Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Ku Leuven

This study tests a structured rehabilitation pathway for people having lumbar surgery for leg pain caused by a pinched nerve. The pathway includes pre-surgery exercise, early movement after surgery, and active guidance to return to work. Researchers will compare time to return to…

This study tracks 50 people with a severe, hard-to-treat heart rhythm problem called ventricular tachycardia. They receive a single, high-dose radiation treatment (STAR) aimed at the heart tissue causing the trouble. Researchers will monitor how well the treatment controls the ab…

This study tests whether adding different biomaterials (like artificial bone, enamel proteins, or a blood concentrate) to standard gum surgery helps repair bone defects around teeth. Thirty adults with deep gum pockets after initial treatment will receive one of four biomaterial …

This study tests whether a ketogenic diet or ketone supplements can improve lymphatic function in people with lymphedema, a condition causing arm swelling after lymph node removal. 81 participants will be randomly assigned to a ketogenic diet, an isocaloric diet, or ketone supple…

This phase 2 trial is testing two drugs, abemaciclib and letrozole, in 100 people with rare estrogen receptor-positive ovarian cancers (low grade serous carcinoma or granulosa cell tumors). The goal is to see if the combination can shrink tumors and control the disease. Participa…

This study tests whether gradually introducing cow's milk in less-heated forms over 12 months helps children with milk allergy develop full tolerance faster than just eating well-cooked milk. About 90 children aged 1-18 who already tolerate heated milk will be split into groups: …

This study tests whether the drug guselkumab (Tremfya), with or without a low-processed-food diet, can help people with chronic pouchitis—a painful gut condition that can occur after surgery for ulcerative colitis. Twenty adults who have not responded to antibiotics will receive …

This study tests whether adding a fasting-mimicking diet and exercise to standard chemotherapy and immunotherapy can improve treatment results for people with early-stage triple negative breast cancer. About 356 participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the lifesty…

This early-phase trial is testing whether giving the immunotherapy drug dostarlimab before surgery can help shrink tumors in people with a specific type of stage III colon cancer (called pMMR/MSS). Ten participants will receive two doses of the drug over six weeks, then undergo s…

This study tests whether adding the targeted drug zolbetuximab to standard chemotherapy (paclitaxel and ramucirumab) can help people with advanced stomach cancer live longer. It includes 100 adults whose tumors have a specific protein called CLDN18.2. Participants receive the dru…

This study tests whether combining two drugs, bicalutamide and abemaciclib, can control a rare type of advanced breast cancer called androgen receptor-positive triple-negative breast cancer. About 53 women with inoperable or metastatic disease will receive the treatment. The main…

This study tests a new, smaller pacemaker called Micra AV2 in 150 adults with heart block (a condition where the heart's electrical signals are blocked). The pacemaker is designed to better match the heart's natural rhythm, especially during exercise, and lasts over 15 years. Res…

This study compares two small implants (XEN-63 and PRESERFLO) placed during a quick surgery to lower eye pressure in adults with open-angle glaucoma. About 166 participants will be randomly assigned to one implant and followed for 2 years. The goal is to see if PRESERFLO works as…

This study tests whether a program of nutrition, physical activity, and mindfulness can help women carrying twins deliver at least one week later than usual. Researchers will enroll 81 women with dichorionic twin pregnancies before 14 weeks. If the approach works, it could reduce…

This study tests a new care plan for older adults with chronic subdural hematoma, a type of brain bleed. The plan includes updated surgery techniques and aftercare. Researchers will compare 150 patients on the new plan to past patients to see if it lowers the chance of the bleed …

This study tests whether a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) can improve pregnancy outcomes for women with gestational diabetes compared to standard finger-prick testing. About 386 women from Belgium and Australia will be randomly assigned to use either a CGM or a regular glucomet…

This study tests if a single low-dose radiation treatment to the whole heart can improve heart function in people with advanced heart failure. About 40 adults with severe heart failure who are not eligible for a heart transplant will receive this treatment. The goal is to see if …

This study tests whether children with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) can safely eat heated forms of hen's egg or cow's milk without their disease coming back. About 36 kids who are currently avoiding these foods will try gradually more heated versions over 8 weeks. The goal is t…

