Wake Forest University Health Sciences

This study tests a new treatment for people whose bladder has become small and stiff due to scarring. Doctors will surgically attach a lab-grown 'neo-bladder' pouch to the existing bladder to help it hold more urine. The goal is to improve bladder function and safety over the lon…

This study looks at whether giving doctors daily readings of a vein's pressure can help people with congestive heart failure leave the hospital faster and avoid coming back. About 600 patients will be split into two groups: one where doctors see these pressure numbers and one whe…

This 12-week study tests whether Vibegron, a drug already approved for overactive bladder, can improve energy use, heart health, and physical and mental function in 40 middle-aged and older adults with obesity. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either Vibegron or …

This study compares two blood pressure medications—Angiotensin II and norepinephrine—in adults with septic shock, a life-threatening condition with up to 40% death rate. Researchers will enroll 78 participants to see which drug better restores normal blood pressure and reduces sh…

This early-phase study tests whether lab-grown penile tissue can safely repair severe, permanent damage in 10 men aged 18-60. The tissue is made from the patient's own cells and a donor scaffold. The main goal is to check for side effects, not yet to prove it works as a cure.

This study tests whether giving a calcium-channel blocker (nicardipine) through a lumbar drain can prevent dangerous artery spasms and delayed brain damage in people who have had a bleeding stroke from a ruptured brain aneurysm. About 214 adults with mild to moderate bleeding wil…

This study tests whether using a special heat device on the breast before mastectomy and reconstruction can improve recovery. About 40 adults having this surgery will try the device. The goal is to see if the approach is practical and if patients find it helpful.

This study tests whether a quick, guided writing exercise called flash-writing can lower burnout and stress in doctors and other faculty at Wake Forest Baptist. Sixty participants from internal medicine, surgery, and pediatrics will try the technique and report their feelings usi…

This study looks at whether children, teens, and young adults with a new type of bone cancer (osteosarcoma) can safely go home from the hospital with slightly higher levels of the chemotherapy drug methotrexate in their blood. About 46 participants aged 22 or younger will receive…

This study looks at whether mindfulness techniques can reduce anxiety, depression, and body image concerns in people with non-flaccid facial paralysis. Researchers will enroll 24 adults who have had facial paralysis for at least 8 months due to conditions like Bell's palsy or Lym…

This study looks at three different ways to give methadone during heart surgery to find the best dose for controlling pain afterward. About 69 adults having planned heart surgery will take part. Researchers will measure methadone levels in the blood and ask about pain to see whic…

This study compares a new pain medicine (suzetrigine) to a common one (acetaminophen) for reducing pain when numbing medicine is injected and a head frame is attached. About 80 adults scheduled for a procedure requiring a head frame will take part. The goal is to see which drug w…

This study tests whether injecting a local anesthetic into the penis before placing an inflatable penile implant can lower pain after surgery and reduce the need for opioid painkillers. About 100 men getting their first implant will be randomly assigned to receive either the numb…

This study tests whether a special liquid diet (elemental diet) can help adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis feel better during a flare. About 42 people will use the diet alongside their usual treatments. The goal is to see if it reduces symptoms like belly pain and…

This study tests a multisensory training technique to see if it can restore vision in people who lost part of their sight due to a stroke. Researchers will work with 72 adults whose vision loss is either long-standing or very recent. The goal is to measure how much vision can be …

This study tests whether adding pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy to a standard bladder medication cocktail (heparin and bupivacaine) can better relieve pain and symptoms in women with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS). Twenty female adults who alread…

This study tests a new group exercise program combined with remote activity monitoring for older adults with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The goal is to see if this approach improves exercise habits, physical function, and quality of life. Fourteen part…

This study looks at two different ways to fix a broken thigh bone near the knee in people aged 55 and older. The goal is to find out which method helps patients heal better and return to work and daily life sooner. About 256 participants will be followed to compare bone healing, …

This study tests a home-use vaginal dilator device for women with interstitial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome) and high-tone pelvic floor dysfunction. Ten participants will use the device three times a week for 12 weeks, combining heat and gentle stretching. The goal is to se…

