Washington University School Of Medicine

This study aimed to find out if repairing a specific shoulder tendon during a common joint replacement surgery leads to better short-term results for patients. Researchers randomly assigned 102 adults getting their first reverse shoulder replacement to either have the tendon repa…

This early-stage trial tested the safety of combining three different cancer drugs—cabozantinib, abiraterone, and nivolumab—along with standard hormone therapy for men with newly diagnosed advanced prostate cancer that has spread. The main goal was to find a safe dose for future …

This study tested a new treatment for children and adults whose acute myeloid leukemia (AML) returned after a stem cell transplant. Researchers combined a standard donor cell infusion with a special type of donor immune cell, called a 'memory-like' natural killer (NK) cell. The g…

This study tested whether a dietary supplement called NMN could improve how the body processes sugar in people with prediabetes. Researchers gave NMN or a placebo to 56 overweight adults with early blood sugar issues to see if it improved insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance…

This study tested a combination of four treatments for patients whose aggressive brain cancer (glioblastoma) had returned. The goal was to see if using two immunotherapy drugs alongside radiation and a targeted therapy could help the immune system fight the cancer better, shrink …

This early-stage study tested whether TUDCA, a dietary supplement, could help control ulcerative colitis symptoms. Fourteen adults with active ulcerative colitis took TUDCA for six weeks while researchers monitored safety and measured changes in gut inflammation. The goal was to …

This study explored whether people who inject opioids can safely complete a course of intravenous (IV) antibiotics at home. It tested a program that provides extra support, including addiction medication, health coaching, and case management, to help participants finish their tre…

This completed Phase 3 trial compared different drug combinations to treat lymphatic filariasis, a parasitic disease that can cause severe swelling. Researchers tested whether adding a newer drug called moxidectin worked better than the standard ivermectin when combined with othe…

This study tested whether an older chemotherapy drug called mitomycin C could help control advanced head and neck cancer that had grown despite all standard treatments. It involved 48 adults whose cancer had spread or returned and was no longer responding to common therapies. The…

This study tested whether simply sleeping longer could improve the body's ability to use sugar (glucose) in people with obesity. Researchers asked half of the 31 participants to increase their time in bed to get more than 7 hours of sleep per night, while the other half kept thei…

This study tested a much shorter, 5-day course of radiation therapy for women with certain types of advanced uterine cancer who had already had a hysterectomy. Researchers wanted to see if this shorter treatment could control the cancer as well as the traditional 5-6 week course,…

This small pilot study tested a new support system called 'Nudges to Quit' to help people with serious mental illness stop smoking. The program used reminders to encourage patients, case workers, and pharmacists to connect and use proven quit-smoking treatments. The goal was to s…

This study tested if a simple, non-invasive treatment could help people recover from a major stroke. Researchers gave 40 stroke patients gentle electrical stimulation to the ear, targeting a nerve linked to reducing inflammation. They compared this to a sham treatment to see if i…

This small, early-stage study tested a two-part treatment for advanced esophageal cancer that had spread. First, doctors used a short, intense course of targeted radiation on the main tumor in the esophagus. The goal was to 'wake up' the patient's own immune system to fight the c…

This study tested two ways to help people who struggle to afford healthy food. Doctors 'prescribed' fruits and vegetables to 126 adults with low incomes, food insecurity, and diet-related health risks. The study compared whether giving people grocery store credit or delivering bo…

This early-stage trial tested a personalized vaccine designed to teach the immune system to attack a patient's specific pancreatic cancer. It involved 33 patients who had already received chemotherapy. The main goal was to check if the vaccine was safe. Researchers also measured …

This small pilot study tested whether doctors could safely adjust proton radiation treatment plans in real-time while a patient is on the treatment table. The goal was to see if this daily adaptation method is practical and safe for treating solid tumors, aiming to better target …

This study tested whether adding the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (MK-3475) to standard surgery could better control advanced head and neck cancer. It involved 67 high-risk patients with stage III or IV cancer that could be surgically removed. Researchers aimed to see if the …

This study tested whether giving a cochlear implant to the worse-hearing ear could help adults who have one good ear and one very poor ear. Forty participants tried using the implant along with a hearing aid in their better ear. Researchers measured if this combination improved t…