This study compares a new imaging tracer, [18F]-AlF-FAPI-74, with the standard [18F]-FDG in PET/CT scans for people with hard-to-diagnose inflammatory conditions like fever of unknown origin, IgG4-related disease, and axial spondyloarthritis. Researchers aim to see if the new tra…

This study tests if a vitamin E treatment can shrink early-stage Dupuytren's nodules (painless lumps in the palm) and prevent them from turning into disabling finger contractures. About 80 adults with stage 0 Dupuytren's will receive either vitamin E or a placebo, and doctors wil…

This study tests whether starting biologic drugs only after seeing signs of Crohn's disease on a colonoscopy is as good as starting them right after surgery to prevent the disease from coming back. About 292 adults with Crohn's who had bowel surgery will be randomly assigned to o…

This study tests whether the drug semaglutide can prevent type 2 diabetes in women who had gestational diabetes and now have high blood sugar after pregnancy. About 252 women will receive either semaglutide or a placebo for several months. The goal is to see if the drug lowers th…

This study looks at people with depression that hasn't improved with other treatments. If they don't get better after four sessions of one type of ECT (right unilateral), they will either continue with that type or switch to another type (bitemporal). The goal is to see which app…

This study compares the DOMINO diet app to the strict low FODMAP diet for easing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. About 110 adults with IBS will use either the app or follow the strict diet. The goal is to see if the app works as well as the standard diet, offering a more…

This study looks at whether increasing the pacemaker rate during light exercise can lower pressure in the heart for people with HFpEF (a type of heart failure where the heart pumps well but doesn't relax properly). Researchers will measure heart pressure in 20 participants while …

This study tests whether using a CPAP breathing mask during radiation therapy for early-stage breast cancer can lower radiation doses to the heart and lungs. About 53 women with left-sided breast cancer will receive radiation with CPAP support. The goal is to reduce long-term hea…

This study looks at whether adding tongue scraping to standard gum disease treatment helps reduce bad breath. Researchers will compare breath and gum health in 39 adults with periodontitis and halitosis. The goal is to see if this simple extra step improves breath odor more than …

This study explores whether guided breathing exercises can help autistic young adults (ages 16-25) feel less stressed and improve their body's natural stress response, measured by heart rate. Participants will try two different breathing exercises and share how useful they found …

This study looks at whether a 10-week plan with a leucine supplement is practical for children with spastic cerebral palsy. It also checks for early signs of muscle growth using ultrasound. Only 5 children will take part to see if they can stick with the supplement and if it affe…

This study looks at how the shape and movement of the hip and spine relate to pain in a condition called femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Researchers will compare three groups of men aged 21-35: those with hip pain and a specific bony bump (CAM), those with the bump but no pai…

This study collects images and videos of large colon polyps from 5,000 people undergoing colonoscopy. The goal is to train an artificial intelligence system to automatically predict whether a polyp has invaded deeper layers of the bowel wall. No drugs or treatments are tested—onl…

This study looks at how muscles grow and change in children with cerebral palsy (CP) on a microscopic level. Researchers will take small muscle samples and use imaging to see how these changes relate to movement problems and treatments. The goal is to better understand CP and fin…

This study follows 50 adults with infected hip replacements treated at University Hospitals Leuven. Researchers will track which treatments (antibiotics or surgery) work best and note complications. The goal is to gather real-world data to help doctors and patients make better de…

This study looks at pain in people with ADPKD, a kidney disease that often causes pain in the belly, side, and back. Researchers will use sensory tests and questionnaires to understand the pain better. They will compare results from 150 patients with those from healthy volunteers…

This study looks at how botulinum toxin (Botox) injections change muscle structure in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Using advanced imaging like MRI and 3D ultrasound, researchers will measure muscle size, fat content, and stiffness in 51 children. The goal is to understan…

This study is creating a large collection of blood and tissue samples from people with skin cancer and healthy volunteers. Researchers will store these samples and medical data to support future studies on skin cancer. The goal is to provide a valuable resource for translational …

This study looks at how digestion works in people who have had bariatric surgery (like gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy) and in people living with obesity. Researchers will collect fluid samples from the stomach and small intestine, and also use a swallowable capsule that mea…

