University Of Southern California

This study tests a combination of three chemotherapy drugs—gemcitabine, oxaliplatin, and paclitaxel—in people with advanced testicular cancer that has not responded to standard cisplatin-based treatment or has returned after treatment. The goal is to see if this drug combination …

This phase 2 trial tested phenelzine sulfate (Nardil), an antidepressant, in 26 men with prostate cancer that returned after initial treatment but hadn't spread. The goal was to see if the drug could lower PSA levels, a marker of cancer activity. Researchers measured how many pat…

This pilot study tested a 30-minute online educational program called 'Live Free From E-cigarettes' in 105 young adults aged 18-24 who vape at least once a week. The program provides information about the harms of e-cigarettes and smoking, social norms, and tips to quit or reduce…

This study tested whether adding the arthritis drug Celebrex to an experimental chemo drug called EPO906 could reduce severe diarrhea in people with advanced colorectal cancer. The trial enrolled 75 patients who had already tried other treatments. The first phase found the safest…

This study tested two tools to help older adults (65+) on long-term opioid therapy use painkillers more safely. The PainTracker tool helps doctors focus on improving daily function and mental health, while the Opioid Misuse Measure screens for risky opioid use. Researchers studie…

This study tested a mindfulness program designed for women in residential treatment for substance use disorders. The program, called Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Women (MBRP-W), teaches stress management skills to help women stay in treatment and avoid relapse. Resear…

This study tested a chemotherapy drug called eribulin in 32 people with advanced or recurrent cervical cancer that had spread or come back. The goal was to see how long the drug could keep the cancer from growing and to check for side effects. Participants had already received up…

This study tested two chemotherapy drugs, cisplatin and mitomycin-C, given directly into the liver artery for people with liver cancer that cannot be surgically removed. The goal was to see how long tumors stay controlled and to track side effects. 76 participants were enrolled. …

This study tested a combination of two drugs—sEphB4-HSA and pembrolizumab—in 42 people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer or head & neck cancer that had spread or returned. The goal was to see if the combo could shrink tumors better than standard treatments. Participants ha…

This study compared an online, team-based care model to standard in-person care for managing atopic dermatitis (eczema). 300 patients were randomly assigned to either online or in-person care for 12 months. The goal was to see if the online approach could match in-person care in …

This study tested whether daily nicotine patches could improve memory and daily function in 348 people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Participants wore either a nicotine patch (up to 21 mg) or a placebo patch for two years. The goal was to see if nicotine, known to affect …

This study tested a new way to prevent type 2 diabetes in people with pre-diabetes. Participants wore a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) on their arm and received AI-generated educational videos on their smartphone. The goal was to see if this combination could help lower average…

This study tested whether fast arm movement training helps people who had a stroke regain arm function better than standard accuracy training. 44 chronic stroke survivors with mild to moderate arm weakness participated. The training focused on moving quickly, and researchers meas…

This study tested a sensorimotor program for infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a brain injury from lack of oxygen at birth. Eleven babies received play-based therapy sessions in the NICU and at home for the first 6 months. The goal was to see if the program was …

This study tested whether a long-lasting numbing medicine called Exparel (liposomal bupivacaine) can reduce pain and the need for strong painkillers after wisdom tooth removal. 85 adults having both lower wisdom teeth taken out took part. The medicine was given at the end of surg…

This study compared two well-known talk therapies for depression: cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Both were delivered in online group sessions over 8 weeks. A total of 116 adults with major depressive disorder took part. The goal wa…

This study tested whether wearing virtual reality goggles during dental sealant placement helps children ages 6-18 feel less anxious and behave better. Each child served as their own control, receiving VR on one side of the mouth and standard care on the other. The researchers me…

This study tested a gel called PuraSinus to see if it makes follow-up cleanings after sinus surgery less painful. 30 adults with chronic sinus disease took part. The gel was compared to standard nasal dressings. The goal was to reduce pain and discomfort during these cleanings.

This study tested a new cognitive behavioral skills program (CBI) delivered in the metaverse for people with depression and anxiety. 306 participants were split into three groups: one using virtual reality, one using a flat-screen device, and a waitlist group. The program taught …

This small study tested whether narrative medicine—using close reading, creative writing, and discussion—can improve well-being in people with digestive system cancers. Eight patients receiving infusional therapy took part. The goal was to see if the approach was feasible and if …

This study looked at whether ringing a bell on the last day of radiation therapy helps cancer patients remember their treatment as less distressing. 82 patients took part. Researchers compared distress memory scores between those who rang a bell and those who did not.

