Duke University

This early-stage trial tests whether a dietary supplement called HMB is safe and can help people with ALS. The study will measure if HMB lowers certain proteins linked to nerve damage and slows the decline in daily function. About 100 adults with ALS will take HMB and be monitore…

This study tests a new drug, asciminib, combined with trastuzumab in 42 adults with HER2+ breast cancer that has spread to the brain. Participants must have tried at least one prior treatment, including T-DXd and tucatinib. The goal is to see if the combination can shrink brain t…

This study tests whether giving additional chemotherapy after the usual chemoradiation can better control esophageal cancer and reduce the need for surgery. About 60 adults with stage II to IVA esophageal adenocarcinoma will receive chemoradiation followed by more chemotherapy. T…

This study will test a peer-led mental health program called iSYV for 5,000 youth aged 15-24 living with HIV in Tanzania. The program aims to help them stay in care and keep the virus under control by addressing mental health challenges. Participants will either receive the progr…

This study tests whether a 12-week healthy lifestyle program—including diet guidance, supervised exercise, and coaching—can lower blood pressure and protect kidney health in Black adults with advanced chronic kidney disease. Participants are randomly assigned to the program or st…

This study looks at whether preterm infants in the NICU who are started on ampicillin for possible early-onset sepsis can safely stop the antibiotic after 24 to 36 hours instead of the usual 48 hours. Researchers will measure ampicillin levels in the blood and monitor the babies …

This study tests a 3-session telehealth counseling program called IDEAS for Hope, delivered by nurses, to help adults living with HIV in Tanzania who have had recent thoughts of suicide. The goal is to reduce suicidal thinking and improve engagement in HIV care, including medicat…

This study tests two ways to treat talaromycosis, a serious fungal infection in people with HIV. It compares a single high dose of a newer antifungal drug (liposomal amphotericin B) against two weeks of the standard drug, and also checks if adding another drug (flucytosine) helps…

This study tests a new eye imaging device that takes multiple pictures of the eye in just seconds. Researchers want to see if it is easy to use, mobile, and reliable for diagnosing eye conditions. About 70 people with certain eye problems will join to compare the device's diagnos…

This study aims to develop and test a robotically assisted imaging system for the front of the eye. The goal is to help emergency department doctors better detect eye problems that need a specialist. About 93 adults with eye complaints will take part, and the robot's images will …

This study compares a new targeted breast ultrasound done during mammogram compression to the standard breast ultrasound. Researchers want to see if the new method finds breast masses more accurately and quickly. The study will involve 25 women with a breast mass visible on both …

This study looks at two ways to help women aged 65 and older with hormone-positive breast cancer who have joint pain from their hormone pills. One program offers a special check-up and support from a geriatric team, and the other teaches coping skills. The goal is to see if these…

This study tests whether a program that helps people notice and manage smoking triggers can help light smokers (10 or fewer cigarettes per day) quit. About 60 adults will either get standard counseling or counseling plus a cue-based tool where they text about cravings. The goal i…

This study tests a mobile app called Lift that teaches mindfulness to help people who survived a serious ICU illness (like heart failure, sepsis, or severe COVID) cope with depression, anxiety, and stress. About 450 adults will use either the Lift app or a health education app fo…

This study tests a new way to improve vision loss caused by a stroke. Researchers will use low-intensity focused ultrasound to gently stimulate the brain's vision areas, combined with virtual reality therapy. The goal is to shrink the blind spots in a person's field of view. The …

This study tests a program called CALM that helps Black adults with asthma cope with stress. Researchers want to see if the program is practical and well-liked by participants. About 50 adults who have persistent, uncontrolled asthma and moderate-to-high stress will take part.

This study tests whether adding a special radiation technique called Lattice Radiation Therapy (LRT) to standard palliative radiation can safely shrink large tumors in adults. About 25 people with tumors at least 4.5 cm wide will receive one extra LRT treatment before their usual…

This study tests a program called TEAM-LEADS to see if it can help teens and young adults (ages 13-22) with lupus or dermatomyositis manage stress and adopt heart-healthy habits. Researchers will enroll 25 participants to check if the program is practical and helpful. The goal is…

This study tests if adding a common anti-inflammatory drug (dexamethasone) to a long-lasting numbing medicine (liposomal bupivacaine) can make pain relief last longer after shoulder surgery. About 80 adults having shoulder surgery with a nerve block will be randomly assigned to g…

This study tests a digital program called FlexED that uses games and exercises to help young women and girls (ages 15-25) who struggle with body image and eating disorder symptoms. Participants are randomly assigned to either the FlexED program or online education modules. The go…

