Vanderbilt University Medical Center

This study compares two sedative drugs in 372 infants and children (up to age 11) who need breathing machines in the ICU. The goal is to see if one drug (dexmedetomidine) causes less delirium and brain problems than the standard drug (midazolam). Delirium is common in these child…

This study looks at whether regularly flushing chest drains with salt water helps people with infected fluid around the lungs recover faster. About 96 adults who need a chest tube for this infection will be randomly assigned to get either regular flushing or standard care. The go…

This study tests a 3-month program called Discovery that uses personalized mobile messages and clinician support to help teens and young adults (ages 13-21) with type 1 diabetes improve their blood sugar control. Participants will be compared to those receiving standard care. The…

This study compares high-dose and standard-dose flu vaccines in 270 lung transplant recipients who are 1 to 35 months post-transplant. Lung transplant patients are at high risk for severe flu due to immunosuppressant medications. The goal is to see if two doses of the high-dose v…

This study tests whether hydroxyurea, a daily medicine, can prevent first strokes in 220 high-risk children with sickle cell anemia in Nigeria. Children with fast blood flow in the brain (measured by ultrasound) are given low or moderate doses of hydroxyurea. The goal is to see i…

This study tests whether semaglutide, a drug already approved for diabetes and weight loss, can improve asthma control in adults with obesity who still have symptoms despite using inhaled steroids. About 100 participants will receive either semaglutide or a placebo for 12 weeks. …

This early-stage trial tests a gel (polyethylene glycol) applied during surgery to instantly fuse cut nerve ends in the hand. The goal is to restore feeling and movement much faster than current methods. About 18 adults with a specific type of finger nerve injury will be followed…

This early-phase study tests whether tacrolimus ointment (Protopic) can safely prevent deep partial-thickness burns from turning into more serious wounds. The ointment works by calming the immune response that often makes burns worse. Researchers will enroll 18 adults aged 50 to …

This study looks at whether a high-dose flu vaccine works better than the standard-dose vaccine for lung transplant recipients, who are at high risk for infections due to lifelong anti-rejection drugs. About 60 participants who were in a previous flu vaccine study will receive ei…

This study tests whether taking a combination of two natural antioxidants (glycine and N-acetyl-cysteine, or GlyNAC) before and after knee replacement surgery can lower oxidative stress and prevent chronic pain. About 148 adults aged 50+ with knee osteoarthritis will be followed …

This study tests whether teaching parents about safe gun storage while their child is in the hospital can prevent firearm injuries. About 400 caregivers of hospitalized children will receive either the Be SMART counseling or usual care. The goal is to see if this approach increas…

This study tests whether applying gentle heat to the abdomen overnight can lower dangerously high blood pressure that occurs when lying down in people with autonomic failure. About 20 adults with conditions like Parkinson's or Multiple System Atrophy who have both low blood press…

This study tests whether a drug called icatibant can prevent sudden drops in blood pressure that often happen during dialysis. About 26 adults with kidney failure who have frequent low blood pressure episodes during dialysis will receive either the drug or a placebo. The goal is …

This study tests whether nicotine patches can improve mood and thinking in adults aged 60 and older with depression. Researchers believe nicotine may help the brain's control center work better, easing both emotional and cognitive symptoms. The study involves 60 participants who …

This study tests whether a mobile health program can help teens (ages 10-21) with pulmonary arterial hypertension increase their daily step counts. Participants will use a Fitbit and receive remote coaching to encourage more physical activity. The goal is to improve exercise leve…

This study looks at whether adding a supplement called CoQ10 to a special exercise program can help people with end-stage kidney disease build muscle and move better. Many patients on dialysis become frail, and exercise alone often doesn't help enough. The trial will test if CoQ1…

This study looks at whether using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) helps people with diabetes feel more in control of their blood sugar after they leave the hospital. About 60 adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who need insulin will use a CGM for a short time. Researchers wi…

This study tests a remote program called Empowered Relief to help people recover after lumbar spine surgery. About 100 adults will take part, comparing the program to standard education. The goal is to see if it reduces pain and improves daily function.

