University Of British Columbia

This study looks at two kinds of stitches used to repair small belly button hernias (defects 2 cm or smaller). About 900 adults having elective surgery will be randomly assigned to receive either absorbable or permanent stitches. The main goal is to see which type leads to fewer …

This study tests whether adding the drug nerandomilast to the standard treatment mycophenolate is safe and tolerable for people with pulmonary fibrosis (lung scarring). About 120 adults with various types of lung fibrosis will take the combination for 4 months. The main goal is t…

This study looks at two different heart procedures for people who have both atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat) and heart failure (a weakened heart pump). The goal is to see which approach—catheter ablation to restore normal rhythm or a pacemaker plus ablation to control…

This study tests whether a single low dose of indomethacin, given within 12 hours of birth, can prevent severe brain bleeding and improve survival in extremely preterm infants (born before 26 weeks or weighing under 750 grams). About 500 babies across Canada, the US, and Australi…

This study looks at whether new ways of programming deep brain stimulation (DBS) can help adults with essential tremor whose symptoms no longer improve with standard DBS. Five participants will try six different stimulation settings in the clinic and use one at home for three mon…

This study tests whether combining two non-invasive stimulation techniques—one on the brain and one on the spinal cord—can improve arm and hand function in people with chronic cervical spinal cord injury. Twenty-four adults with tetraplegia will receive either the combined stimul…

This early study tests a new device that wraps around the neck and uses gentle suction to keep the airway open during sleep, which may help with obstructive sleep apnea. Ten healthy volunteers will wear the device during one night of sleep and compare results to a night without i…

This study tests a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called iTBS to see if it can ease depression symptoms in young women aged 16 to 24. Only 8 participants will be enrolled, and the main measure is change in depression scores. It's an early-stage trial focused on symptom …

This study follows 310 women having planned cesarean births with spinal or combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. Researchers will ask participants about the sensations they feel during surgery, how often they occur, and whether any feel unacceptable or too uncomfortable. The goal …

This study aims to see if giving family doctors and nurse practitioners a personalized report on their antibiotic prescribing habits can reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. About 7,600 clinicians in British Columbia will be randomly assigned to receive the report either early or a…

This study aims to better understand how daily hormone levels relate to uterine cancer risk in people with abnormal uterine bleeding. Fifty participants aged 35 and older will use a home monitor to measure urine hormones and track their bleeding daily. The goal is to see if this …

This study looks at how starting a running program affects the knees of people with osteoarthritis. Researchers will use MRI scans to check knee cartilage health in 80 new runners, some with knee arthritis and some without. The goal is to learn whether recreational running is saf…

This study looks at whether the angle of your shoulder during exercise changes how much muscle you build. Twenty healthy adults aged 19-30 will do two different lat exercises for 12 weeks, one with arms overhead and one with arms at a 90-degree angle. Researchers will measure mus…

This study looks at how breathing in wildfire smoke can harm your lungs and brain over time. Researchers will expose 24 healthy adults to different amounts of smoke in a safe setting to measure changes in breathing and thinking. The goal is to find out who is most at risk and how…

This study looks at whether giving dentists personalized reports and educational materials can reduce how often they prescribe opioids for dental pain. About 3,500 dentists in British Columbia will take part. The goal is to see if these tools help change prescribing habits and im…

This study looks at whether teens with eczema prefer to moisturize while still in the shower or after towel drying. Researchers will measure skin hydration, itchiness, and eczema severity to see which method works better. Thirty participants aged 12-18 will try both techniques fo…

This study aims to find out how much leucine—an essential amino acid found in meat, dairy, eggs, beans, and nuts—healthy children aged 6 to 10 need each day. Researchers will use special diets, safe stable isotopes, and simple breath and urine tests to measure this. The results w…

This study will test a new ultrasound method to measure liver stiffness and fat content in 145 healthy volunteers and patients with fatty liver disease. The goal is to see if ultrasound can work as well as MRI or the current standard FibroScan. If successful, it could offer a che…

This study looks at how the hormones estrogen and testosterone affect blood flow and energy use in the brain. Researchers will temporarily block these hormones in 50 healthy young men and women, then give them back to measure changes. The goal is to understand sex differences in …

This study tests a device called Calmer that mimics a parent's touch, heartbeat, and breathing for very preterm babies in the NICU. The goal is to see if using it for at least 3 hours a day over 2-3 weeks can improve brain development compared to standard care. Twenty infants wil…

This study looks at people with p53-mutated oral dysplasia (abnormal cells) and early-stage oral cancer to find the best treatment at each stage. Researchers will compare surgery versus observation for low-grade dysplasia, different surgical margins for high-grade dysplasia, and …