Medical University Of South Carolina

This study was designed to test a device called the Reflect Tether for children and teens with scoliosis who are still growing. The device holds the curved side of the spine in place so the other side can grow, gradually straightening the spine. The study was withdrawn before enr…

This small pilot study tested a treatment for people with severe depression that did not improve with standard therapies. The approach involved surgically placing a thin wire on the surface of the brain's frontal area to deliver mild electrical pulses. The goal was to see if this…

This study tests whether citicoline, an over-the-counter supplement, can reduce brain inflammation and improve thinking skills in 56 adolescents aged 16 to 22 with alcohol use disorder. Participants receive either citicoline or a placebo pill for a set period. The goal is to see …

This program offers continued access to the experimental drug vatiquinone for people with inherited mitochondrial diseases (like Leigh syndrome) who finished a previous safety study. It is not a cure, but aims to help manage the disease. Participants must have already been on the…

This study tests a program called ENHANCE-TTS that trains pharmacists to help people living with HIV quit smoking. About 172 participants from six clinics will take part. The program gives pharmacists tools and support to offer smoking cessation counseling and medications. The go…

This study tests a new way to deliver high-dose radiation (SABR) for low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer. The approach spares the urethra, rectum, and pudendal artery to potentially reduce urinary and bowel side effects. About 42 men will receive this treatment and be foll…

This study tests a program called FIT Families, designed to help African American teens (ages 12-17) with obesity and their caregivers lose weight and improve health. The program is culturally tailored and delivered by community health workers. About 360 teens and their caregiver…

This early-stage study tests whether infusions of stem cells from donated umbilical cords are safe and can help preserve the body's ability to make insulin in people recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The trial involves 60 adults aged 18 to 40 who were diagnosed within the …

This study looks at whether switching completely from regular cigarettes to e-cigarettes can help cancer patients who refuse standard quitting methods. About 208 adults with cancer who smoke will be offered e-cigarettes and support to switch. The main goal is to see how many stop…

This study compares two laser treatments for open-angle glaucoma: the standard Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) and a newer, automated Direct Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (DSLT). About 51 adults with glaucoma or high eye pressure will receive one of the two treatments and…

This early-phase study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called accelerated rTMS can help older adults (ages 60-85) who have both alcohol use disorder and mild cognitive impairment. The goal is to see if the treatment can reduce heavy drinking and improve t…

This study looks at whether a therapy called RRFT, which treats both substance use and PTSD together, works better than standard separate treatments for teens aged 13-18. About 212 teens with trauma history and both conditions will be randomly assigned to RRFT or usual care. Rese…

This study tests a new, short-term brain stimulation treatment (called rTMS) to help improve thinking problems in people who have had a stroke. About 20 adults with chronic stroke will receive the treatment to see if it is safe and if it can improve cognitive function and brain a…

This study tests whether an electronic visit (e-visit) can help adults aged 40 and older in rural areas quit smoking and screen for COPD. About 144 participants will be randomly assigned to receive the e-visit or not. The e-visit asks about smoking history, preferences for quit-s…

This study looks at whether blocking certain arteries in the knee with tiny particles (embolization) can reduce pain and the need for painkillers in people with knee osteoarthritis. Twelve adults with mild to moderate knee arthritis will get the procedure and be followed for a ye…

This study tests whether Qutenza 8% capsaicin patches can safely ease nerve-related lower back pain that may travel down the leg. About 50 adults with pain lasting over three months will receive up to four patches per visit over 12 months, alongside their usual care. The goal is …

This study tests whether a cream containing rapamycin, applied daily for six months, can help bring back skin color in people with vitiligo. Twenty participants apply the cream to one patch of skin and a placebo to another, with doctors checking results at 2, 4, and 6 months. The…

This study looks at an accelerated version of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive brain treatment, to see how many sessions work best for reducing depression and anxiety symptoms. About 70 adults with major depression will receive different doses o…