This study looked at how different labels on vaping devices (like 'contains nicotine' or 'high potency') affect teens' interest in trying them, their views on health risks, and what effects they expect. Over 3,000 high school students viewed images of vaping devices with various …

This study looked at whether a multiple sclerosis (MS) drug called Ofatumumab (Kesimpta) can make immune cells less toxic to brain cells. Researchers took blood samples from 40 people with relapsing-remitting MS before and after 6 months of treatment. They tested if the chemicals…

This completed Phase 3 substudy looked at whether MDMA-assisted psychotherapy can change how stress-related genes work in people with PTSD. Researchers collected saliva samples from 45 participants before and after treatment to measure changes in gene activity. The goal was to se…

This study tested whether an AI tool can help health providers write medical summaries that are easier for patients to understand. 120 providers were split into two groups: one used the AI tool, the other did not. The goal was to see if AI could improve readability and save time,…

This study tested whether giving free Lyft rides to liver transplant candidates for their medical visits helps them get on the transplant waiting list faster. 261 adults took part. The goal was to see if removing transportation barriers improves access to care.

This completed observational study enrolled 1,141 participants with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease. Researchers tracked changes in memory tests, brain scans, and other biomarkers over time. The goal was to improve how future clinical trials measure the disease, …

This study looked at how a genetic test that checks 25 genes linked to hereditary cancers is used in clinics. Over 1,500 people with a personal or family history of cancer took part. Researchers collected blood samples and had participants fill out questionnaires over five years …

This study looked at 82 women aged 18-35 to see if birth control pills with lower estrogen cause less breast cell growth than those with higher estrogen. Participants took one of three different pills for 2-3 months, and researchers measured breast cell activity through a biopsy.…

This study involved 700 teenagers aged 14-17 from California. They watched videos of social media influencers promoting e-cigarettes, with some influencers appearing younger or older and some videos showing fitness activities. After watching, the teens rated how harmful they thou…

This study looked at 75 adults who had reconstructive surgery on their face or mouth using tissue from their arm or leg. After surgery, a skin graft was placed on the donor site and covered with a cast. The study compared the standard 5-7 day cast wear to a longer 10-14 day perio…

This study tested whether daily paced breathing combined with brain training games could improve attention, memory, and reduce Alzheimer's-related markers in healthy adults aged 50-70. Participants did brain training and paced breathing at home for 10 weeks, and provided blood an…

This study tested whether two types of belly-focus meditation, practiced 40 minutes daily for a week, could change blood markers linked to Alzheimer's disease in healthy adults aged 18-35. Participants provided blood samples and completed memory tests before and after the meditat…

This study looked at whether musical pitch training can improve music appreciation and hearing in people with cochlear implants. 120 teenage and adult implant users took part, with some receiving musical training and others visual training as a comparison. The goal was to underst…

This study looked at whether a very low-dose combination birth control pill (10 mcg estrogen) prevents ovulation better than a progestin-only pill with a similar amount of progestin. Fifty-eight women took one of the two pills for a few months. Researchers checked ovulation using…

This study looks at whether a brief stressful event can quickly change levels of certain proteins in the blood linked to Alzheimer's disease. Researchers measured these proteins in 38 healthy adults before and after a stress task. The goal is to understand how stress might influe…

This early trial tested a less invasive treatment for prostate cancer called microwave ablation, which uses heat to kill tumor cells. One man with prostate cancer received the ablation before his scheduled prostate removal surgery. The goal was to see if the procedure is safe and…

This study tested whether sending letters to doctors about their patients' opioid overdoses would reduce how often they prescribe strong painkillers. Researchers looked at 61 clinicians who had prescribed opioids to patients who later had a non-fatal or fatal overdose. The goal w…

This study looked at 100 adults over 40 to see if a glaucoma implant called OTX-TIC could safely fit in the eye without touching the clear front layer (cornea). Researchers used special imaging to measure eye anatomy and identify risk factors. The goal was to predict which patien…