This early-phase study tested whether an intravenous drug called adrabetadex could treat serious liver disease in infants with Niemann-Pick disease, Type C (NPC), a rare and fatal genetic disorder. The trial involved four infants under six months old who showed signs of liver pro…

This small, completed pilot study tested a new way to deliver radiation to patients with a specific type of recurrent brain tumor (IDH-mutant glioma) who had already received radiation before. The new method, called temporally-modulated pulsed radiation therapy (TMPRT), delivers …

This study tested whether adding a new drug called ADI-PEG20 to standard chemotherapy could better control advanced soft tissue sarcomas and some other cancers. The new drug works by cutting off a nutrient some cancer cells need to survive, potentially making the chemotherapy mor…

This study tested a mobile app designed to help teenagers with eating disorders. Researchers used Instagram and Facebook to find 161 teens who were not in treatment. They compared different versions of the app, including one with coaching and social features, to see which helped …

This study tested if adding the drug efavirenz to standard HIV treatment is safe and can reduce the hidden, dormant virus that persists even with effective therapy. Seven adults with well-controlled HIV took efavirenz alongside their usual medications for about six months. Resear…

This study tested whether using MRI guidance could make radiation treatment more precise for people with inoperable, advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Twenty-six participants received a combination of targeted radiation, chemotherapy, and an immunotherapy drug called durvaluma…

This small pilot study tested whether giving intravenous ketamine alongside a specialized form of talk therapy (RO DBT) is safe and feasible for adults with moderate to severe depression that hasn't improved with standard treatments. The research aimed to see if this combined app…

This study checked if common painkillers like ibuprofen make high blood pressure worse in women recovering from severe preeclampsia after childbirth. Researchers compared two pain relief approaches for 287 women—one including ibuprofen and one without it—to see which better contr…

This study tested whether adding a special light-based imaging technique to a standard breast ultrasound could help doctors better tell harmless lumps from cancer. The goal was to see if this combined approach could reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies for benign lumps while…

This study tested a new, non-invasive sensor to see if it could predict how well patients recover from nerve decompression surgery. It involved 23 adults with cubital tunnel syndrome (elbow nerve compression) or peroneal nerve entrapment (leg nerve compression) who were already s…

This study tested a new analysis of spinal fluid to see if it can accurately diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) and distinguish between its different types. It also aimed to find markers that could predict how a person's MS might progress in the future. Researchers analyzed old spi…

This early-phase study tested a new imaging agent called [68Ga]Galmydar for PET/CT scans, aiming to improve the detection of coronary artery disease. It involved 15 people, including those with suspected heart disease and healthy volunteers, to see how well the new tracer shows b…

This study tested a new type of PET scan designed to see pancreatic cancer in a new way. The goal was to see if this scan could help doctors predict which patients would respond to standard chemotherapy or to a newer type of targeted therapy. The trial involved 69 adults with pan…

This study aimed to find the most effective COVID-19 testing approach to help schools reopen safely. Researchers compared two strategies across 16 middle and high schools: testing only people with symptoms versus weekly testing for everyone plus symptom testing. The goal was to s…

This study tested whether an economic empowerment program could help prevent alcohol and drug use among adolescents and young adults living with HIV in Uganda. The program provided financial literacy training, youth savings accounts, and substance use risk reduction sessions. Res…

This study tested different ways to encourage more pregnant people to get the RSV vaccine, which protects newborns from severe respiratory infections. Researchers tried a step-by-step approach with 50 participants, starting with simple methods like counseling and visual aids, and…

This study tested a family program designed to prevent mental illness in teenage girls who were recently forced to flee Venezuela for Colombia. The program involved the girls' entire family, including male siblings and caregivers, to create a more supportive home environment. Res…

This study tested whether community-designed campaigns could help prevent HPV, a virus linked to cervical cancer. Researchers worked with 350 mother-daughter pairs in Nigeria. They used local ideas to create messages encouraging HPV vaccination for young girls and HPV self-testin…

