University Of California, San Diego

This study tests an experimental genetic medicine (antisense oligonucleotide) in a single person with TUBB4A-related leukodystrophy, a rare brain disorder that affects movement. The goal is to see if the treatment can improve or stabilize motor function and reduce dystonia (invol…

This early-phase study tests whether giving rituximab and high-dose steroids before venetoclax can safely lower the number of cancer cells in people with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). The goal is to reduce the risk of tumor lysis…

This study tested the drug axitinib in 22 people with a type of kidney cancer (clear cell renal cell carcinoma) who needed surgery but had complex tumors that made it hard to remove only the cancerous part. The goal was to see if taking axitinib before surgery could shrink the tu…

This study tests whether adding cirmtuzumab to the standard drug venetoclax can eliminate remaining leukemia cells in people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who still have detectable disease after taking venetoclax alone. About 5 participants will receive the combination …

This study tests a program where trained peers use motivational interviewing to encourage people who use drugs to check their drugs and adopt safer use habits. The goal is to reduce overdoses and prevent HIV and hepatitis C infections. About 588 adults in San Diego County who use…

This study looks at whether limiting eating to a 10-hour period each day can help people with obesity lose weight and reduce body fat. About 61 adults who typically eat over 14 hours daily will either get standard nutrition advice or combine that advice with a 10-hour eating wind…

This study tests a program called ROC+ that helps people who are very responsive to food cues lose weight. It compares ROC+ to standard behavioral weight loss programs. 300 overweight or obese adults with high food responsiveness will participate. The goal is to see if ROC+ leads…

This study tests a telehealth program that teaches parents of children with autism and overweight how to help their child manage weight. About 140 families with children aged 6-12 will take part. The program focuses on healthy eating and physical activity, delivered entirely onli…

This study tests a new portable device called LiverScope that uses simplified MRI technology to measure fat in the liver. Researchers will compare it to standard MRI and ultrasound exams in 50 adults with known or suspected fatty liver disease. The goal is to see if this small, t…

This study tests a 12-week exercise program delivered online to help adults aged 60 and older prevent falls. Participants will do strength and balance exercises via Zoom and be compared to a group that waits for the program. The goal is to see if the program improves leg strength…

This study tests a 12-week, digitally delivered exercise program designed to improve balance, strength, and posture in older adults at risk of falling. Researchers will enroll 92 participants aged 60 and older, including those from lower-income backgrounds, and measure changes in…

This study looks at whether a community-led program called Close to Home can prevent sexual violence among young people aged 14 to 24. Researchers will compare 9 communities using the program with 9 similar communities that are not. The goal is to see if strengthening community c…

This study tests whether a ketone supplement drink can reduce the urge to binge eat or restrict food, and improve mood and anxiety in people with anorexia or bulimia. About 40 participants will take the drink or a placebo for two weeks while researchers track changes in eating be…

This early study tests whether wearing a small device on the ear at night can safely reduce premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), which are extra heartbeats that can cause discomfort. Sixteen adults with frequent PVCs will use the device for 10 weeks. The main goals are to s…

This study tests two methods of delivering pain medicine through a small tube placed near nerves after arm or foot/ankle surgery. One method gives a steady flow of medicine, while the other gives small, timed bursts that patients can adjust. The goal is to see which approach prov…

This study tests a computer-based brain-training program designed to improve working memory in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an early stage of Alzheimer's disease. Participants learn to change their brain activity through neurofeedback, which may help slow memory d…

This study tests whether a continuous nerve block given for 7 days after a leg amputation can prevent phantom limb pain and reduce the need for opioids. About 200 adults scheduled for a lower-leg amputation will receive either a numbing medicine or a placebo through a tiny tube p…

This study tests a new way to treat depression by combining brain stimulation (TMS) with a meditation-like state of focused attention. The goal is to improve how well TMS works for people with moderate to severe depression who haven't gotten better with antidepressants. About 50 …

This study tested whether inhaling cannabis can quickly relieve migraine pain. Twenty adults with migraines tried three different strengths of cannabis and a placebo (fake cannabis) to see which worked best. The goal was to find a fast-acting treatment for migraine attacks.

This study tests a device called RELAY that delivers both numbing medicine and mild electrical pulses to control pain after knee surgery. The goal is to see if it can provide up to 28 days of pain relief, reducing the need for opioids. The study was withdrawn before enrolling any…

This study tests whether cannabidiol (CBD) can reduce severe behavior problems like aggression, self-harm, and repetitive actions in children with autism. About 42 boys aged 7-14 with severe autism and daily behavioral issues will receive CBD or a placebo in a crossover design. T…

This study tests a single treatment that freezes nerves to provide months of pain relief for people with broken ribs. The goal is to reduce the need for opioid painkillers and their side effects. About 120 adults with 1-6 rib fractures will receive either the freezing procedure o…

This study tests whether a painkiller called suzetrigine can help control pain after breast surgery (not mastectomy). About 120 adults will take the drug along with a nerve block. Their pain levels will be compared to past patients who had standard care. The goal is to see if thi…

This study tests a 12-month program to help Latina teenagers become more physically active. Researchers will enroll 200 teens who are not very active. Half will get counseling, a personalized website, a Fitbit, text messages, and Instagram support; the other half will only get a …

This study tests a one-time, non-drug treatment called cryoneurolysis that freezes the nerves in the chest to block pain after mastectomy (breast removal). The goal is to see if it reduces pain and the need for opioid painkillers for two months after surgery. About 216 adults hav…

This study looks at whether a nasal spray called esketamine, combined with a short type of talk therapy, can quickly reduce suicidal thoughts in people with hard-to-treat depression. About 56 adults aged 18 to 70 who still have suicidal thoughts despite prior treatment will be en…

