University Of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

This study tested whether a vaccine already approved for meningitis (Bexsero) can also protect against gonorrhea. About 65 healthy men received either the meningitis vaccine or a placebo, then were exposed to the gonorrhea bacteria in a controlled setting. The goal was to see if …

This study tested a quicker treatment plan for early MRSA lung infections in 37 people with cystic fibrosis (ages 2 to 45). The goal was to see if the streamlined approach could clear the bacteria better than standard care. Researchers tracked infection clearance at 28 days and m…

This project adapted a program that helps nursing home residents with dementia get daily mouth care to reduce bacteria that can cause pneumonia. The goal was to make it work for assisted living residents with dementia. Over 1,400 residents took part, and the program was taught to…

This study tested a program called Gender-affirming Abriendo Puertas for transgender women living with HIV in Santo Domingo. The program includes counseling, peer support, and community activities to help them stay on treatment and achieve viral suppression. About 120 participant…

This study tested a counseling program called the Friendship Bench for 106 teens aged 13-18 living with HIV and depression. The goal was to see if the program is feasible and acceptable, and whether it can reduce depression symptoms and improve engagement in HIV care. The study c…

This study looked at whether intensive dental cleaning (scaling and root planing) can improve not only oral health but also markers of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. About 200 adults with gum disease and either heart disease or diabetes (or prediabetes) took part. Researchers…

This study tested a culturally-tailored program that combines stress management, healthy eating, and exercise for African American women. 175 women with risk factors like high blood pressure or prediabetes took part. The goal was to see if the program could help them be more acti…

This study tested whether an online family skills training program is practical and well-liked by Black adults trying to lose weight. 21 participants joined with a family member and attended online sessions. The goal was to see if this approach could support healthier eating and …

This study looked at whether adding an inhaled medication called Bronchitol (mannitol) can improve how well the lungs clear mucus in people with cystic fibrosis who already take a powerful CFTR modulator drug. Fourteen adults with moderate-to-severe lung disease took part. The go…

This study tested a new weight loss program called Med-South, which adapts the Mediterranean diet for Southern tastes, against the popular WW (Weight Watchers) program. Over 2 years, 360 adults with obesity were randomly assigned to one of the two programs. Researchers measured w…

This study tested several different treatments for people with severe asthma that is hard to control. About 950 participants each tried multiple treatments in a random order to see which worked best for them. The goal was to improve lung function and reduce asthma symptoms and fl…

This study tested whether giving pregnant women with hepatitis B a daily pill (tenofovir) plus a vaccine at birth can safely prevent passing the virus to their babies. Over 300 mothers in the Democratic Republic of Congo took part, and researchers tracked safety and how well the …

This study tested a shared decision-making program to help pregnant women in Malawi decide whether to take daily oral PrEP (a pill that prevents HIV) or use condoms. 100 HIV-negative pregnant women at risk for HIV were randomly assigned to receive either the new decision-making t…

This study looked at how to give the HIV prevention pill (PrEP) to pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa in the best way. Researchers tested different doses in 54 pregnant women to see which dose provides enough protection without causing harm to the mother or baby. The goal is to…

This pilot study tested whether giving vitamin D shortly after a burn injury can prevent chronic pain. Forty adults took either vitamin D or a placebo within a week of their burn. Researchers checked safety, pain levels, and immune system changes over 6 months. The main goal was …

This study tested a filmed soap opera (telenovela) designed to help Latinas in North Carolina learn about and practice HIV prevention. About 95 women watched the online episodes and reported changes in condom use, HIV testing, and awareness of PrEP medication. The goal was to see…

This study tested a special group prenatal care program called Targeted Lifestyle Change (TLC) for obese pregnant women at high risk for gestational diabetes. 305 women joined the study. The program focused on healthy eating and physical activity to see if it could lower the chan…

This study tested whether giving HIV-negative pregnant women a home HIV test kit for their male partners would increase testing rates compared to just inviting partners to clinic testing. Researchers worked with 200 pregnant women in Malawi, randomly assigning them to either give…

This study looked at whether sildenafil is safe for premature babies born before 29 weeks who are at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a chronic lung disease. 109 infants on breathing support received the drug to see if it could help their lungs develop. The main goal was to c…

