Vanderbilt University Medical Center

This study tests special blood-saving methods during surgery for advanced kidney cancer. The goal is to reduce the need for donor blood transfusions, which can lead to fewer complications and better recovery. About 240 adults with large kidney tumors will take part. The approach …

This study tests whether adding nitric oxide gas to the heart-lung machine during surgery can reduce brain and kidney damage in babies under 1 year old with congenital heart disease. Researchers will measure markers of injury in the blood and check for confusion after surgery. Th…

This study looks at whether teaching mothers about nutritious local foods can prevent malnutrition in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) in northern Nigeria. Researchers will enroll 148 children aged 6 to 18 months with SCD. Community health workers will provide special nutr…

This study tests whether donepezil, a drug used for Alzheimer's, can improve speech understanding in adults with cochlear implants. About 50 participants will take either donepezil or a placebo for 3 months. The goal is to see if the drug helps the brain adapt to the implant, lea…

This study looks at whether art therapy can help people with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) feel better and improve their daily life. Ten participants with PSP will take part in art therapy sessions. Researchers will measure changes in quality of life, mood, and caregiver s…

This study tests whether levodopa, a drug used for Parkinson's disease, can improve thinking speed, walking, and mood in older adults with depression. Researchers believe that depression in later life may be linked to a drop in dopamine, a brain chemical that affects movement and…

This study looks at whether adding a team of palliative care experts early—before surgery—can improve quality of life for people with cancer. About 236 adults having certain abdominal cancer surgeries will either get usual care or usual care plus extra support for pain, emotions,…

This study uses advanced MRI scans to measure blood flow in the brains of 100 adults with moyamoya disease, a condition that narrows major brain arteries and raises stroke risk. Participants will have scans and cognitive tests before and after their clinically needed surgery. The…

This study aims to find out how often acute hepatic porphyria (AHP) occurs in people with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). POTS causes a rapid heart rate and dizziness upon standing, and AHP can cause similar symptoms. Researchers will use blood tests, genetic te…

This study aims to create a detailed map of the cells in the gut of people with Crohn's disease compared to healthy individuals. Researchers will analyze tissue samples from 178 adults to see how cell types change with disease activity. The goal is to better understand what cause…

This study compares two advanced techniques for taking a tissue sample from a lung nodule: robotic-assisted bronchoscopy with 3D imaging versus electromagnetic navigation with digital X-ray. The goal is to see which method more reliably collects enough tissue for an accurate diag…

This study looks at how salt affects certain immune cells and blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. Researchers want to see if changes in these cells can help identify who is salt-sensitive, which could lead to a simpler test. The study involves 20 adults with high b…

This study looks at adults who had brain tumor removal surgery. Doctors want to know if a lower or higher blood pressure target after surgery helps patients leave the hospital sooner and reduces the risk of bleeding in the brain. About 500 people will take part, and their blood p…

This study looks at how changing your body position or drinking water can cause temporary spikes in eye pressure. Researchers will measure eye pressure in healthy volunteers and in people with glaucoma or autonomic dysfunction. The goal is to understand how these everyday activit…

This study tests whether a daily checklist can help doctors safely remove ECMO (a machine that helps the heart and lungs) earlier in adults with severe breathing failure. Researchers will compare the checklist approach to usual care in 225 patients across multiple hospitals. The …

This study looks at whether using a smaller or larger breathing tube during emergency intubation affects how patients feel months later. About 3,180 critically ill adults in the ER or ICU will be randomly assigned to get either a smaller or larger tube. Researchers will check for…

This study looks at whether a simple blood test can measure how well the body clears a chemical called norepinephrine in people with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). POTS causes a rapid heart rate and other symptoms when standing. The researchers will compare blood and urine…