Duke University

This study tests a drug called inclisiran to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol in 130 people with heart disease or high risk for it. It focuses on groups like women, Black, Hispanic, and rural patients who are often not well studied. The goal is to see if the drug helps more people rea…

This study tests whether giving a single dose of chemotherapy directly into the liver artery, before standard treatment, is safe and feasible for people with localized pancreatic cancer. It includes 20 adults whose cancer can be surgically removed. The goal is to see if this adde…

This study tests whether a 16-week diet coaching program, including cooking classes, can help Black Americans at risk for chronic kidney disease stick to the DASH diet. The goal is to see if the program is practical and well-liked. About 48 adults with early kidney disease or ris…

This study tests a new way to deliver an existing child obesity treatment program called 'Fit Together' by partnering with parks and recreation departments. About 400 children aged 5-12 with obesity will take part. The goal is to see if this approach helps children improve their …

This pilot study looks at whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy (breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber) can help wounds heal better after surgery and radiation for soft tissue sarcoma. About 20 adults with sarcoma in the leg will be randomly assigned to receive either the ox…

This study tests whether adding a cholesterol-lowering drug (alirocumab) to an immunotherapy (cemiplimab) can help shrink tumors in people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer that has stopped responding to prior immunotherapy. About 60 participants will receive the combinati…

This study tests whether adding a pet fish to a teen's diabetes routine can improve blood sugar control. About 60 kids aged 10-13 with type 1 diabetes will pair fish feeding with blood glucose checks and tank cleaning with weekly reviews. The goal is to make diabetes management m…

This study is testing a program called WeCan-Rural for breast cancer survivors living in rural, underserved areas. The program includes 12 weekly video sessions with a therapist to help with healthy eating, physical activity, and weight management, which may lower the risk of hea…

This study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called TMS can reduce cannabis use in heavy users. Fifty near-daily cannabis users will receive either real or fake (placebo) TMS over five days. Researchers will measure changes in brain activity and cannabis us…

This early-phase study tests whether fluoxetine, an FDA-approved antidepressant, can make the chemotherapy drug temozolomide more effective against recurrent gliomas (a type of brain tumor). Ten adults with recurrent glioma who are already scheduled for surgery will receive eithe…

This study tests whether improving how communities and emergency services respond to cardiac arrest can help more people survive with good brain function. About 20,000 adults in North Carolina will take part over 4 years. The approach includes better training and coordination for…

This study tests whether an extra MRI scan, taken after a delay, can better tell apart radiation damage from tumor regrowth in people with brain metastases who have had stereotactic radiosurgery. About 25 adults with solid tumors (except small cell lung cancer or lymphoma) will g…

This study looks at whether testing pregnant women for malaria in the first trimester using a highly sensitive rapid test, and treating those who test positive, can prevent serious problems like low birth weight, preterm birth, stillbirth, or newborn death. Over 2,000 women in ea…

This study tests whether the anti-inflammatory drug sulindac can prevent high-risk pancreatic cysts (IPMNs) from progressing to pancreatic cancer. About 100 adults with these cysts will receive either sulindac or a placebo for up to 3 years, alongside standard monitoring. The goa…

This study tests whether adding remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) — briefly restricting blood flow with a cuff — to standard exercise can help adults over 65 with mobility problems build muscle strength and resilience. Twenty participants will try the approach at home and in sup…

This study tests a program that combines physical therapy with coping skills training to improve sexual function in women who have had pelvic radiation for cancer. About 12 cancer survivors will try the program, and researchers will measure how well it works and how satisfied par…

This study tests whether a special spine care model helps people with low back pain feel better and move better compared to usual care. About 1800 adults with low back pain will take part. Researchers will measure changes in pain and physical function after 3 months.

This study looks at different treatments to help people with Long COVID who have trouble exercising and feel very tired after activity. Researchers will test if these treatments can improve how long patients can walk and their overall quality of life. About 360 adults with Long C…

This study tests a mindfulness-based program (Nite2Day) for women with breast cancer who have trouble sleeping. Participants learn strategies to cope with insomnia, fatigue, stress, and pain during six remote sessions with a therapist. The study involves 15 women in rural areas a…

This study looks at whether wearing a sling for three weeks after reverse shoulder replacement is better than wearing it for just three days. One hundred people having shoulder surgery at Duke University will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The goal is to see if less s…

This study tests a program called BETTER that provides education, training, and therapy to adults with traumatic brain injury and their families after they leave the hospital. The goal is to improve quality of life and thinking skills compared to usual care. About 500 participant…

This study tests giving a single, strong dose of radiation to the tumor before surgery in women with early-stage breast cancer. The goal is to see if this approach keeps the breast looking good and reduces the need for weeks of daily radiation. About 110 women will take part, and…

This study tests a new approach for misophonia, a condition where common sounds like chewing or breathing cause extreme distress. Sixty adults with moderate to severe misophonia will learn emotion regulation skills and receive one of two types of brain stimulation (rTMS) over fou…