This study looks at whether 3D dynamic models can help surgeons make better decisions when treating adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Researchers will collect data from 100 patients aged 10-35 who are scheduled for surgery. The goal is to identify key 3D parameters that could impr…

This study compares two types of minimally invasive surgery—robotic and laparoscopic—for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who need colorectal surgery. Researchers want to see which approach leads to fewer complications, less pain, and faster recovery. About 110 adults…

This study tests a simple computer tool that checks medical records to see if patients with a reported antibiotic allergy can safely use that antibiotic again. Many antibiotic allergy labels are incorrect, leading to use of less effective or broader-spectrum antibiotics. The tool…

This study aims to understand how muscles change over time in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Researchers will use 3D ultrasound to measure muscle size, length, and quality in 229 children. The goal is to link these changes to brain injury and treatments, helping improve fu…

This study is creating a large database of healthy Caucasian knees using advanced CT scans, X-rays, and ultrasound. Researchers will analyze knee shape, ligament balance, and bone structure in 200 volunteers aged 20-35. The goal is to provide a reference for better understanding …

This study explores whether a non-invasive test called wideband tympanometry can measure how well speech travels through the middle ear. Researchers will compare these measurements with speech understanding scores in 45 adults with normal hearing or conductive hearing loss. The g…

This study surveys 1000 adults who had heart surgery to find out how many develop long-term pain (chronic post-surgical pain) and how it affects their daily life and quality of life. Participants will be contacted by phone 3 months and, if needed, 1 year after surgery. The goal i…

This study looks at ways to personalize treatment for people with liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). Researchers want to find out which patients are likely to respond to immunotherapy by testing their tumor tissue and blood before treatment starts. The goal is to avoid givi…

This study is a registry that follows 500 people with smell or taste disorders to learn more about how these conditions progress and affect quality of life. Participants complete standard tests and questionnaires during their clinic visits. The goal is to better understand these …

This study aims to understand why some people lose their sense of smell after a COVID-19 infection and why it doesn't come back. Researchers will collect tiny tissue samples from the nose of 240 people—some with smell problems and some without—to look for differences in cells, in…

This study looks at how people move and feel after surgery for bone or soft tissue sarcoma in the leg. Researchers will measure physical function, quality of life, and activity levels in 60 adults who had limb-saving surgery at least one year ago. The goal is to learn more about …

This pilot study looks at how botulinum toxin (Botox) injections affect the muscles, tendons, and nerves in the feet of people who have had a stroke and developed a tight, twisted foot (equinovarus). Researchers will use special ultrasound and movement tests to track these change…

This study looks at how adults aged 45 and older with spinal deformities keep their balance while standing and walking. Researchers will use motion analysis, muscle activity sensors, and quality-of-life surveys to understand how the body compensates for spine misalignment. The go…

This study looks at how certain substances applied to the skin affect blood flow in people with nerve pain caused by chemotherapy. Researchers will compare healthy volunteers and patients to better understand the pain. The goal is to learn more about the condition, not to test a …

This study aims to create reliable methods for measuring balance and trunk strength in adults with spinal deformity. Researchers will compare 30 adults with spinal deformity to healthy controls, and relate the findings to the severity of the spinal curve and muscle condition. The…

This study looks at how the skin on the palm of the hand is involved in Dupuytren disease and whether it affects how well surgery works. Researchers will measure skin stiffness, use ultrasound, and examine tissue samples from 50 adults having surgery. The goal is to understand wh…

This study is creating a biobank and data registry for people with amyloidosis, a rare disease where abnormal proteins build up in organs. Researchers will collect blood, urine, tissue samples, and medical information from 505 participants over time. The goal is to store these ma…

This study looks at how ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) change the way leg muscles work in children with cerebral palsy. Researchers will measure muscle activity while children walk with and without the brace. The goal is to better understand how AFOs affect movement, which could help…

This study tests if a special ultrasound done through a scope (endoscopic ultrasound) can measure whether a common blood pressure pill (carvedilol) is working in people with liver scarring (cirrhosis). 24 adults will get the scope test before and after 3 months of treatment. The …

