Vanderbilt University Medical Center

This study compares high-dose and standard-dose flu vaccines in adults who had a kidney, heart, or liver transplant within the past year. Organ transplant recipients often have weaker immune responses to standard flu shots. The goal is to see if a higher dose or two doses provide…

This study looks at whether a drug called levodopa (L-DOPA), which increases dopamine in the brain, can improve mood, thinking speed, and walking in older adults with depression. About 100 people aged 60 and older with depression and slowed thinking or walking will take part. The…

This study tests whether tirzepatide, a GLP-1 drug, can help people with severe obesity lose more weight 12 months after gastric bypass surgery. About 30 adults will either take the drug or continue standard care. Researchers will track weight loss, body fat changes, and side eff…

This study tests whether adding nitric oxide to the heart-lung bypass machine during surgery can reduce brain and kidney damage in infants with congenital heart disease. Researchers will measure specific proteins in the blood before and after surgery and monitor for confusion and…

This study tests a team-based care program for pregnant women with sickle cell disease in Ghana. The goal is to lower death rates for mothers and their babies by using a special team of doctors and nurses, following guidelines to prevent complications, and monitoring fetal growth…

This study tests a mobile phone program that changes over time to give personalized support to adults with type 2 diabetes. About 547 participants will use the program or receive standard printed materials for 16 months. Researchers will check blood sugar levels, diabetes distres…

This study compares a new method of giving diuretics (water pills) guided by urine sodium levels to standard care for adults with acute heart failure in the emergency department. About 474 participants will be randomly assigned to either the urine-guided approach or usual care. T…

This study tests whether deep brain stimulation (DBS) can improve thinking and memory in people recently diagnosed with early Alzheimer's. Two participants will have electrodes placed in a brain area that produces a key chemical for memory. The goal is to see if daily, one-hour s…

This study tests special blood-saving methods during surgery for advanced kidney cancer. The goal is to reduce the need for donor blood transfusions, which can lead to fewer complications and better recovery. About 240 adults with large kidney tumors will take part. The approach …

This study tests a computer tool called SIGHT that uses existing health records to flag children who might have an undiagnosed genetic disease. Doctors are prompted to discuss genetic testing with families, aiming to get a diagnosis faster. The trial involves 1,000 children aged …

This study tests whether omega-3 supplements can reduce the risk of early birth and other tobacco-related problems in pregnant women who smoke. About 400 pregnant smokers will receive either omega-3 or a placebo. Researchers will track how long the pregnancy lasts and whether smo…

This study looks at whether teaching mothers about nutritious local foods can prevent malnutrition in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) in northern Nigeria. Researchers will enroll 148 children aged 6 to 18 months with SCD. Community health workers will provide special nutr…

This study explores whether art therapy can help people with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare brain disease that affects movement and thinking. Ten participants will try art therapy to see if it eases symptoms, improves quality of life, and reduces stress for their ca…

This study was designed to compare the drug amitriptyline with lifestyle changes for people who have vestibular migraine, a condition that causes dizziness and headache. Researchers planned to enroll adults diagnosed with definite vestibular migraine and measure changes in dizzin…

This study looks at whether nicotine patches can help improve mood and thinking in older adults (60+) with depression. It is an open-label extension, meaning everyone knows they are getting the patch. The goal is to see if the patches are safe and effective over 12 weeks. Only pe…

This study tests whether donepezil, a drug used for memory, can improve speech understanding in adults with cochlear implants. The idea is that the drug may help the brain adapt to the implant's signals. Fifty participants will receive either donepezil or a placebo for 3 months, …

This study tests whether remote health coaching, added to usual care, helps people with long-term back pain after an emergency room visit. Forty adults will be randomly assigned to receive coaching or extra education. The main goal is to see if the program is practical and well-l…

This study looks at whether adding a palliative care team early—before surgery—helps cancer patients feel better physically and emotionally. About 236 adults having certain abdominal cancer surgeries will either get usual care or usual care plus extra support from specialists in …

This study follows 102 adults with sickle cell disease to track how often silent and overt strokes occur. Researchers use MRI scans and neurological exams to detect strokes, even those without symptoms. The goal is to gather essential data needed to design future clinical trials …

This study uses advanced MRI scans to measure how well the brain clears waste through its lymphatic system in people with Parkinson's disease and healthy volunteers. Researchers aim to understand if problems with this waste-clearing system are linked to Parkinson's and similar br…

This study looks at what children with long-term health conditions and pregnant women know and think about pharmacogenetic testing—genetic tests that help predict how a person will respond to certain medicines. Researchers will survey 500 participants before and after they receiv…

This study looks at whether wearing an activity tracker (like a Fitbit) can give doctors a better idea of how someone with pulmonary hypertension will do over time, compared to the standard 6-minute walk test. About 230 people with this serious lung condition will wear a tracker …

This study aims to better understand the pancreas in people with type 1 diabetes by using advanced MRI scans. Researchers will measure pancreas size and texture in 250 participants, including those recently diagnosed. The goal is to develop standard methods for imaging the pancre…

