University Of California, San Diego

This early-stage study tested a one-time gene therapy for cystinosis, a rare and serious genetic disorder that causes cystine to build up and damage organs. Researchers collected stem cells from 6 patients, used a virus to insert a corrected gene into those cells, and then infuse…

This study tested whether a digital app called KardioPAC could help people stick with their exercise program during cardiac rehabilitation. Researchers compared 43 heart patients using the app alongside standard rehab to those receiving standard care alone. The goal was to see if…

This study aimed to find the highest safe dose of targeted radiation for pancreatic cancer patients. Researchers tested increasing radiation levels over five treatment sessions in 30 patients with inoperable or advanced pancreatic cancer. The goal was to determine the maximum dos…

This study tested if a prescription sleep aid (eszopiclone) could help people with obstructive sleep apnea use their CPAP machine more consistently. It involved 42 adults who were already using CPAP but only for part of the night. The goal was to see if the medication, by helping…

This study tested whether a low-cost, once-daily pill called acetazolamide could help young adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Many people with OSA struggle to use the standard mask treatment. For two weeks, 54 participants took either the drug or a placebo to see if it r…

This study tested three different ways to personalize a brain stimulation treatment called iTBS for people with depression that hasn't responded to medication. 75 adults with moderate-to-severe depression received 20 treatment sessions over 4 weeks. Researchers compared standard …

This small, early-stage study aimed to check if a 21-herb formula called mQFPD is safe for people with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 to take at home. Researchers compared the herbal formula to a placebo (inactive treatment) in 60 participants. The main goal was to see if the formula …

This study tested whether customizing a magnetic brain stimulation treatment could help people with hard-to-treat depression who struggle to feel pleasure. 60 participants received either personalized stimulation, standard stimulation, or a sham (placebo) treatment over one week.…

This study tested if adding a drug called memantine to a brain training program could help people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Researchers wanted to see if this combination could improve thinking skills, reduce symptoms, and help with daily activities better th…

This study tested whether providing 12 weeks of healthy, pre-made meals designed for heart health could improve the diets and health of people with heart failure. Researchers enrolled 60 adults from California and gave them different weekly meal plans. They measured changes in di…

This study tested whether combining two existing drugs—pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy) and tadalafil—could be safe and more effective for people with advanced head and neck cancer that has returned or spread. The idea was to boost the body's immune system in two different ways t…

This study tested whether a combination of two drugs, ibrutinib and obinutuzumab, is safe and effective for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in older adults or those too frail for standard chemotherapy. It involved 32 people with previously untreated CLL. The goal was …

This study tested which combination of anti-inflammatory medicines works best to help children with MIS-C recover quickly. MIS-C is a serious inflammatory condition that can develop in children weeks after a COVID-19 infection. Researchers compared three different drugs given to …

This small, early-stage study tested whether a combination of two existing drugs could help children with Kawasaki disease. Kawasaki disease can cause dangerous inflammation in the heart's arteries. The researchers wanted to see if using atorvastatin (a cholesterol drug) and anak…

This study looked at whether GLP-1 medicines like semaglutide and tirzepatide, used for weight loss, also improve mental health and quality of life. It followed 90 veterans with obesity for six months while they received this treatment. The key finding was that participants repor…

This study aimed to check the safety of giving the experimental drug cirmtuzumab for 6 to 12 months. It involved only 3 people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who had safely taken the drug in a previous trial. The main goal was to see if this longer treatment schedule was…

This study tested whether combining two existing cancer drugs, pembrolizumab and cetuximab, could help control advanced head and neck cancer that had returned or spread. It involved 78 patients at four US cancer centers, grouped based on their prior treatments. The main goal was …

This early study investigated whether Botox injections could help treat keloid scars—thick, raised scars that grow beyond the original injury. Researchers tested the treatment on 10 adults with long-standing keloids to see if it could reduce scar size and symptoms like itching an…

This study tested a new mobile phone app called iTEST. It was designed to help adults with schizophrenia or similar conditions improve their ability to accurately judge their own performance on tasks. The goal was to see if this improved self-awareness could lead to better daily …

This study tested a technology-enhanced family navigation program designed to help families of children with autism find and connect with mental health services more quickly. Researchers worked with 65 families and primary care clinics to adapt and trial this support system. The …

This study tested if a very low dose of amphetamine could make computer-based brain training more effective for people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. 68 participants completed up to 30 hours of training, with half receiving the medication and half receiving a pla…

This study tested whether getting up and standing more often during the day could improve health in older women. It involved 405 overweight, postmenopausal women who sat a lot. Researchers compared different ways of interrupting sitting time over 3 months to see effects on blood …

This study tested a new way to use gentle electrical brain stimulation for people with major depression that hasn't improved with standard treatments. It compared a stronger, more frequent stimulation schedule against a standard schedule and a fake (placebo) treatment. The main g…

This study tested whether adding the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab to the drug blinatumomab could help adults with a specific type of leukemia that has returned or not responded to prior treatments. The goal was to see if the combination could get more patients into remission …