This study adapts Written Exposure Therapy (WET), a 5-session talk therapy proven effective for adults with PTSD, for teens aged 12-18. Researchers will first gather feedback from experts and teens, then test the adapted version against the standard 12-16 session therapy in 48 ad…

This study tests whether bright light therapy can help ease depression symptoms in adults aged 60 and older who are hospitalized for depression. Researchers will measure how many people complete the study and whether the treatment is practical. The goal is to see if this simple, …

This study looks at whether adding oxytocin (a natural hormone) to a special talk therapy helps veterans with both PTSD and alcohol use disorder. About 175 veterans will get either oxytocin or a placebo before therapy sessions. Researchers will track changes in drinking habits an…

This study looks at whether adding art therapy to physical therapy helps children ages 5 to 18 recover better after a stem cell transplant. Kids in the hospital receive either both therapies or physical therapy alone for two weeks. Researchers measure changes in walking, self-car…

This study explores whether a noninvasive technique called transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) can improve memory by stimulating the hippocampus, a brain region key for memory. Researchers will test this in 25 people aged 50-85 with mild memory problems or healthy aging. The g…

This small pilot study tests whether low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFUP) can safely help people with major depression that hasn't improved with standard treatments. The treatment uses sound waves to gently stimulate a deep brain area linked to mood. The study aims to enroll …

This study looks at how the brain changes old movement habits, like a bad golf swing or piano technique. Researchers will use EEG to measure brain activity and apply gentle electrical stimulation to see if they can help people learn a new movement more easily. The study involves …

This study looks at whether a special alert in the electronic health record can help doctors prescribe nicotine replacement therapy (like patches or gum) to hospitalized smokers and refer them for lung cancer screening. About 220 patients and their resident doctors are taking par…

This study looks at whether a text-message screening program for mental health and substance use issues helps more pregnant and postpartum women get the treatment they need compared to standard in-person screening. Over 10,000 women from MUSC clinics will participate by completin…

This study looks at how Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) changes the brain in people with major depression. Researchers will use MRI scans to track these changes over 6 weeks. The goal is to better understand how TMS works, not to test a new treatment. 40 adults aged 18-65…

This study aimed to see if customizing the dose of a gentle brain stimulation technique (tDCS) could improve its effects on movement. It planned to include healthy people and stroke survivors, but the study was withdrawn before any participants were enrolled. No results are avail…

This study looks at whether a device that temporarily changes brain activity (called rTMS) can affect how healthy people make decisions. It involves two visits, each lasting 2-3 hours, and is not a treatment—it aims to gather knowledge that could help design future treatments. Pa…

This study looks at whether lead stored in bones from past exposure is linked to worse mental health or changes in how well brain treatments work. Researchers will test 500 psychiatric patients for bone lead, give them brief cognitive tests, and track their symptoms. The goal is …

This study planned to use focused ultrasound to stimulate a deep brain area involved in wakefulness, aiming to improve alertness and reaction time. It was designed for healthy adults aged 22–55. However, the study was withdrawn before any participants were enrolled, so no results…

This study looks at whether stopping overnight neurological checks in stroke patients can help prevent delirium, a common complication. Researchers will compare delirium rates in patients who have checks stopped versus those who continue standard care. The goal is to see if reduc…

This study tests whether giving radiation over just 5 days before surgery for soft tissue sarcoma is practical and acceptable. About 16 adults with sarcoma in an arm, leg, or trunk will receive this shorter radiation course. The goal is to see if patients choose this option and h…

This study tests a new type of CT scanner (photon counting detector CT) in people with head and neck cancer who are already getting a standard PET-CT scan. The goal is to see if the new scanner produces clearer images and gives doctors more confidence in their diagnosis. The stud…

This study aimed to see if personalized brain stimulation could improve working memory in healthy adults aged 50-85. Researchers planned to test different stimulation settings and measure brain activity changes. However, the study was withdrawn before enrolling any participants, …