This study tested a personalized diet based on immune markers in 56 people with eosinophilic esophagitis, a condition where food allergies cause throat inflammation and trouble swallowing. Participants followed either a diet that removed specific trigger foods or a sham diet. The…

This study looked at whether a stretching routine could help reduce heart-related health risks in pregnant women with obesity during late pregnancy. 224 women participated from week 27 to week 37 of pregnancy. The stretching group was compared to a group doing moderate to vigorou…

This study tested a moderated online platform called Altitudes for parents and caregivers of young people with psychosis. The goal was to see if the platform was easy to use and helpful in reducing caregiver stress and improving well-being. Seventeen caregivers participated over …

This study tested a new virtual reality (VR) program for teenagers hospitalized for suicidal thoughts. The program lets them practice real-world school situations in a safe, hospital setting with a therapist. The goal was to see if the program was practical and well-liked by teen…

This study tested whether giving teens with ADHD and their parents a video and a list of questions before a doctor visit helps them communicate better and improves symptoms. About 126 English-speaking teens aged 11-17 with ADHD took part. Some got the video and question list, som…

This completed pilot study looked at whether high-intensity resistance training combined with creatine supplements can improve muscle quality, strength, and thinking skills in perimenopausal women aged 38-60. Fifty-one healthy women were randomly assigned to either take creatine,…

This study tested a special palliative care program for people with late-stage Alzheimer's or related dementias and their family caregivers. The program started during a hospital stay and included dementia-specific comfort care, caregiver education, and help with transitions. The…

This small study tested a therapy where sexual assault survivors write about their experience to help prevent PTSD. 30 women who had been recently assaulted took part in remote sessions. The goal was to see if this approach is practical and might reduce PTSD symptoms.

This study tested whether a new care model called PREVAIL could be practically added to regular doctor visits for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The model screens patients for activity difficulties, gives exercise recommendations, and provides online exercise resources. R…

This study looked at whether adding a warning label that a food is ultraprocessed helps parents in Chile choose healthier options. Over 3,600 parents were shown similar products, some with the extra label, and asked if they would buy them and if they thought the food was ultrapro…

This study tested whether a mobile health app could help young adults ages 18-25 reduce heavy drinking. Forty participants were randomly assigned to use the app or just complete surveys. The goal was to see if the app was satisfying and engaging, not to prove it works. Results wi…

This study looked at whether a dietary supplement (fiber plus green tea) can make people feel more full from alcohol and change their response to drinking. 64 adults who were at-risk drinkers took part. The goal was to understand how feeling full affects alcohol's effects, not to…

This study looked at how pregnancy changes the levels of the HIV drug doravirine in the body. Seven pregnant women living with HIV took a single dose of doravirine during their second and third trimesters, and again after giving birth. The goal was to find the right dose for preg…

This study tested whether sending specific text messages at just the right moments helps young adults with overweight or obesity meet their daily weight, activity, and diet goals. 255 participants used a mobile weight loss program and received either a message or no message at ra…

This study looked at the best way to provide medically tailored meals to families. Researchers compared giving meals to just one person versus the whole household, and using a dedicated driver versus a commercial shipper. The goal was to see which approach improves diet quality a…

This study followed 105 children and adults with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a rare lung condition, to understand how their breathing and symptoms change during flare-ups. Researchers measured lung function and quality of life to gather information that will help design fut…

This study looked at whether offering special wellness visits at clinics, tied to primary schools, encourages more teens in Tanzania to get tested for HIV and use birth control. About 1,500 students in their final year of primary school took part and were followed for two years. …

This study tested whether MRI can accurately detect brown adipose tissue (brown fat) in healthy adults, using PET scans as the gold standard. Eight volunteers underwent both scans under mild cold conditions. The goal was to see how well MRI matches PET, not to treat or cure any c…

This study tested whether a pay-it-forward program—where one person's donation helps cover testing costs for others—can encourage more men in China to get tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia. About 1,200 men who had sex in the past year but hadn't been tested recently took part. T…

