University Of Pennsylvania

This early-phase study tests whether specially engineered immune cells (CART-EGFR-IL13Ra2) are safe and feasible for people with a recurrent, aggressive brain cancer called glioblastoma. About 67 adults whose tumors have returned after standard treatment will receive their own mo…

This early-phase study tests whether giving two immune-boosting drugs (LVGN7409 and a PD-1 inhibitor) before surgery can safely help the body fight HPV-negative head and neck cancer. About 27 adults with resectable tumors will receive the combination, then undergo surgery. The ma…

This study tests whether group virtual classes before pregnancy can improve health and pregnancy outcomes for people with infertility. About 140 couples will either join these classes or receive standard care. The goal is to see if this approach helps with blood pressure, weight,…

This study tests if giving people with obesity and diabetes a $160 monthly subsidy to buy fruits and vegetables online helps them eat healthier. 214 participants will be split into groups to see which approach works best. The goal is to improve diet and possibly blood sugar contr…

This study tests whether adding a drug called cevostamab after standard CAR T cell therapy can help people with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma achieve a deeper, longer-lasting remission. About 30 adults who have already received CAR T cells will get cevostamab infusions …

This study tests if using a mechanical insufflation (MI) device twice daily for 6 months can slow the decline in cough strength in people with early ALS. Twenty participants will use the BiWaze Cough system, which inflates the lungs to help clear mucus. The goal is to see if this…

This study tests whether a fecal transplant (putting healthy donor stool into the gut) can help clear hard-to-treat, antibiotic-resistant bacteria from the body. About 32 people with infections like MRSA or VRE will receive the transplant along with standard antibiotics. The goal…

This early-phase study tests whether specially engineered immune cells (CAR T-cells) can safely treat adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia that did not respond to chemotherapy. Participants receive their own modified cells, targeting proteins CD22 and CD19 on cancer cells. Th…

This study looks at whether adding a peer recovery coach to standard medication treatment (buprenorphine) helps people with opioid use disorder stay in treatment longer. About 15 adults in a Philadelphia primary care clinic will receive both medication and regular support from a …

This study tests a device called OsciPulse that uses leg compression to reduce blood clot risk in people hospitalized after a stroke. About 40 adults with leg weakness will either get the OsciPulse or standard compression therapy. Researchers will measure changes in a blood marke…

This study tests a brain implant that sends electrical pulses to reduce loss of control eating in people with severe obesity. Six adults who have not been helped by other treatments will try it. The main goal is to check safety and see if it cuts down on binge episodes.

This study looks at whether a special type of PET scan (FDG-PET) can more accurately detect bone infections (osteomyelitis) in people with diabetic foot disease. Researchers will compare the scan results with MRI and follow patient outcomes to see how well it works. The goal is t…

This study tests a small, portable MRI machine for scanning the brains of 100 adults with hydrocephalus or other neurological conditions. Participants get both the portable scan and a standard CT or MRI on the same day. The goal is to see if the portable device can reliably detec…

This study tests whether a dedicated care coordinator can help 520 adults with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis reduce their risk of heart disease. Participants receive guidance on standard approaches to manage cholesterol, blood pressure, and other heart risk factors. The goal i…

This study tests a program of balance and strength exercises, bladder training, and home safety checks in 375 women aged 70 and older who have urinary incontinence. The goal is to see if this approach reduces falls and improves bladder control compared to just giving them informa…

This study tests an accelerated brain stimulation method for people with depression that hasn't improved with standard treatments. Instead of the usual 6-week schedule, participants receive 10 sessions of magnetic stimulation each day for 5 days. The goal is to quickly reduce dep…

This study tests a simple behavioral relaxation method to improve sleep in pregnant women with insomnia. About 20 women in their second or third trimester will practice the technique and track their sleep quality and wake time using a diary. The goal is to see if this easy, drug-…

This study tests whether ibudilast, an anti-inflammatory drug used in Japan for asthma, can help people with alcohol use disorder reduce heavy drinking. Fifty adults will take ibudilast or a placebo for 6 weeks, plus receive counseling. The main goal is to see if the drug lowers …

This study is testing a new type of prosthetic socket that can be adjusted as a child grows, avoiding the need for frequent replacements. About 28 children aged 3 to 18 with limb loss will first help develop the design in the lab, then try it at home for two months. The goal is t…

This study looks at whether low-resistance exercise training can safely help people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) feel stronger and improve their quality of life. About 20 adults with stable PAH will take part. Researchers will track safety, how well people stick wit…