This study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called TMS can help people with anorexia nervosa. The goal is to change brain circuits involved in taste and body perception to reduce eating disorder symptoms. The study includes 40 women aged 18-45 with anorexi…

This study tests a new approach for people with depression that hasn't improved with standard treatments. It combines a type of brain stimulation called iTBS with digital mindfulness training to help improve mood and thinking skills. About 70 adults with moderate-to-severe depres…

This study tests if a single injection of a long-lasting painkiller (liposomal bupivacaine) works as well as a continuous nerve block (a tube delivering pain medicine for days) for pain after ankle surgery. About 140 adults having painful ankle surgery will be randomly assigned t…

This study tests a device called RELAY that delivers both numbing medicine and mild electrical pulses to nerves after shoulder or foot surgery. The goal is to control pain for up to 28 days, longer than current options. About 50 adults having certain surgeries will be randomly as…

This early-phase study tests whether cannabidiol (CBD) can safely reduce anxiety during meals in 40 people with anorexia nervosa. Researchers will monitor side effects, blood levels of CBD, and changes in eating behaviors over three weeks. The goal is to see if CBD is a safe and …

This study tests a program called LIFT to reduce HIV risk and stigma among 80 people who inject drugs in Kyrgyzstan. Participants join peer-led group sessions to build support and learn how to better access HIV services. The goal is to see if the program lowers stigma and increas…

This study compares two at-home stool tests—Cologuard and FIT—sent by mail to adults ages 45-49 who are due for colorectal cancer screening. The goal is to see which test leads to more people completing screening. About 400 participants from the UCSD Health system will take part.…

This study was designed to measure how often urine flows backward from the bladder into the ureter after placing a special stent (RELIEF) in people with kidney stones. Researchers planned to use X-ray imaging to check for reflux and track any symptoms. However, the study was with…

This study explores whether a brain wave test (EEG) can measure how the brain processes rewards in teenagers with anorexia nervosa. Researchers want to see if EEG can replace expensive MRI scans, making it easier to study this condition in larger groups. The study involves 47 fem…

This study was designed to test a new parent-led program for children ages 8-12 who have both ADHD and overweight or obesity. The program combined behavioral training with exercises to improve focus and self-control. However, the study was withdrawn before any participants were e…

This study looks at two methods to improve care for women with urinary incontinence (bladder leakage) in primary care settings. About 1,200 women will be assigned to either an electronic specialist review or a nurse-led co-management program. The goal is to see which approach hel…

This study aimed to understand the connection between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and psoriatic disease (psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis). Researchers planned to give guselkumab, an FDA-approved drug for psoriatic disease, to overweight adults with both conditions…

This study looks at why some people with chronic low back pain and disc injuries don't fully recover with standard physical therapy. Researchers will measure muscle activity, brain signals, and muscle tissue samples from 152 participants, including those having surgery, those in …

This study aims to better understand how blood pressure changes in the six weeks after childbirth. Researchers will give 300 new mothers a medical-grade smartwatch to continuously monitor their blood pressure. The goal is to learn how to predict and prevent serious complications …

This study looks at whether a special program for primary care doctors can improve care for women with urinary incontinence (leaking urine). About 1,600 women and their doctors will take part. The program gives doctors tools and support to provide better care, and researchers wil…

This study looks at how negative emotions change the way the brain processes food rewards and choices in people with binge eating disorder or bulimia. Researchers will use brain scans and real-life mood tracking to understand these links. The goal is to find brain patterns that c…

This study looks at how a plant-based Mediterranean diet affects the gut microbiome and inflammation in people who have had colon polyps removed. Researchers will analyze stool and blood samples from 30 participants over 8 weeks to see if diet changes gut bacteria and reduces inf…

This study looks at whether teaching first-time mothers about common events during labor can lower their risk of post-traumatic stress after giving birth. Researchers will enroll 400 pregnant women and give them surveys before and after delivery to measure stress and fear. The go…

This study looks at whether a team-based plan can help doctors and staff better screen children for depression and connect them to mental health services. About 40 healthcare workers at a children's hospital will use a team charter to clarify roles and improve coordination. The g…

This study aimed to see if measuring stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in blood, hair, and fingernails could more accurately track what people eat compared to standard diet surveys. Researchers planned to feed healthy adults controlled meals and then test samples to compare iso…

This study tests a new program that combines executive function training (like memory and planning exercises) with cognitive-behavioral social skills training for adults aged 60 and older with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. The goal is to see if the combined approach …

This study looks at whether using cannabis changes the amount of HIV medication in the blood and brain, and how it affects mood and thinking. Researchers will first observe 120 people who use cannabis regularly, then give cannabis or a placebo to 40 people to measure immediate ef…

This study looks at whether a special type of MRI, called RSI-MRI, can predict how well high-risk prostate cancer patients respond to radiation and hormone therapy. About 100 adult men with high-risk, localized prostate cancer will get an RSI-MRI scan before and during treatment.…

This pilot study compares two stool-based tests, Cologuard and FIT, sent by mail to adults ages 45-49 who are not up-to-date with colorectal cancer screening. The goal is to see which test leads to more people completing screening and following up on abnormal results. About 100 p…

This study compares how often ICU nurses check on patients after brain aneurysm treatment—every hour versus every two hours—to see which schedule allows better sleep. Thirty adults who had elective aneurysm coiling will wear sleep monitors overnight. The goal is to learn whether …

This study aimed to understand how blood pressure changes when standing up affect thinking skills and brain blood flow in people with Parkinson's disease. Researchers planned to compare those with and without orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure upon standing) using cognit…