This study looks at whether having a peer coach can help young adults (ages 18-26) with congenital heart disease better manage their health. Researchers will track how many people join and finish the program, and whether it improves their ability to manage their condition. The go…

This study collects fluid from the joints of 149 adults having knee, hip, or shoulder surgery. Researchers will analyze the fluid for molecules and genetic clues that could help detect osteoarthritis earlier or predict how the disease will progress. The goal is to build a biobank…

This study is building a large group of people living in the United States who are interested in taking part in future research, especially about COVID-19. By signing up, you provide your email and answer surveys, helping researchers learn more about health in your community. No …

This study follows over 6,000 people over many years to see if feelings like hostility and other psychological factors are linked to heart disease. Researchers are tracking who develops heart problems and looking for patterns. The goal is to better understand how our minds and em…

This study looks at whether simple blood tests can help doctors understand how glioblastoma, a serious brain cancer, changes over time. About 100 newly diagnosed patients will give blood samples before and after standard radiation and chemotherapy. The goal is to see if DNA from …

This study follows 20 newborns and children who were found to have late-onset Pompe disease through newborn screening. Researchers will track their health over up to 4.5 years to understand early symptoms and decide when to start treatment. No experimental treatments are given; t…

This study aimed to test a new measurement tool that helps surgeons align the spine correctly during spinal fusion surgery. The goal was to see if using the tool leads to better patient outcomes and fewer repeat surgeries. However, the study was withdrawn before enrolling any par…

This study looks at how doctors and nurses in radiation oncology used telehealth instead of in-person visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers will survey 1,000 healthcare providers at Duke Cancer Center to understand their experiences and challenges. They will also track…

This study aimed to collect blood and tumor tissue from people with gastroesophageal cancer to look for genetic changes linked to immunotherapy resistance. It was an observational study, meaning no treatment or experimental drug was given. The study was withdrawn before enrolling…

This study looks at whether doing a PET scan during radiation therapy can help doctors adjust the treatment plan for better results. It includes 90 adults with cervical, vulvar, esophageal, or anal canal cancers. The goal is to see if early imaging can predict how well the cancer…

This study aims to learn what factors—like pain, recovery time, cost, and surgery versus non-surgery—are most important to patients when deciding on treatment for common joint problems such as arthritis, fractures, and hip issues. Researchers will survey over 2,300 people across …

This study looks at how immune cells (T cells) in the blood and bone marrow change over time in people with glioblastoma, a serious brain cancer. Researchers want to gather basic information to help design new types of immunotherapy. About 40 adults with newly diagnosed glioblast…

This study is testing a new, low-cost eye scanner to see if it can take clear pictures of the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. Researchers will compare images from this device with those from a standard, expensive scanner. They will also measure the thick…

This study aimed to see if a virtual agent (like a smart assistant) or a human over the phone is better at teaching lung cancer patients how to use devices that measure weight, blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and oxygen at home. Patients would have been randomly assigned…

This study aims to understand how the immune system changes in people with kidney or bladder cancer when they receive immunotherapy. Researchers will measure different immune cells and tumor cells in the blood before and during treatment. The goal is to learn more about how these…

This study looks at whether a simple scoring system, called the 5-SENSE score, can accurately predict where seizures begin in the brain. Researchers will test this in 400 people with hard-to-treat epilepsy who are already scheduled for an invasive brain test called SEEG. If the s…

This study explores how aging changes the way older adults respond to exercise. Researchers will measure fitness and insulin sensitivity in 26 people who previously completed a structured exercise program. Participants will do a 6-month aerobic exercise routine to see how their b…

This study looks at how doctors and patients talk about what matters most when someone has a serious illness like cancer, heart failure, COPD, or dementia. Researchers will track how often these conversations happen and how close they are to the end of life. The goal is to find w…

This study tests a training program to help doctors improve how they talk with and listen to patients. About 180 doctors and patients with high blood pressure will take part. The goal is to see if better communication can lead to better blood pressure control.

This study looks at 40 people aged 18-25, some recovering from ACL surgery and some healthy, to see if adding a quick-reaction task to a standard balance test reveals hidden differences between legs. The goal is to help doctors design better rehab programs for athletes returning …

This study tests whether a special MRI using inhaled xenon gas can show changes in lung function over time in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who are starting approved treatments. About 34 participants will have an MRI before starting therapy and again at 3, 6, an…

This study looks at how tumors in the cerebellum (the part of the brain that controls balance and coordination) affect thinking and movement. Researchers will compare 66 adults with cerebellar tumors to those with tumors elsewhere in the brain, testing memory, attention, and moto…

This study brings together medical teams that treat children with cleft lip and/or palate. They will collect information on speech, hearing, dental health, and quality of life from about 1,000 patients. The goal is to compare results across centers and find ways to improve care. …

This study is a registry that collects information from 900 people with spine tumors or other spine disorders. Researchers will review medical records, ask patients about their quality of life, and collect tissue and blood samples during surgery. The goal is to learn more about t…