screening, brief counseling, and referrals against usual referral methods…

This study aimed to understand how sleep and diet affect the performance and mental health of college baseball players. Researchers tracked 38 Columbia University athletes, measuring their sleep patterns, food intake, and on-field results like pitching speed and hitting power. Th…

This study tested whether playing a specific web-based computer game could improve thinking skills in healthy older adults. Thirty-eight participants aged 60-75 were asked to play the 'Breakfast Game' for 14 sessions over 5 weeks. Researchers measured if the game improved skills …

This study measured how brain function changes in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy, a surgery to clear blocked neck arteries that can cause strokes. Researchers compared 817 surgery patients to people having spine surgery, using thinking tests before and after surgery t…

This small, early-stage study aimed to understand if lowering high insulin levels could affect how the liver handles fat in people with fatty liver disease. For two weeks, 24 adults with overweight/obesity and insulin resistance took either a drug called diazoxide or a placebo. R…

This study aimed to understand if reducing exposure to common household chemicals could change breast tissue and potentially lower breast cancer risk. Researchers worked with 32 mother-daughter pairs from specific New York City communities. They tested if using cleaner products a…

This study looked at whether a special bassinet that rocks and plays white noise helps premature babies sleep better than a regular bassinet. Researchers monitored 20 stable premature infants during two separate naps to compare their sleep quality, heart rate, and oxygen levels. …

This study aims to understand if a common HIV medication called dolutegravir causes excess weight gain during pregnancy and affects the long-term metabolic health of both mothers and their children. Researchers will follow about 1,900 pregnant women, some with HIV and some withou…

This study aimed to understand how type 1 diabetes affects bone development in children during their critical growth years. Researchers followed 40 children with diabetes and 40 healthy children for two years, measuring bone strength and structure. They wanted to see if blood sug…