This study looks at what causes gums to pull away from teeth in adults, whether they have had braces or not. Researchers will measure gum health and bite patterns in 50 people to create a guide for predicting gum recession after orthodontic treatment. The goal is to help dentists…

This study aims to understand why some people get very sick from COVID-19 while others do not. Researchers will analyze blood samples and genetic information from 100 hospitalized adults with confirmed COVID-19. The goal is to identify immune system patterns and genetic factors l…

This study looks at whether ultrasound, a safe and painless imaging method, can help doctors better understand Dupuytren's disease—a condition that causes fingers to bend inward. Researchers will measure features like tissue brightness, skin involvement, and blood flow in 20 part…

This study looks at how the skin on the feet reacts to natural compounds like cinnamon, mustard, and chili. Researchers will measure blood flow and any pain in 20 healthy adults. The goal is to better understand nerve function, which may help future research on diabetic nerve dam…

This study uses a new ultra-high-resolution PET scanner to take detailed pictures of the brain and spinal cord in 300 healthy volunteers and people with conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, and psychotic disorders. The goal is to understand how small brain regions chang…

This study looks at whether a blood test that detects tiny bits of tumor DNA can help doctors better stage esophageal cancer and predict if it will come back after treatment. About 248 adults with resectable esophageal cancer will give blood samples before, during, and after thei…

This study tests a new PET scan tracer to measure levels of a protein called Hsp90 in the brain. Hsp90 helps proteins fold correctly, and problems with this process are linked to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS. Researchers will scan 48 healthy volunteers and patients to see if…

This study aims to find genes that may increase the risk of developing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in people born with heart defects like atrial or ventricular septal defects. Researchers will test blood samples from 21 participants to look for known and new gene mutati…

This study observes 80 adults with Dupuytren disease who are having surgery to remove thickened tissue in their hands. Researchers want to see if tiny nerve bundles found in the tissue, and whether they are cut during surgery, affect the chance of the disease coming back. They wi…

This study looks at how different forms of vitamin D work in the body. Researchers will measure free vitamin D (the active form) in healthy adults, pregnant women, and people with hormone or kidney problems. The goal is to see if free vitamin D gives a more accurate picture of vi…

This study tests whether a personalized discharge letter helps low-risk skin cancer patients feel more reassured and understand their condition better. About 150 patients will receive either standard advice or a tailored letter generated by an AI system and reviewed by a doctor. …

This study looks at whether a special 3D foot model can help predict and measure how well people recover after ankle and hindfoot reconstruction surgery. Researchers will compare walking patterns and foot pressure before and after surgery in 300 adults. The goal is to find out wh…

This study follows 30 children who did not become tolerant to cow's milk after a previous treatment. Researchers want to see if these children naturally develop tolerance over time without any new treatment. The goal is to better understand how the body sometimes outgrows milk al…

This study looks at whether new AI tools can make adaptive radiotherapy—adjusting radiation plans during treatment—faster and easier for people with advanced lung cancer. Researchers will measure how long each step takes and compare plan quality using standard CT scans versus dai…

This study tests whether wearing a heart monitor for 14 days can detect dangerous heart rhythms in people with mitral valve prolapse (a common heart valve condition) better than the usual 24-hour test. About 60 adults with MVP will wear a patch monitor for two weeks. The goal is …

This study is trying to understand why some people with severe flu in the ICU develop a dangerous fungal lung infection called aspergillosis. Researchers will compare the immune systems of 45 flu patients and non-flu pneumonia patients in the ICU. They hope to find differences in…

This study looks at how the bones in the shoulder joint touch each other in people with shoulder arthritis, both before and after they get a shoulder replacement. The goal is to find out why some shoulder implants loosen over time. Researchers will use special X-rays and CT scans…

This study looks at how weight-loss surgery changes blood sugar patterns during pregnancy and whether these changes increase the risk of having a smaller-than-normal baby. Researchers will use continuous glucose monitors to track blood sugar levels in 190 pregnant women, some wit…

This study is testing whether a simple nasal allergen challenge can help doctors decide when to start and stop allergy immunotherapy (allergy shots). Researchers will follow 200 adults with allergic rhinitis for up to 3 years, using the nasal test along with blood work and sympto…