This study tested whether adding a precise, high-dose radiation treatment to immunotherapy helps control advanced cancer that has spread. It involved 106 patients with metastatic cancer who were randomly assigned to receive either immunotherapy alone or immunotherapy plus targete…

This study tested a new step-by-step diagnostic method called SEARCH. Its goal was to help doctors accurately figure out why some people continue to have breathing problems long after they've had a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lung). Researchers used the method to cate…

This study tested whether a new, faster type of MRI scan is better than the standard ultrasound for finding early liver cancer in people with cirrhosis (scarred liver). The quick MRI takes less than 10 minutes, works well in patients where ultrasound can be difficult, and uses no…

This study tested a new computer software designed to measure blood flow blockages in heart arteries from standard scan images, without needing an extra invasive procedure. Researchers looked back at the scans of 100 patients who had already undergone the current invasive test to…

This study tested a Spanish-language website designed to help inactive Latina women get more exercise. Researchers wanted to see if the online program was more effective than general wellness information at increasing weekly physical activity. The goal was to help prevent chronic…

This study tested a personalized program designed to help inactive Latina teenagers become more physically active. Researchers compared a comprehensive approach using one-on-one counseling, a tailored website, text messages, and Fitbit trackers against just using a Fitbit alone. …

This study tested different ways to get more people screened for colorectal (colon) cancer at a community health center serving mostly Latino patients. Researchers compared sending test kits in the mail, having health workers help patients in the clinic, doing both, or just givin…

This study tested a new digital health program called 'JustWalk' that uses a smartphone and smartwatch to encourage more physical activity. Over 12 months, researchers compared this personalized system, which sends tailored daily messages, to a standard digital wellness program. …

This study tested whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique could help people who have both hoarding disorder and depression. Researchers used a method called intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) to target specific brain areas. The goal was to see if this treatmen…

This small, completed study tested the feasibility of a new device called RELAY for managing pain after shoulder or foot surgery. The device combines a local anesthetic injection with electrical nerve stimulation, aiming to provide pain control for up to 28 days from a single pla…

This study tested a small, simple clip designed to reduce throat problems after surgery. It was tested on 100 patients who needed a breathing tube for their operation. The goal was to see if the clip, by taking pressure off the voice box, could prevent common issues like sore thr…

This study tested whether an existing injectable medication called tesamorelin could improve memory and thinking skills in older adults living with HIV who were experiencing mild cognitive problems. Researchers enrolled 73 participants who also had excess abdominal fat, as this i…

This small, completed pilot study tested whether freezing the nerves in the thigh could provide long-term relief for phantom limb pain after an above-knee amputation. Twelve participants with daily phantom pain were randomly assigned to receive either the real freezing treatment …

This study tested whether a medication called acetazolamide could improve breathing problems during sleep for people with chronic pain who use opioid medications. The goal was to find an alternative for those who cannot use the standard CPAP machine treatment. In this completed P…

This study tested a non-drug method to control pain after common surgeries like rotator cuff repair or bunion removal. Researchers implanted a tiny wire near a nerve to deliver a mild electrical current, hoping to block pain signals. The goal was to see if this approach could red…

This study tested if leaving a numbing catheter in place for two days after kidney stone surgery works better than a standard one-time numbing shot. Fifty adults having the surgery were randomly assigned to receive either real numbing medicine or a placebo (salt water) through th…

This small, early-stage study investigated whether psilocybin, the active compound in 'magic mushrooms,' could safely help reduce chronic phantom limb pain. Ten participants with amputations received the treatment in a controlled, supportive setting. Researchers measured changes …

This study tested a mobile phone app designed to help family caregivers of people with dementia. The app taught skills to manage stress and improve mood through simple daily activities. Researchers compared the app to online educational materials to see which better reduced feeli…

This study tested if a one-on-one educational session could help men with prostate cancer decide to get genetic testing. Fifty men who were already recommended for testing took part. Researchers measured if the session increased their knowledge and willingness to proceed with the…

This study tested whether adding an educational video to the standard explanation helps patients with cervical or uterine cancer better understand and feel more comfortable with a specific type of internal radiation treatment called brachytherapy. Researchers compared two groups …

This small pilot study in Nepal aimed to see if it's possible to run a larger future trial. It looked at whether getting a birth control shot (DMPA) within two days of giving birth affects how soon a mother's milk comes in and if she continues breastfeeding. The study followed 40…

This study worked with Latino communities in San Diego County to find better ways to provide COVID-19 rapid testing. Researchers tested three approaches: walk-up testing tables, community health worker support, and vending machines with self-test kits. The goal was to understand …

This small study tested whether people with early-stage, low-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) could stick to an 8-week vegan diet. The main goal was to see if the diet plan was practical and acceptable for participants, not to cure the cancer. Researchers measured how well…

This study tested a new leadership and training strategy to help addiction treatment clinics successfully use an artificial intelligence (AI) tool and a specific counseling method called Motivational Interviewing. It involved 479 state officials, agency leaders, and counselors in…