This study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called cTBS can change brain activity and improve thinking in people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Researchers will compare results with healthy volunteers. The goal is to find a safe, effective…

This study looks at spinal fluid and blood from 150 people who had bleeding in the brain from a burst aneurysm. Researchers use a special laser technique to find proteins and genes that might predict when dangerous blood vessel spasms will happen. The goal is to better understand…

This study follows over 3,200 people who had surgery for a torn ACL. Researchers want to see how things like activity level and other risk factors affect knee function, arthritis, and the chance of re-injury. Participants complete surveys and have X-rays over time to track their …

This study looks at how stimulating two tongue muscles (palatoglossus and genioglossus) affects airway opening during a sleep endoscopy procedure. Researchers will measure airway size with and without stimulation in 60 adults with obstructive sleep apnea who cannot use CPAP. The …

This study uses a special camera (OCT) to take detailed pictures of the eyes of 20 healthy adults. The goal is to test and improve the camera's software so it can better detect eye diseases in the future. Participants must be over 18 and have no eye problems.

This study looks at whether a program of computer brain games and supervised physical exercise, done before and after major surgery, can help older adults (60+) maintain their thinking skills and daily functioning. 250 participants will be randomly assigned to either the active p…

This study compares two advanced techniques for taking tissue samples from lung nodules: robotic-assisted bronchoscopy with cone beam CT and electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy with digital tomosynthesis. About 440 adults scheduled for a lung nodule biopsy will be randomly as…

This study looks at why insulin doesn't widen blood vessels as it should in people with obesity and insulin resistance. Researchers think overactive nerve signals may be blocking insulin's effect. They will test this by temporarily blocking those nerve signals in the forearm and …

This study looks at how the body's natural response to severe injury or major surgery can sometimes lead to complications like inflammation and blood clotting issues. Researchers will follow 320 trauma patients and elective surgery patients to measure certain markers in the blood…

This study looks at whether using a smaller or larger breathing tube during emergency intubation affects how patients feel months later. About 3,180 critically ill adults in emergency rooms or ICUs will be randomly assigned to receive a smaller or larger tube. Researchers will ch…

This study uses advanced MRI scans to measure blood flow in the brains of 100 adults with moyamoya disease, a condition that narrows major brain arteries and raises stroke risk. Participants will have scans and cognitive tests before and after their clinically needed surgery. The…

This study aims to find out how often acute hepatic porphyria (AHP) occurs in people with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). POTS causes a rapid heart rate and dizziness upon standing, and AHP can cause similar symptoms. Researchers will use blood tests, genetic te…

This study compares two common blood tests used to monitor the blood thinner heparin in hospitalized patients with blood clots. About 700 adults will be randomly assigned to one of the two tests to see which helps them reach a safe and effective level faster. The goal is to impro…

This study looks at why many adults with Tourette syndrome are overly sensitive to everyday sounds and touches. Researchers will measure brain waves, heart rate, and sweat responses during mild sensory tasks. The goal is to understand the brain mechanisms behind this sensitivity,…

This study follows 432 adults who were treated in the ICU after a traumatic injury, such as a car crash or severe burn. Researchers want to understand why some people develop long-term memory and thinking problems, and how inflammation in the body may play a role. The goal is to …

This study tests a web-based tool called MeTree that collects family health history to estimate a person's risk for inherited cancer. About 1,847 adults from three medical centers will use the tool, and those found to be at high risk will be offered genetic counseling. Researcher…

This study looks at whether special electrical and magnetic recordings taken from the skin can help doctors understand how the esophagus works without using tubes or surgery. About 90 adults with swallowing problems and healthy volunteers will take part. The goal is to find patte…

This study aims to create a detailed map of the cells in the gut of people with Crohn's disease compared to healthy individuals. Researchers will analyze tissue samples from 178 adults to see how cell types change with disease activity. The goal is to better understand what cause…

This study looks at how salt affects certain immune cells and blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. Researchers want to see if changes in these cells can help identify who is salt-sensitive, which could lead to a simpler test. The study involves 20 adults with high b…

This study looks at adults who had brain tumor removal surgery. Doctors want to know if a lower or higher blood pressure target after surgery helps patients leave the hospital sooner and reduces the risk of bleeding in the brain. About 500 people will take part, and their blood p…

This study looks at how changing your body position or drinking water can cause temporary spikes in eye pressure. Researchers will measure eye pressure in healthy volunteers and in people with glaucoma or autonomic dysfunction. The goal is to understand how these everyday activit…

This study tests whether a daily checklist can help doctors safely remove ECMO (a machine that helps the heart and lungs) earlier in adults with severe breathing failure. Researchers will compare the checklist approach to usual care in 225 patients across multiple hospitals. The …

This study looks at whether a simple blood test can measure how well the body clears a chemical called norepinephrine in people with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). POTS causes a rapid heart rate and other symptoms when standing. The researchers will compare blood and urine…