Boston Children's Hospital

This study tests whether the drug everolimus can safely improve social abilities in adults and children with PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS), a genetic condition that raises cancer risk and often causes autism-like social difficulties. Half of the 60 participants will receiv…

This study will give 150 children with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or obesity a prepaid card to buy fruits and vegetables, plus virtual nutrition classes. The goal is to see if this program improves their eating habits and heart health over 6 to 12 months. Participants…

This study looks at whether certain foods can lower bile acid levels in the stomach and saliva of children who rely on feeding tubes. High bile acid can lead to lung irritation if accidentally inhaled. For two weeks, children will eat a diet rich in bile-binding foods, then switc…

This study looks at whether certain foods that bind to bile in the stomach can help children who rely on feeding tubes. The goal is to see if these foods reduce the number of hospital and emergency room visits over six months. About 138 children will be assigned to one of three d…

This study tests whether reducing radon gas in homes can improve asthma control. About 180 adults with uncontrolled asthma will have their homes tested and some will get radon mitigation. Researchers will track how many days participants have asthma symptoms to see if the interve…

This study tests whether removing Staphylococcus aureus bacteria from the skin can reduce eczema severity in 100 people aged 6 and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Participants will undergo a decolonization protocol, and researchers will measure changes in disease…

This study looks at whether training primary care clinicians to diagnose autism in children aged 18-36 months can shorten the time from a positive screening to a final diagnosis. About 300 children will take part across multiple clinics. The goal is to see if this approach leads …

This study tests a new bedside blood test that may quickly tell if a child is having a stroke. Researchers will check how accurate the test is in 250 children who come to the ER with stroke symptoms. The goal is to speed up diagnosis and treatment, while children still receive st…

This study looks for the best way to sedate children aged 1 to 12 during an MRI. It compares using propofol alone versus adding a small dose of dexmedetomidine, which may reduce side effects and recovery time. About 105 children will take part to find the safest and most effectiv…

This study compares two medicines, gabapentin and oxcarbazepine, to see if they safely reduce chronic nerve pain in children and teens aged 8 to 18. Participants will receive one of the two drugs, and researchers will track pain levels, side effects, and daily function. The goal …

This study looks at whether one session of intense aerobic exercise can reduce pain sensitivity in young people aged 10-21 with chronic pain. Researchers will measure pain responses before and after exercise in 66 participants. The goal is to see if exercise can be a simple, drug…

This study looks at whether mental skills training (MST) can improve coping and psychological readiness in 130 young athletes (ages 8-25) recovering from ACL reconstruction. Participants will either receive MST sessions before and after surgery or standard care. The goal is to se…

This study tests whether adding valproate to standard patching therapy can improve vision in children aged 8 to 17 with lazy eye (amblyopia) that hasn't fully resolved. Participants will take valproate or a placebo daily for 16 weeks while patching their good eye for 2 hours a da…

This study tests whether giving ketamine early (within one hour of arriving at the hospital) can help children and young adults with sickle cell disease avoid being admitted for pain. Participants aged 6 to 24 will receive either ketamine or a placebo by mouth. If they are admitt…

This study tests whether using virtual reality (VR) along with standard treatments like therapy and biofeedback can reduce chronic dizziness in 12 adolescents. Chronic dizziness can make it hard to go to school or do normal activities. The goal is to see if VR helps retrain the b…

This early-stage study tests whether adding hydrogen gas to standard cooling therapy is safe and doable for newborns who suffered brain injury from oxygen loss at birth. About 54 full-term infants will be randomly assigned to receive either standard cooling alone or cooling plus …

This study looks at whether a special phone app can reliably send blood sugar readings from children with diabetes to the hospital's computer system. Currently, these readings are only available on a bedside device or phone app, not to the care team in real time. The study will e…

This study will test a handheld device called Intra.Ox that uses light to measure oxygen levels in the heart and other organs during complex heart surgery in children. The goal is to see if it can give surgeons quick, useful information about blood flow to help make better decisi…

This study will test a phone app called MyMedDiary in 120 children (ages 2-18) newly diagnosed with celiac disease. The app helps families track what their child eats and identify ultra-processed gluten-free foods that may contain hidden gluten. The goal is to see if the app make…

This study looks at how three common anesthesia drugs (fentanyl, rocuronium, and atropine) work in fetuses during surgery. Researchers will measure drug levels in blood samples already being collected as part of normal care, and may also take a small blood sample from the mother.…

This study is testing a new survey tool called VM-PATHI to see if it accurately measures symptoms in teenagers with vestibular migraine, a condition that causes dizziness and other migraine symptoms. Researchers will enroll 70 adolescents aged 10-20 who have been diagnosed with t…

This study will use a handheld camera to look at the smallest blood vessels in children undergoing heart surgery for tetralogy of Fallot or a hole in the heart. The goal is to see if these tiny vessels behave differently than the larger ones doctors usually monitor. About 40 chil…

This study will test a new computer-based training program designed to help autistic children ages 8-11 improve their thinking and problem-solving skills. The goal is to see if this training can reduce repetitive behaviors and improve daily functioning. 95 children will be random…

This study looks at whether one-on-one coaching (called academic detailing) helps pediatricians feel more comfortable prescribing PrEP, a daily pill that prevents HIV. Fifty doctors will take part in brief, interactive sessions with a trained educator. The goal is to see if this …

This study looks at children under 18 who need heart surgery with a heart-lung machine. Researchers want to see if certain proteins in the blood can tell us about brain injury after surgery. They will measure these proteins and compare them to how the brain is working after the o…

This study looks at whether a specially designed AI model can help emergency room doctors make fairer decisions about which patients need to be admitted to the hospital. Researchers will ask 10 ER doctors at Boston Children's Hospital to predict a patient's admission risk before …

This study will see if using a digital otoscope (a camera that takes pictures of the eardrum) helps doctors diagnose ear infections more accurately and prescribe fewer unnecessary antibiotics. Four pediatric clinics in Massachusetts will take part, with two using the digital tool…