This study tests a smartphone app called VoiceLove that lets mothers of babies in the NICU record voice messages for their baby and care team. The goal is to see if using the app reduces symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety compared to standard care. About 150 mothers wi…

This study is testing whether a single-port robotic system can be used safely for DIEP flap breast reconstruction, a procedure that uses a patient's own belly tissue to rebuild the breast. Four women who are candidates for this surgery will be enrolled. The goal is to see if the …

This study tests whether a gel containing a human growth factor (rhPDGF-BB) can help surgical wounds heal faster after skin cancer removal on the head or neck. About 40 adults whose wounds are too large to stitch closed will receive either the gel or a placebo. The goal is to see…

This study looks at how two common weight loss methods—newer medications like semaglutide and gastric bypass surgery—affect your body beyond just weight. Researchers will track changes in muscle, metabolism, and side effects like nausea or fatigue in 60 adults with severe obesity…

This study follows 750 close relatives of people with a rare, inherited form of lung scarring called familial pulmonary fibrosis. Participants have no symptoms yet but may carry a gene that raises their risk. Researchers will track their health over time with yearly surveys and i…

This study looks at why people with POTS feel worse after eating sugary or high-carb meals. Researchers think a gut hormone called GIP may cause extra blood to pool in the belly, leading to dizziness and rapid heart rate when standing. About 50 participants (25 with POTS and 25 h…

This study aims to understand why some people with a genetic form of early-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) may also be at risk for a dangerous heart rhythm called ventricular tachycardia (VT). Researchers will use special heart mapping techniques during a standard AF ablation proc…

This study looks at how teens with tic disorders (like Tourette syndrome) experience sensory and movement issues, and how these affect their quality of life. Researchers will compare 351 teens with and without tics using questionnaires, brain activity tests, and motor tasks. The …

This study looks at why some people with Long COVID develop a condition called POTS, which causes a fast heartbeat and fatigue when standing. Researchers want to see if a drug called 2-HOBA can reduce harmful immune activity in the body. About 50 adults with Long COVID POTS will …

This study looks at how stress changes the way opioid painkillers work in people with long-term back pain. Researchers want to understand if high stress makes these medications more likely to be misused. About 120 adults with daily back pain will take part in tests measuring pain…

This study aims to learn more about the brain activity that causes thinking and memory problems in people with Parkinson's disease. Researchers will record brain signals during deep brain stimulation surgery in 75 participants. The goal is to understand how certain brain areas wo…

This study looks at how wearing a tight belt around the belly can help people with a condition that causes blood pressure to drop when they stand up. Researchers want to understand why this works and compare it to a common medicine. About 29 adults with certain nerve disorders wi…

This study follows 750 people with sickle cell disease to see if curative treatments (like stem cell transplants) improve or worsen heart, lung, and kidney function compared to standard therapy. Researchers will also look for genetic clues that predict good or bad outcomes. The g…

This study looks at how midodrine and droxidopa, two drugs used for low blood pressure upon standing, affect the veins in the abdomen of people with autonomic failure. Researchers will measure changes in heart function during a tilt-table test. About 34 adults aged 40-80 with con…

This study collects tissue, saliva, and blood samples from up to 8,000 people with head and neck cancer and healthy volunteers. Researchers will also gather medical history and lifestyle information to create a database. The goal is to provide resources for future cancer research…

This study explores whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called rTMS can reduce cannabis cravings in people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Researchers will compare brain activity changes in 100 participants, including both those with psychosis and h…

This study looks at whether blocking certain nerve signals for two weeks can improve how the body produces and uses sugar in people with obesity and high blood pressure. Twelve adults will receive a placebo, a blood pressure drug, or the study drug in random order, with neither t…