This study tests whether a ketone supplement called Kenetik can reduce withdrawal symptoms in people undergoing alcohol detox. Fifty adults with alcohol use disorder will receive either the supplement or a placebo drink during their 5-day inpatient treatment. The goal is to see i…

This study compares a home-based, tailored sleep therapy (CBT-I) with a web-based version to help caregivers of children with autism who have insomnia. About 80 caregivers will participate to see which approach is more acceptable and feasible. The goal is to improve sleep and red…

This study looks at how being in ketosis (a state where your body burns fat for energy) changes the way alcohol affects your brain. Healthy adults will follow three different 3-day diets and then drink about 4-5 alcoholic beverages. Researchers will use breath tests and brain sca…

This study looks at 300 adults with severe traumatic brain injury to see how low oxygen levels in the brain affect certain proteins (biomarkers) released after injury. Researchers will measure these proteins in blood samples and compare them to oxygen readings from brain monitors…

This study follows 755 children who were in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for the first time. Researchers want to learn about the physical, mental, and thinking problems that can happen after a serious illness. By tracking kids and their families over time, the goal is…

This study looks at whether advanced monitors can accurately measure red blood cell levels and oxygen during continuous dialysis in critically ill patients with kidney injury. About 30 adults in the ICU will take part. The goal is to see if these tools work well enough to help do…

This early-phase study tests whether a new type of PET scan can measure inflammation in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease. Researchers will compare scans from 11 participants (both with Parkinson's and healthy volunteers) to see if the imaging drug 18F-NOS can help di…

This study looks at four different breast imaging techniques—MRI, digital mammography, ultrasound, and PET scans—to see how well they show the full extent of breast cancer. Researchers will compare the images from 400 women recently diagnosed with breast cancer who are scheduled …

This study follows 196 women aged 11-35 who are receiving chemotherapy for cancer to see how it affects their ovaries over time. Participants provide blood samples, ultrasound scans, and menstrual diaries before, during, and after treatment. The goal is to better understand chemo…

This study tests whether offering small financial rewards can encourage people with first-episode psychosis to keep attending their treatment programs. About 80 patients and 65 clinicians will take part to see if the approach is acceptable and practical. The goal is to improve at…

This study looks at two different ways to encourage doctors to refer patients with high cholesterol to a centralized pharmacy service for statin management. About 1,950 patients who are not on the right statin dose will be included. The goal is to see which method works better at…

This study looks at how transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) affects deep brain activity. Researchers will use electrodes already placed in the brains of 10 adults to record brain signals during TMS. The goal is to understand brain circuits and connectivity, not to treat any c…

This study looks at how noise from airplanes affects people's sleep. About 400 volunteers living near airports will wear a small device that tracks heart rate and movement for 5 nights, while a recorder captures indoor sounds. They will also fill out morning surveys about their s…

This study involves 20,000 mothers giving birth to see if using a special risk calculator can lower the number of unplanned C-sections and reduce serious complications like heavy bleeding or infections. The calculator helps doctors predict which patients might need a C-section, s…

This study looks at a program that helps people caring for a loved one with dementia. Researchers will interview 350 caregivers to see if the program reduces stress and improves their experience. The goal is to understand how well the support program works.

This study uses a special PET/CT scan to look at inflammation in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment, compared to healthy volunteers. Researchers aim to understand how inflammation relates to Alzheimer's by using a new imaging tracer. The st…

This study examines how the immune system responds to chronic hepatitis B infection. Researchers will measure different immune cells and signals in 201 participants to understand why some people control the virus better than others. The goal is to learn more about the disease, no…

This study collects lymph fluid from the chest of 24 people (some with MS, some healthy) to compare immune cells in the blood versus deep lymph system. In MS participants, researchers also look at how the FDA-approved drug ofatumumab changes these cells. The goal is to better und…

This study uses a special PET scan and a radioactive tracer to measure inflammation in the brain. Researchers will compare results among people with HIV, opioid use disorder, both, or neither. The goal is to understand how these conditions affect brain inflammation, not to provid…

This study looks at how a single dose of a ketone ester supplement changes energy use in the brain and heart of people with alcohol use disorder compared to healthy volunteers. Twenty adults will receive either the supplement or a placebo and then have PET/CT scans to measure glu…

This study uses a special PET scan to measure tau protein buildup in the brains of 106 older adults, some with normal aging and some with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The goal is to understand how tau relates to memory and brain structure changes, which could help tell apart …

This study tests whether a special PET scan (FLT PET/CT) can show changes in tumor activity in people with metastatic breast cancer that has spread beyond the liver and bones. About 20 participants will receive the drug ribociclib followed by ribociclib plus paclitaxel, and have …

