Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

This study tested whether zafirlukast, a medication approved for asthma, could help control early signs of ovarian cancer returning. It involved a small group of patients whose cancer had relapsed based only on a blood marker (CA-125), not on scans. The goal was to see if the dru…

This early-stage study tested a personalized vaccine for people with advanced kidney cancer that had spread. Doctors took cells from a patient's tumor and fused them with special immune-stimulating cells from a donor to create a vaccine. The main goals were to see if the vaccine …

This study tested a personalized vaccine approach for advanced kidney cancer. Researchers created vaccines by combining patients' own cancer cells with their immune cells, then giving these back as injections. The main goals were to check if this approach was safe and to see if i…

This small pilot study tested whether a special pre-surgery program is practical for older adults. The program combined physical therapy, nutrition advice, and meditation classes for 3-4 weeks before major surgery. Researchers wanted to see if patients could complete the program …

This small pilot study tested whether a brief cognitive behavioral therapy program could help older adults safely reduce their long-term use of benzodiazepine medications (like Xanax or Valium) for anxiety and insomnia. Researchers worked with 17 adults aged 55+ who were prescrib…

This early-stage study tested a personalized vaccine made by combining a patient's own cancer cells with immune cells. The goal was to see if this approach was safe and could train the immune system to attack advanced melanoma. The trial involved 20 patients with spreading melano…

This study tested whether giving low-dose IL-2 injections to liver transplant patients could boost special immune cells called Tregs. Researchers hoped increasing Tregs might help the body accept the transplanted liver better, potentially allowing patients to reduce their anti-re…

This study tested a new coaching program called InVEST, designed to help young people (ages 12-22) who are at clinical high risk for psychosis. The goal was to see if personalized support for school, work, and daily tasks was feasible and helpful. Researchers worked with 26 parti…

This study tested a specific anesthesia plan for patients aged 60+ undergoing heart surgery. Researchers compared a guided approach using brain wave monitoring to standard care. The goal was to see if the new plan could reduce post-surgery confusion, improve pain control with les…

This study tested whether using HEPA air purifiers at home for a year could help adults with a specific type of COPD (eosinophilic COPD) breathe better and feel better. Researchers gave 178 participants either real air purifiers or fake ones that looked and sounded the same to se…

This study tested a new blood test that measures how well platelets work compared to the current standard test. Researchers gave healthy volunteers common blood-thinning medications (aspirin and clopidogrel) and then compared results from both tests. The goal was to see if the ne…

This study compared two standard colonoscopy techniques used to screen for colon cancer in people who have had inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) for eight years or more. Researchers tested whether high-definition white-light colonoscopy works as well as dye-spraying colonoscopy at…

This study tested whether using an ultrasound machine could help doctors place epidural catheters more accurately and safely than the traditional method of feeling for landmarks with their fingers. Researchers compared the two techniques in 110 women in labor. The goal was to see…

This study tested a new, painless device that checks for anemia (low iron in the blood) by simply clipping onto a finger, aiming to replace blood draws. Researchers compared the device's readings to results from standard blood tests in 124 pregnant and recently delivered people. …

This study tested whether high-flow nasal oxygen delivery is better than standard oxygen methods at preventing dangerously low oxygen levels during upper endoscopy procedures. Researchers compared the two approaches in 180 high-risk patients undergoing stomach and digestive tract…

This study tested whether a non-invasive, personalized form of electrical brain stimulation could help reduce symptoms of mania in people with bipolar or schizoaffective disorder. Researchers targeted a specific brain area linked to impulsivity and reward using a cap with electro…

This study aimed to find the optimal dose of morphine injected into the spine during a cesarean section to provide the longest-lasting pain relief after surgery. Researchers compared three different doses in 72 healthy women to see which one delayed the need for additional pain m…

This study compared two types of epidural catheters (thin tubes placed in the back to deliver pain medication) to see which works better for controlling pain after chest or abdominal surgery. Researchers tested whether catheters with multiple side holes provide more effective and…

This study aimed to find the best first-choice medication to prevent nausea and vomiting after a cesarean delivery (C-section). Researchers compared two commonly used and safe drugs, ondansetron and dexamethasone, in 100 healthy women having the procedure. They measured which dru…

This study tested whether a daily mix of 24 beneficial bacteria and fibers (a synbiotic) is safe and can help people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). For 12 weeks, 48 adults with IBS took either the synbiotic or a placebo pill. Researchers closely monitored safety and used ad…

This small study tested whether a gentle, non-invasive electrical stimulation to a specific part of the brain could help reduce hallucinations. It involved 12 adults with psychosis who were actively experiencing hallucinations. Researchers used a technique called high-definition …

This small, early-stage study tested whether a 12-week tai chi program is practical and might help people with COPD. Ten participants with moderate to severe COPD were randomly assigned to either practice tai chi or continue their usual care. Researchers wanted to see if tai chi …

This study tested if a prescription sleep medication (suvorexant) could help older patients sleep better and reduce confusion (delirium) after major heart surgery while they were in the intensive care unit (ICU). It involved 100 patients aged 60+ who were randomly given either th…

This study tested whether self-administered nitrous oxide (laughing gas) could reduce pain and anxiety during urodynamic studies—uncomfortable bladder function tests—without changing the test results. Nineteen adults undergoing the test used low-dose laughing gas during part of t…

This study tested whether a targeted nerve-block injection is as good as standard opioid painkillers for relieving hip fracture pain in the emergency department. Researchers compared pain levels and opioid use in 44 adults with hip fractures over four hours. The goal was to see i…

This study tested whether adding a special eye-tracking communication device to standard ICU care could help prevent or lessen delirium in critically ill patients on breathing machines. It involved 160 patients aged 50 and older who were expected to need ventilation for at least …

This study aimed to understand how a common non-opioid painkiller (IV ketorolac) affects blood clotting in women after a cesarean delivery. Researchers enrolled 40 healthy pregnant women scheduled for a C-section to measure changes in platelet function. The goal was to gather saf…

This study aimed to understand how a migraine prevention drug called galcanezumab (Emgality) works in the brain. Researchers used brain scans (fMRI) on 64 adults with frequent migraines before and after they received the drug for three months. The goal was to see if the drug chan…

This study tested if using lower oxygen levels when waking patients from anesthesia reduces lung collapse, compared to the standard 100% oxygen. It involved 48 adults having elective surgery. Researchers measured lung function using a special belt to see if 40% or 70% oxygen was …

This study aimed to understand if long-term meditation practice affects how the brain ages and the quality of sleep. Researchers compared about 57 experienced meditators with 51 non-meditators. Participants wore special headbands and rings at home to record their brain waves and …

This study tested a website designed to help primary care doctors have better conversations with women aged 75 and older about whether to continue mammogram screening. It involved 36 doctors and about 90 of their older female patients to see if the tool improved shared decision-m…