This study tested a coordinated approach to help more people in rural Southern Illinois get a needed colonoscopy after a positive stool test for colon cancer. It involved clinics, doctors, and community events to improve the screening process. The goal was to reduce cancer deaths…

This study tested whether a low-dose ketamine infusion given right after brain surgery could prevent depressive symptoms from returning in patients with a history of depression. It was a small, early-stage trial to see if a larger study was possible. Patients were randomly assign…

This study tested whether removing common home hazards could prevent falls for older adults living in low-income apartments. Researchers worked with 524 residents who had a history of falls, fear of falling, or felt unsteady. Occupational therapists visited apartments to identify…

This study tested whether combining personal hygiene routines with household cleaning could prevent recurring MRSA skin infections in families. Researchers enrolled 835 children with recent MRSA infections and their household members. They compared three approaches: personal hygi…

This study tested whether a healthy lifestyle program could prevent weight gain in young mothers when delivered through an existing home visiting organization. The program was offered to 620 overweight or obese women aged 18-45 who were participating in Parents as Teachers servic…

This study tested a prevention program designed specifically for women who use drugs like cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine. Researchers wanted to see if peer-led education sessions and health check-ups could help these women reduce risky drug and sexual behaviors that lead to …

This study tested a program called ANZANSI, designed to prevent vulnerable adolescent girls in Ghana from dropping out of school and migrating alone to cities for dangerous child labor. The program combined financial support for families with group sessions to improve family rela…

This study compared two methods for knee replacement surgery in people with severe knee arthritis. 123 patients had surgery using a robotic assistant (MAKO system), while previous patients had traditional manual surgery. Researchers tracked pain levels, recovery speed, and how ac…

This study tested whether a non-invasive vibrating device worn on the ear, combined with online mindfulness training, could reduce the severity and bother of chronic tinnitus. Forty adults with moderate to severe tinnitus were randomly assigned to use either the real device or a …

This study tested two programs to help HIV-positive adolescents in Uganda cope with the stigma and shame associated with their condition. 89 teens and their caregivers participated, receiving either group therapy, family counseling, or standard educational materials. The goal was…

This study tested whether applying cold therapy inside the vagina helps reduce chronic pelvic floor muscle pain. 165 women with this type of pain were randomly assigned to use either a cold therapy device or a room-temperature device at home. Researchers measured changes in pain …

This small, early-stage study tested if a stellate ganglion block—an injection of numbing medicine into a nerve bundle in the neck—could help people who lost their sense of smell after COVID-19. Twenty adults with long-term smell problems received the injection to see if it could…

This study tested two non-drug treatments for a breathing disorder where the vocal cords close when they should open, causing sudden shortness of breath. 51 adults with this condition were randomly assigned to receive either standard speech therapy or a newer video biofeedback tr…

This study tested if a stellate ganglion block—a targeted injection of local anesthetic in the neck—could improve distorted smell (parosmia) in people with Long COVID. In this double-blind trial, 48 participants were randomly assigned to receive either the real injection or a pla…

This study looked at whether adjusting a cochlear implant's sound settings to better match the user's normal-hearing ear could improve their ability to hear in noisy places and locate where sounds are coming from. It involved 45 adults with single-sided deafness who use a cochlea…

This small pilot study tested a new program designed to help older adults living at home manage their multiple medications more safely and independently. Researchers worked with four participants aged 65+ who were taking four or more prescriptions and having trouble sticking to t…

This small pilot study tested whether combining a simple group therapy program with small cash payments could help reduce stress and depression in Afghan refugee women. Forty women in Türkiye were randomly assigned to receive both supports together or the cash first and therapy l…

This study tested whether a combined program of talk therapy and careful medication review could help reduce feelings of depression and anxiety in adults aged 60 and older who were having major heart surgery. It compared this special program to the usual care patients receive. Re…

This study tested whether fluvoxamine, a drug already approved for obsessive-compulsive disorder, could help ease the symptoms of Long COVID, especially problems with thinking and concentration often called 'brain fog.' It involved 191 adults from Missouri and Illinois who had be…

This study tested whether a short therapy program could help family members caring for cancer patients. Over 500 unpaid caregivers were randomly assigned to receive either a special problem-solving therapy or a general support session, in addition to their usual care. The goal wa…