This study tested whether two types of prebiotics (GOS and a humanized version called hGOS) are safe and well-tolerated in 60 healthy adults. Participants took the prebiotics or a placebo daily for 4 weeks. Researchers tracked gut symptoms, changes in beneficial bacteria, and mar…

This study tested whether a nurse-led, community-based rehabilitation program is practical and helpful for people with psychosis in Malawi. Sixty adults with psychosis and their caregivers took part. The goal was to see if the program could be delivered successfully and if partic…

This study tested a program that combined job placement support with health coaching to see if it could lower the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease in unemployed, low-income adults. 455 people took part and were followed for a year. The goal was to see if t…

This study looked at how two different hand muscles recover from muscle relaxants given during surgery. 57 adults having elective surgery were monitored to see if one muscle recovers faster than the other. The goal is to help anesthesiologists better measure when it's safe for pa…

This study tested a 12-week virtual education program for primary care providers in North Carolina to improve their knowledge and confidence in managing atrial fibrillation (AFib). Researchers measured whether providers prescribed the right blood thinners to prevent strokes and w…

This study looked at why some women in early menopause become irritable when their estrogen levels change. Forty healthy women aged 45-59 with moderate to severe irritability took either estrogen or a placebo for three weeks. Researchers measured their brain activity and mood to …

This study looked at how different types of exercise affect metabolism in women going through perimenopause. 28 overweight or obese women in early or late perimenopause did either high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or traditional aerobic exercise. Researchers measured energy…

This study tested whether giving African American patients in rural eastern North Carolina a personalized list of local resources (like food, housing, and transportation help) could improve their confidence in managing their heart health. Over 300 participants received a 'Healthe…

This study looked at how certain brain waves (theta and alpha) help us control what we remember. 71 healthy adults did memory tasks while getting mild brain stimulation and having their brain activity recorded. The goal was to understand how different parts of the brain work toge…

This study looked at ways to help more people with type 2 diabetes attend diabetes self-management classes. Researchers tested different approaches, including using electronic health record prompts and peer support, to see what works best. The study involved 32 participants and a…

This study looked at whether a supplement called recombinant bovine lactoferrin (rbLf) can help healthy adults better regulate iron, improve gut health, and boost immune function. About 92 active adults aged 18-42 took either the supplement, a natural milk-derived version, or a p…

This study looked at how different gene mutations affect lung clearance in people with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD), a rare lung disease. Researchers measured how fast the lungs cleared a harmless radioactive marker in 27 participants, including those with PCD and healthy vol…

This study looked at whether it's possible to have firefighters train each other in a 6-week exercise program. 52 career firefighters from three local departments took part. The goal was to see if enough people would join, stick with it, and attend the sessions. This is a first s…

This study tested whether a special information dashboard helps ICU doctors and advanced practice providers make faster and more accurate decisions compared to using their usual electronic health record system. Over 100 participants completed tasks using both methods, and researc…

This study tested whether video-based coaching can help surgeons improve their skills and patient outcomes for ventral hernia repair. 59 surgeons from a national quality network participated. They were randomly assigned to receive live coaching, video feedback with annotations, o…

This study looked at whether limiting eating to a specific time each day (time-restricted feeding) is practical and acceptable for older adults (ages 65-80) who have mild cognitive impairment and are overweight. Over 12 weeks, 33 participants followed this eating pattern, and res…

This study looked at whether warning labels about non-nutritive sweeteners (artificial sweeteners) help parents in Chile identify which products contain them and choose healthier drinks for their children. About 3,900 parents were shown different label designs on similar products…

This study looked at whether virtual coaching helps rural pharmacists better counsel patients who are hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccine. Twenty pharmacies took part, first using standard training and then adding a personal video coach. Researchers measured how well pharmacists …

This study enrolled 60 Spanish-speaking Latino adults from a church in Chapel Hill to see if an educational session could improve their knowledge of colorectal cancer and willingness to join cancer clinical trials. Participants watched videos in Spanish and completed questionnair…

This study aimed to understand how the immune system in the nose responds to a nasal flu vaccine in people with COPD, especially those who get frequent symptom flare-ups. Researchers compared 24 people with COPD and healthy volunteers, giving them the nasal spray vaccine and then…