This pilot study tests whether a headband that plays soft sounds in sync with brain waves can improve sleep for 25 adults with both depression and insomnia. Participants wear the device at home for four weeks, alternating between active and sham stimulation, while tracking sleep …

This study tests whether a personalized virtual exercise program, combined with health education, helps breast cancer patients maintain their ability to exercise, heart health, and quality of life during chemotherapy. About 120 patients with stage I-III breast cancer will take pa…

This early-stage study will test whether platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, made from a woman's own blood, can help treat androgenic alopecia (female pattern hair loss). Sixteen women with the condition will receive PRP injections, and researchers will measure changes in hair lo…

This study compares two different combinations of pain-relieving medications used during total knee replacement surgery. The goal is to see which provides longer-lasting pain relief after the operation. About 90 adults having their first knee replacement will be enrolled and have…

This small pilot study tests whether a non-invasive device that gently stimulates the brain during sleep can increase deep sleep in adults with depression. Researchers want to see if better deep sleep leads to improvements in memory, thinking, and mood. Twelve participants will w…

This study tests whether giving a mild electrical stimulation to a compressed nerve during surgery can help it recover faster. About 100 adults with nerve compression (like carpal tunnel or a pinched nerve in the spine) will be randomly assigned to receive the stimulation or not.…

This study tests whether giving oxytocin (a natural hormone) through an IV during and after hip replacement surgery helps people recover faster. Researchers will track daily steps for 56 days after surgery in 80 adults. The goal is to see if oxytocin reduces disability and pain c…

This study looks at two pain medicines, buprenorphine and oxycodone, to see which works better and is safer for people with serious injuries. About 282 adults with injuries to at least two body areas will take part. The goal is to improve pain control while reducing the risk of o…

This study tests if using a floor pedal bike at home helps people recover from leg fractures and ankle injuries. Twenty adults who have had surgery will get a bike at their first post-op visit and track their use. The goal is to see if it improves healing and return to daily acti…

This study looks at two types of bone grafts—one using the patient's own bone (autograft) and one using donated bone (allograft)—to see which helps people with nonunion fractures (broken bones that haven't healed) return to work or duty sooner. About 156 adults with leg or arm fr…

This study looks at whether short, AI-generated videos from a virtual doctor can help people with psoriasis use their topical medication more consistently. Fifteen adults with psoriasis will be split into three groups: one gets weekly AI videos, another gets weekly video calls wi…

This study looks at whether practicing common stressful parts of labor can help first-time pregnant women feel less scared and anxious about giving birth. About 50 women in their third trimester will take part. The goal is to see if this kind of practice improves their overall ch…

This study looks at 130 children with cancer to find genetic differences that affect how their bodies process chemotherapy and supportive medicines. By testing a panel of genes, researchers hope to learn how often these differences occur and whether they can help tailor drug choi…

This pilot study will see if it's practical to offer a blood test for DHA (an important nutrient) to all pregnant people early in their care. About 650 participants will be invited to take the test during routine prenatal visits. The main goal is to measure how many people agree …

This study looks at how different warning labels on cannabis edibles change people's knowledge, safety concerns, and willingness to try them. About 1,250 English-speaking adults in the U.S. will view packaging with various warnings and answer questions. The goal is to find out wh…

This study tests a new method called CORRECT to help radiologists and radiation oncologists better communicate when planning radiation therapy for lung and head & neck cancers. About 194 patients will take part, and doctors will share and review treatment plans using a shared com…

This study looks at why some Hispanic/Latino gay and bisexual men may not trust the healthcare system and how that affects HIV testing and prevention. Researchers will work with 144 men in North Carolina to understand these barriers and find ways to increase HIV testing and use o…

This study checks if a Dexcom continuous glucose monitor (a small sensor worn on the arm) gives accurate blood sugar readings during heart surgery and recovery in the ICU. About 100 adults having heart surgery with a heart-lung machine will take part. Researchers will compare the…