This study tested a new 8-week group program designed to help people with endometriosis manage chronic pelvic pain. The program, called PEEPS, combined education, mindfulness, yoga, physical therapy, and peer support. Researchers wanted to see if this approach could reduce how mu…

This study tested whether a 12-week program of weekly improvisational dance classes could help improve thinking skills, mood, and the ability to perform daily activities for people with Parkinson's disease. Twenty participants were randomly assigned to either start the dance clas…

This study aims to understand why some people develop long-term pain after surgery while others recover without it. Researchers will follow 2,500 adults having major surgery, collecting information about their health, pain sensitivity, and daily experiences using smartphone surve…

This study tested a hearing screening program for head and neck cancer survivors who had received cisplatin chemotherapy, which can damage hearing. Researchers wanted to see if survivors would complete the hearing tests and if they found the screening program useful and easy to d…

This study was a national survey to understand public knowledge and attitudes about epigenetics—the idea that factors like pollution, smoking, or exercise can influence health by affecting how genes work. Researchers surveyed over 2,000 healthy adults from diverse racial and ethn…

This study aimed to understand how a common Parkinson's treatment called deep brain stimulation (DBS) changes how different parts of the brain communicate. Researchers used a new, cap-based brain scanner on 49 people with Parkinson's to see these brain network changes while the D…

This study aims to understand how the brain adapts when people learn to use their non-dominant hand after a nerve injury to their dominant hand. Researchers will compare brain scans and movement tests from right-handed adults with chronic right-hand nerve injuries to healthy adul…

This study aimed to help doctors predict which patients with Crohn's disease affecting the small intestine would respond well to the medication vedolizumab. Researchers followed 48 adult patients already starting this treatment, using MRI scans and blood tests to look for pattern…

This study aimed to figure out the best way to offer mental health help to people seeing an orthopedic doctor for long-term back or neck pain. Researchers asked 30 patients and their doctors about their needs and then had patients try a mental health app and a printed resource gu…

This study aimed to find the best ways to encourage regular COVID-19 testing for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their teachers to help keep schools safe. Researchers worked with over 1,100 participants from special schools in St. Louis and Bal…

This research study aimed to understand if viruses in pregnant women, especially those with diabetes, might increase the risk of heart defects in their babies. Researchers analyzed blood and stool samples from 114 women to look for viruses and the body's immune response to them. …

This study used detailed brain scans to understand how psilocybin, the active compound in 'magic mushrooms,' affects communication networks in the brain. Eleven healthy adults received either psilocybin or a comparison drug during multiple scanning sessions. The goal was to creat…

This study aimed to understand why depression doubles the risk of death in people with heart disease. Researchers measured heart health markers, sleep, and activity levels in 175 patients with both conditions to find links to persistent symptoms like fatigue and lack of pleasure.…

This study aimed to understand how difficult experiences in early childhood might make children more sensitive to physical pain and more likely to develop mental health issues. Researchers tested 39 children by having them hold their hand in cold water, once alone and once while …

This study aims to understand how the body's immune system responds to the standard rabies vaccine when it is given alongside an extra dose of rabies-fighting antibodies (RIG) at different times. Researchers will compare three groups of 30 healthy adults: one getting the standard…

This study tested whether a special type of MRI scan could help predict how well patients recover after surgery for a compressed spinal cord in the neck. Researchers scanned 71 patients before and two years after their surgery, comparing them to healthy volunteers. The goal was t…

This study aimed to understand how puberty affects pain sensitivity in adolescents. Researchers compared pain responses between teens at different puberty stages and measured hormone levels to see if they relate to pain. The goal was to gather knowledge that might help identify w…

This study aimed to understand why pregnant women tend to get very sick from the flu but often have milder COVID-19. Researchers collected nasal cell samples from 48 healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women to compare how their bodies' initial defenses and virus entry points diffe…

This small, early-stage study looked at whether a type of diabetes medication (SGLT2 inhibitors) could reduce inflammation linked to heart and kidney health. Researchers gave the drug to 6 healthy adults who had never taken it before and measured changes in their inflammation mar…