University Of Southern California

This is the first human study of an experimental oral medication called AU409 for people with advanced liver cancers or other solid tumors that have spread to the liver. The main goal is to find the safest and most effective dose by testing it in a small group of patients whose c…

This study is testing if a weekly injection called tirzepatide, which is approved for weight loss and diabetes, can also help people reduce heavy alcohol use. It will involve 42 adults who have alcohol use disorder and are overweight or obese. Participants will receive either the…

This pilot study is testing which treatment works better for older adults with a specific type of pelvic fracture from a simple fall. It will compare early surgery to non-surgical care with physical therapy. The goal is to see if one approach helps patients walk better, spend les…

This study is testing whether a cream called imiquimod can shrink and improve abnormal, precancerous spots in the mouth. It is for adults who have these spots but cannot or do not want to have surgery. Participants will apply the cream and have follow-up biopsies to see if the tr…

This study is testing whether taking the fertility drug Clomid for the entire IVF cycle (long protocol) works as well as taking it for just 5 days (short protocol) in women with low egg reserve. Researchers want to see if the longer schedule helps retrieve more mature eggs while …

This early-stage study is testing whether combining a special low-calorie, plant-based diet with high-dose vitamin C and two immunotherapy drugs is safe and might help control advanced colorectal cancer that has a specific KRAS mutation. The trial will enroll about 15 adults whos…

This is the first-ever study to test transplanting a whole bladder from a deceased donor into a patient with end-stage bladder disease. The goal is to see if this robotic surgery is a feasible and better-tolerated alternative to current major surgeries that use a piece of bowel. …

This study compares two common surgeries for a specific type of broken hip in adults aged 60 and older. It aims to find out if a joint replacement (arthroplasty) leads to better recovery than using metal screws or pins to hold the bone together (internal fixation). Researchers wi…

This study is testing which method works better to help young children (ages 3-6) brush away plaque: learning from a parent or using a colorful, timer-based phone app called MoodBrush. Researchers will measure the amount of plaque on children's teeth before and immediately after …

This study is testing whether smart boots with real-time feedback can help people with diabetic foot ulcers wear their protective footwear more consistently. Researchers are comparing three approaches: strict wear instructions, standard care instructions, and smart boots that tra…

This study is testing whether an artificial intelligence (AI) system can be as good as experienced radiologists at finding aggressive prostate cancer on MRI scans. It will compare the AI's analysis to the standard method where a doctor reviews the images. The goal is to see if AI…

This study is testing whether combining a special contrast-enhanced ultrasound with artificial intelligence (AI) can better determine if suspicious breast masses are cancerous or benign. Researchers will scan 100 women who have been recommended for a biopsy to see if this approac…

This study is testing whether a new type of blood test, called a liquid biopsy, can accurately detect breast cancer. Researchers will compare the blood test results to standard methods like mammograms and biopsies in 490 women. The goal is to see if this easier test could one day…

This study is testing a community program designed to help pregnant individuals eat healthier. The program provides education, skill-building, and a $15 grocery gift card to address food access. Researchers will enroll 40 pregnant adults to see if the program is practical and hel…

This study is testing a brief, 30-minute online program designed to help young adults (ages 18-24) who vape reduce their e-cigarette use and lower their interest in starting to smoke cigarettes. Researchers will compare the program to a control group over 8 weeks to see if it wor…

This study is testing whether a 10-week supervised golf program can help improve the well-being of prostate cancer survivors who are on hormone therapy. Researchers want to see if regular golf practice can improve physical ability, mood, and overall quality of life for these men.…

This study is testing two different recovery methods to see which one better reduces muscle soreness after hard exercise. Researchers are comparing pneumatic compression (like a leg massage) with blood flow restriction (using pressurized cuffs). They're looking at 33 active young…

This study is exploring whether combining mindfulness meditation training with a supervised dose of psilocybin (a compound from 'magic mushrooms') can improve mental health more than psilocybin alone. It will involve 40 healthy adults with no prior meditation or psychedelic exper…

This study aims to find the best time to remove the urinary catheter after major rectal surgery. Researchers are comparing removing the catheter after 1 day versus the standard 3 days to see if the shorter time leads to fewer urinary tract infections and shorter hospital stays wi…

This study is testing whether making the dentist's office more calming can help reduce fear and anxiety in children. Researchers are comparing a regular dental room to one adapted with soft lights, sounds, and textures, sometimes paired with a calming video. They will measure chi…

This study is testing whether a curcumin supplement, the active ingredient in turmeric, can reduce inflammation and improve symptoms in people with certain blood cell disorders. Researchers will compare the supplement to a placebo in 30 participants over 12 months. The main goals…

This study is testing a new mobile app called CarePair, designed to help family members caring for loved ones with dementia. The app helps caregivers identify their own needs and connects them to local support services. Researchers will see if using the app for six weeks helps re…

This study is testing whether a gentle massage technique called manual lymphatic drainage can help reduce side effects like swelling, pain, and poor body image in women receiving radiation therapy after breast cancer surgery. The research will involve 50 women with early-stage br…