This study looks at how spending 12 months in space on the International Space Station changes astronauts' brain structure, thinking skills, and spatial awareness. Researchers will compare these changes to those seen on shorter 6-month and 2-month missions. The study involves 14 …

This pilot study tests whether adding stigma-reduction counseling to standard depression treatment helps adults living with HIV in Malawi. Researchers will enroll 200 people with HIV and depressive symptoms at two district hospitals. The goal is to see if the program is acceptabl…

This study aims to develop and test a telehealth tool that helps community mental health therapists use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) more consistently. Researchers will work with 100 clinicians and their patients to design, refine, and evaluate the tool through interviews, …

This study examines stored lymph node samples from 100 people in Botswana who had lymphoma between 2012 and 2017. Researchers want to see how often Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is found in these samples, and whether HIV infection makes a difference. The goal is to better understand t…

This study looks at whether a special payment model helps doctors coordinate care better for people with breast, colon, or lung cancer getting chemotherapy. Researchers will compare costs, quality of care, and use of hospital services between two groups. The goal is to see if thi…

This study tests a new PET/CT scan that uses a tracer called 18F-FluorThanatrace to measure PARP-1 activity in breast cancer tumors. About 50 adults with known or suspected breast cancer will get one or two scans. The goal is to see how well the scan detects cancer activity and c…

This study follows 300 people who had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) to see how they recover over many years. Researchers will check their thinking, independence, and daily function, and also test a blood marker called NF-L that may show brain damage. The goal is to better unders…

This study places a rapid testing device in primary care clinics to help doctors quickly identify whether a cold-like illness is caused by a virus or bacteria. About 8,000 adults with symptoms like cough or runny nose will get a nasal swab, with results in 15 minutes. The goal is…

This study looks at whether a special PET scan (FDG PET/CT) can help doctors see how well hormone therapy is working in people with breast cancer that has spread to the bones. About 75 adults with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer and bone metastases will get a scan before…

This study compares treatment recommendations made by an artificial intelligence (AI) system to those made by real doctors for patients with sepsis and ARDS, two serious conditions common in intensive care. About 350 critical care doctors and advanced practice providers will revi…

This study tests whether an augmented reality virtual ruler can help doctors place PICC lines more accurately and safely. Twenty adults scheduled for non-emergency PICC placement will use the ruler, and researchers will check tip location on X-ray, radiation exposure, and procedu…

This study tests a very powerful new MRI scanner (7 Tesla) to see if it can take clearer pictures of the heart in people with cardiomyopathy. Researchers want to know if this scanner can better detect swelling and scarring in the heart muscle. The study involves 13 adults aged 20…

This study looks at whether custom-made videos can help people who had a stroke 1 to 10 years ago better understand their condition and feel more satisfied with their care. About 100 participants will use a video app and answer surveys after 7 and 90 days. The goal is to see if t…

This study follows 1,000 mothers and their newborns in Botswana to understand how antibiotic-resistant bacteria are passed from mother to child around the time of birth. Researchers will track these bacteria over time to learn how they spread and how to prevent infections. The go…

This study tests a new type of PET scanner that can take pictures of most of the body at once, instead of just a small section. Researchers want to see how well this scanner works in healthy adults and people with memory problems. The goal is to gather information to improve futu…

This study tests whether a 'big push' of investments—like cleaning up vacant lots, planting trees, and offering financial help—can improve the health of Black children in Philadelphia. About 480 children and their families in 60 neighborhoods will take part. The goal is to see if…

This study looks at whether a heart failure medication can help people with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes by increasing a hormone that controls blood sugar after meals. About 25 adults aged 18-80 with diabetes or pre-diabetes and high blood pressure will take part. The goal is …

This study aimed to see if using wearable devices and text messaging with game-like features could encourage older adults in the hospital to walk more. It was designed for patients with heart-related conditions. However, the study was withdrawn before any participants were enroll…

This study looks at how a high-fat, high-carbohydrate meal affects inflammation, blood vessel function, and stress responses in young women with migraine compared to those without. Researchers will compare 30 women (half with migraine, half without) after a single test meal. The …

This study tests a toolkit called PEACE that helps early intervention providers coach parents of young children with autism. Researchers will enroll 200 providers and 400 families in Philadelphia to see if the toolkit improves how providers teach parents to support their child's …

This study looks at how certain fats in the blood change over 24 hours in people with night eating syndrome compared to healthy volunteers. Researchers want to see if unusual eating patterns disrupt these natural rhythms. The study involves 12 participants and includes measuring …