This study tests a new program to help women who have had pelvic radiation therapy use vaginal dilators more regularly. Dilators can prevent or treat vaginal narrowing that may cause pain during exams or sex. 88 participants will either get the new support program or standard edu…

This pilot study tests whether a pharmacist-led medication management program can improve safety and reduce shortness of breath in adults with COPD who also have other health conditions. About 92 participants will receive inhaler training and medication counseling. The study focu…

This study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, applied overnight, can reduce abnormal electrical activity linked to seizures and improve sleep quality in adults with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. Twenty participants will stay in a sleep lab for six …

This study looks at how two different treatments—massage and talk therapy—change levels of oxytocin (the bonding hormone) and cortisol (the stress hormone) in people with long-term back or neck pain. About 25 adults with chronic spine pain will try both treatments and give saliva…

This study looks at why people with HIV who have their virus under control sometimes struggle to take blood pressure medicine as prescribed. Researchers will interview patients and providers to identify barriers, then test a nurse-led support program in a small group of 60 partic…

This study looks at how the hormone glucagon works with insulin in the liver to manage blood sugar. Researchers want to understand glucagon's multiple, sometimes opposite, roles to create better diabetes medicines. Forty healthy adults aged 18-45 will have two 5-hour sessions whe…

This study will see if using virtual care technologies in hospital units can reduce problems like patient falls, infections, and readmissions, while also improving patient satisfaction. About 10,000 adults admitted to six hospital units will take part, with three units using the …

This study tests three different ways to numb the abdomen in healthy volunteers to see which works best. Each volunteer gets all three blocks on separate days, and researchers map the numb areas and check leg strength. The goal is to improve pain relief after surgery without usin…

This study looks at how quickly food DNA passes through the digestive system. Twenty healthy adults will eat a special powder and give stool samples for up to five days. Researchers will measure the food DNA in the samples to learn about digestion and gut health.

This study aims to adapt a proven suicide prevention program for people with alcohol use disorder in Tanzania, where mental health resources are scarce. Researchers will enroll 30 adults who drink heavily and have had recent suicidal thoughts, then test whether the telehealth int…

This study tests whether a mobile app-based program called mSTARS is practical and well-liked by adults who drink heavily and have recently been hospitalized for suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Thirty-five participants will be randomly assigned to the app, standard care, or stand…

This study looks at how the nerves connecting the gut and brain may be involved in Parkinson's disease. Researchers will compare people with Parkinson's, those at risk, and healthy volunteers using stool, blood, and saliva samples, plus X-rays and colon exams. The goal is to unde…

This study tests two different ways of giving a nerve block to numb the front of the belly. 25 healthy adults will get one of two ultrasound-guided injections to see which spreads better and numbs more skin. The goal is to find a better method for pain relief after abdominal surg…

This study will collect blood samples from 25 people with small cell lung cancer who are being treated with the drug tarlatamab. Researchers will analyze the samples to learn more about how the drug works, who might benefit most, and how to predict side effects like cytokine rele…

This study looks at whether teaching teens with epilepsy more about their condition can improve how they take their medicine and reduce feelings of stigma. About 60 adolescents aged 12-18 will take part. Researchers will measure changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practices befo…

This study tests if waking epilepsy patients with an alarm during their hospital stay can trigger seizures sooner. The goal is to see if this approach can shorten the time patients need to stay in the epilepsy monitoring unit. The study will include 75 people aged 14 to 60 who ha…

This study compares two digital education methods—text messages versus multimedia modules—to see which better informs caregivers of children with cancer. Researchers will enroll 400 caregivers in Kenya to measure knowledge, attitudes, and whether better education reduces treatmen…

This study tests a new tool to help ICU doctors have fairer conversations with families of patients on breathing machines. The goal is to see if the tool is practical and can reduce racial differences in how decisions are made. About 106 doctors and patients will take part at Duk…

This study looks at whether training obstetric providers to counsel pregnant patients about workplace accommodations can improve outcomes. About 400 pregnant patients and their providers will take part. The goal is to see if this training leads to better job protection, fairer wa…

This study compares a new device called Calibre with a standard system (COSMED) to see if it accurately measures heart and lung fitness during exercise. About 40 healthy adults aged 18 to 55 will do a maximal exercise test while wearing both devices. The goal is to see if the Cal…

This study aims to make a community weight loss program called TOPS more helpful for breast cancer survivors. Researchers will first gather feedback from survivors in focus groups, then use that feedback to tailor the program. The study will enroll 25 women who have finished prim…

This study tests a program called BRIDGE that helps parents of young children in the intensive care unit (ICU) make difficult medical decisions. The program focuses on improving communication with the healthcare team and preparing parents for these choices. About 495 parents will…