This study aims to understand how thinking problems after a stroke affect a person's ability to relearn how to walk. Researchers will use brain scans and walking tests to see how memory and thinking skills influence walking recovery in 65 stroke survivors. The goal is to gather i…

This study aims to develop a personalized system for electrical brain stimulation to treat depression. Researchers will work with 25 adults who have epilepsy and already have electrodes implanted for their standard medical care. The goal is to create a computer model that can rea…

This study is testing whether offering a small $25 payment encourages more people from diverse backgrounds to join an online Alzheimer's prevention research registry. Researchers will recruit 400 adults aged 50+ at community events and markets, comparing the $25 incentive to a fr…

This study aims to develop and test new tools to measure mental states. Researchers will use a wearable sensor, a virtual conversation partner, and AI software to collect data from 90 healthy adults and some patients with epilepsy who already have brain monitoring implants for th…

This study aims to understand how personal relationships and physical activity affect the well-being of young adults who have survived cancer. Researchers will follow 250 young adult survivors for one year, having them complete surveys and wear activity trackers. The goal is to l…

This research study aims to understand why colorectal cancer affects Hispanic patients differently and how treatments might be better matched to individual patients. Researchers will collect genetic information, tumor samples, and health data from 500 Hispanic participants with c…

This study aims to collect health information and biological samples from 300 men with advanced prostate cancer. Researchers will gather blood, urine, and data on treatments and quality of life to create a detailed research database. The goal is to help scientists learn more abou…

This study aims to see if educational materials like videos and pamphlets can improve cancer patients' knowledge and beliefs about clinical trials. It will enroll 50 adult patients with various cancer types. Researchers will measure changes in understanding by having participants…

This study aims to understand why some patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) develop serious liver damage from a key chemotherapy drug called asparaginase. Researchers will collect saliva samples from up to 500 patients to look for specific genetic markers. The goal is…

This study aims to create a collection of breast cancer tissue samples from patients. Researchers will collect small pieces of tumor tissue to study its biology, genes, and proteins. The goal is to help scientists understand how breast cancer grows and responds to treatment, whic…

This study aims to understand why older adults with depression often experience memory and thinking problems. Researchers will follow 120 participants with depression over 30 months, using brain scans, blood tests, and memory assessments. The goal is to learn how depression might…

This study aims to understand how natural hormone changes during the menstrual cycle affect women's exercise experience and recovery. Researchers will measure muscle soreness, inflammation, and perceived difficulty after challenging downhill running in 30 young women. The goal is…

This study is testing whether a multilingual AI chatbot named PERLA can help more cancer patients get important genetic testing. It compares patients who learn about testing from the chatbot to those who learn from a human genetics counselor. The goal is to see if this technology…

This study is creating a large collection of blood samples and health information from people who have survived early-stage breast cancer. The goal is to build a resource for future scientists to study how factors like genetics, lifestyle, and environment affect long-term health …

This study aims to understand how often women at a moderately increased risk for breast cancer follow through with recommended screening. Researchers will compare two groups: women with specific gene changes and women with a high calculated lifetime risk. By reviewing medical rec…

This study aims to learn more about what makes head and neck cancer grow and come back. Researchers will collect tissue and blood samples from 50 newly diagnosed patients who have not yet started treatment. By analyzing these samples, they hope to find biological markers that cou…

This study aims to understand why exercise helps some people with chronic shoulder pain but not others. Researchers will use brain scans and movement tests on 60 adults with shoulder pain to see how the brain and body respond to exercise. The goal is to learn how exercise relieve…

This study aims to understand how the immune system changes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients who receive a stem cell transplant. Researchers will collect blood samples from 250 patients before and after their transplant to analyze immune cells. The goal is to learn if the…

This study aims to understand why people with lower incomes in Los Angeles County are more likely to be diagnosed with liver cancer at a late stage. Researchers will survey and interview about 730 newly diagnosed patients to learn about social barriers like transportation, housin…

This study is testing a training program for community members to become specialists who can talk to their communities about preventing colorectal cancer and the role of genetic testing. Researchers want to see if this program helps people learn more about cancer risks, healthy l…

This study is a survey asking lung cancer patients about their experiences with immunotherapy treatments. Researchers want to understand if patients find their current treatments safe and convenient, and whether they would prefer receiving future treatments as an injection at hom…

This early research study aims to understand if changing people's automatic, gut-feeling attitudes toward physical activity can help them exercise more consistently. The study will involve 120 inactive adults who are overweight or obese, using smartphone prompts and Fitbit tracke…

This study aims to understand the real-life challenges and supports for people getting diagnosed and treated for non-small cell lung cancer, specifically if they have a history of alcohol or substance use. Researchers will interview 45 patients who have been through treatment to …

This study aims to understand how using hearing devices affects the social lives and thinking abilities of older adults with hearing loss. Researchers will measure social engagement using a small audio sensor that records voice patterns (not words) and test thinking skills with q…