This study aims to understand why some people develop pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a severe lung disease, while others with genetic risks do not. Researchers will follow 150 participants, including those with PAH, healthy carriers of a PAH-related gene mutation, and hea…

This study tests whether alerts built into the electronic health record can help doctors avoid prescribing antibiotics when they aren't needed for children with lower respiratory tract infections like pneumonia, bronchiolitis, or asthma flare-ups. About 2,800 children at three U.…

This study aims to learn how the brain controls reward-seeking and risk-taking behaviors in people with Parkinson's disease. Researchers will record brain activity during deep brain stimulation surgery while participants play a gambling task. The study involves 75 adults aged 40 …

This study is testing a text-messaging program for parents whose children (ages 11-17) have been to the emergency room for a mental health crisis and sent home with referrals. The program teaches parents skills to find mental health services and feel more confident helping their …

This study looks at whether stimulating two nerves in the neck (the ansa cervicalis and hypoglossal nerve) can help people with obstructive sleep apnea. Researchers will measure changes in the airway and breathing during sleep in 100 adults. The goal is to understand if adding st…

This study tests whether traditional healers can encourage more people in rural South Africa to get tested for HIV compared to usual care. Over 230,000 adults will be invited to test during a healer visit. The goal is to see if this approach increases testing rates and helps reac…

This study aims to see if low-dose buprenorphine, a partial opioid, is less addictive than oxycodone while providing similar pain relief. Healthy volunteers will receive different doses of buprenorphine, oxycodone, or a placebo in separate sessions. Researchers will measure pain …

This early-phase study looks at whether using an SGLT2 inhibitor to lower high insulin levels can improve heart and blood sugar health in people with type 1 diabetes. Researchers will compare results with people who have a mild genetic form of diabetes (GCK-MODY) and healthy volu…

This study looks at 200 adults with early-onset atrial fibrillation (AFib) and certain genetic changes to see if special heart imaging and electrical mapping can predict who is at risk for life-threatening fast heart rhythms. Participants will get a cardiac MRI and a detailed hea…

This study is creating a large database of health information, brain scans, and blood samples from 1,000 older adults—some healthy, some with mild memory problems, and some with Alzheimer's. Researchers will track changes over time to learn more about the disease and help develop…

This study looks at two common ways to manage chest tubes in people with blood or air in the chest after an injury. About 150 adults will be assigned to either suction or water seal to see which method leads to shorter time with the tube and fewer complications. The goal is to fi…

This study looks at 500 women who had preeclampsia to see if exercise stress testing can detect early signs of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Researchers will compare heart function and blood markers between these women and those with normal pregnancies. …

This study looks at why some people develop POTS (a condition causing rapid heartbeat and dizziness) after COVID-19. Researchers think a part of the nervous system that normally fights inflammation may be underactive. They will measure immune cell activity and inflammation in 150…

This study surveys 2000 people with fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), a rare artery disease that can cause serious complications like stroke or heart attack. Many patients are told to avoid certain physical activities, but there are no clear guidelines. The survey aims to understand…

This study collects tissue, blood, urine, and stool samples from 5,000 people undergoing colonoscopy or endoscopy. Researchers want to find new biomarkers that could help detect colorectal, esophageal, stomach, and pancreatic cancers earlier. Participants include both healthy vol…

This study tests a new augmented reality tool that shows trainee surgeons where expert surgeons look during kidney stone surgery. The goal is to help trainees learn to see the entire kidney, which may reduce the need for repeat surgeries. Ten urology residents will use the tool o…

This study looks at how hormones and metabolism are linked to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a serious lung condition. Researchers will measure things like sex hormone levels and insulin resistance in up to 1,899 people with PAH, their family members, and healthy voluntee…

This early-stage study is testing whether swabbing the noses of healthy C-section-born babies with their mother's vaginal secretions can safely change the bacteria in their upper airways. Twenty babies will be randomly assigned to get either the real swab or a sterile sham swab. …