Vanderbilt University Medical Center

This pilot study tested three different methods of mechanical ventilation to see which helps critically ill patients breathe on their own sooner. Researchers compared volume control, pressure control, and adaptive pressure control modes in 566 adults with respiratory failure. The…

This study tested a new support program for women with high blood pressure after giving birth. The program included using a phone app to report blood pressure readings, guidance from a care navigator, and help connecting to a primary care doctor. Researchers wanted to see if this…

This study tested if quickly telling doctors the result of a nasal swab test could help them safely stop a strong antibiotic (vancomycin) in ICU patients with pneumonia. The goal was to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, which can cause serious side effects like kidney damage and…

This study tested if a drug called dantrolene could help control dangerous, fast heart rhythms in people with existing heart damage. 68 patients scheduled for a heart rhythm procedure were randomly given either dantrolene or a placebo. Researchers measured if the drug made it har…

This study tested whether a special online tool, called 'My Diabetes Care,' added to a patient's existing health portal could help them manage type 2 diabetes better than standard care. About 458 adults with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to use the new tool or continue w…

This study looked at whether removing small, non-blocking kidney stones helps reduce repeated urinary tract infections (UTIs). Patients with recurrent UTIs and these 'silent' stones chose with their doctor to either have the stones removed or to simply monitor them. Researchers t…

This study tested whether combining acupuncture and yoga with a doctor's plan could help people aged 65 and older safely reduce their use of common anxiety and sleep medications. Over 12 weeks, 23 participants worked with a nurse to lower their medication dose while also receivin…

This study tested a mobile phone app designed to help young people with HIV in Nigeria take their medication. The app sent reminders, showed users how their adherence compared to peers, and entered top performers into a monthly prize lottery. Researchers wanted to see if the app …

This study compared two strategies to prevent kidney stones from coming back in people who've had multiple stones. Researchers tested whether personalized treatment based on urine testing works better than standard treatment without testing. The trial involved 56 adults who had e…

This study tested two ways to remind doctors to prescribe cholesterol-lowering statin drugs to eligible patients. Over 3,300 patients were involved. Researchers compared pop-up alerts that interrupt a doctor's work with quieter reminders that doctors must seek out, to see which m…

This study tested a new way to program cochlear implants in children with hearing loss. Researchers used CT scans to see exactly where the implant's electrodes were placed in the ear, then customized the device's settings. They wanted to see if this personalized approach improved…

This study tested whether two approaches could help people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) walk farther and feel better. For 12 weeks, 73 participants either took the diabetes medication metformin or a placebo, and either received text messages encouraging physical act…

This study tested whether an intravenous form of the drug guanfacine could help treat delirium (acute brain confusion) in patients who are critically ill in the ICU. The goal was to see if the treatment could reduce the number of days patients experienced delirium or coma, help t…

This study tested whether a drug called etanercept could help patients with severe, life-threatening skin reactions (SJS/TEN) heal faster. It compared etanercept against the current standard of supportive care alone. The main goal was to see which approach led to the quickest com…

This study tested if a simple blood test could help doctors choose the most effective quit-smoking medication for each person. Researchers enrolled 82 daily smokers and compared standard treatment to a personalized approach based on how fast a person's body breaks down nicotine. …

This study tested whether training healthcare workers could improve HIV care in Mozambique. Researchers gave staff at four clinics training to reduce burnout and stigma, which often cause patients to abandon treatment. They measured if this training helped workers feel better abo…

This large trial aimed to find out which of two common sedative medications is safer when doctors place a breathing tube in critically ill adults. Researchers compared ketamine and etomidate in over 2,300 patients to see which drug led to fewer dangerous drops in blood pressure a…

This study tested whether adding a gentle suction therapy to standard massage and compression treatment works better for reducing arm swelling (lymphedema) that occurs after cancer surgery. Researchers enrolled 18 women with this chronic condition and used special MRI scans to se…

This study compared two FDA-approved medications (aripiprazole and risperidone) used to treat behavior problems in children with autism. Researchers wanted to see which medication caused more weight gain during real-world treatment. The trial followed 31 children under 18 who wer…

This study tested if a supplement called 2-HOBA is safe and can help control rheumatoid arthritis. 32 adults with active arthritis took either 2-HOBA or a placebo pill three times a day for four weeks. Researchers checked for side effects and measured markers of inflammation and …

This study tested whether reducing salt in the diet could help people with rheumatoid arthritis. Eighteen participants with moderate arthritis tried both high-salt and low-salt diets for eight weeks each, with a break in between. Researchers measured changes in joint inflammation…

This study tested if sending food resource information via text message is more helpful than a standard paper handout for families struggling to afford food after their child leaves the hospital. Over 600 families who screened positive for food insecurity were randomly assigned t…

This study tested whether specially trained community health workers could provide epilepsy care for children in Nigeria as effectively as doctors. It aimed to close the huge treatment gap where most children with epilepsy in Africa go untreated. The trial compared seizure contro…

This study tested whether a new, faster blood test could help doctors stop unnecessary antibiotics sooner in emergency room patients with suspected bloodstream infections. Researchers compared the rapid test to standard blood cultures in 500 adults who had already been started on…

This small study tested whether a new device called NuView could help doctors see a specific spot in the small intestine during a routine camera exam. Three patients with a genetic condition called FAP had their standard check-up, with the new device attached to the camera for a …

This study tested two approaches to prevent obesity in babies during their first two years of life. Researchers compared basic education about healthy feeding and activity with that same education plus a smartphone app that helped families set goals between doctor visits. The stu…

This study tested whether taking magnesium supplements could help prevent colorectal cancer in people at higher risk. Researchers enrolled 250 people who had a specific genetic marker and diets high in calcium relative to magnesium. The goal was to see if adjusting this dietary b…

This study tested whether a simple educational program given to parents during routine pediatric check-ups could help prevent harmful childhood experiences. Researchers worked with 576 parents of children aged 2-10 to see if providing information about positive discipline and chi…

This small, completed study tested whether an oral supplement called levocarnitine could help treat severe dry eye in people with Sjogren's syndrome. All 15 participants tried both the supplement and a placebo to see if it reduced inflammation and improved their eye comfort and d…

This study tested whether a gentle, non-invasive brain stimulation technique (tDCS) could boost the benefits of computerized brain training for older adults with recurrent depression. Sixteen participants aged 60+ with depression and memory complaints completed a 4-week program o…

This study tested whether having a live musician play in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) could help patients feel better. Researchers wanted to see if the music reduced patients' pain and anxiety, and if it was helpful for their families and the medical staff. They measured how pat…

This study tested a program called SENSE Theatre® to see if it could help improve social skills in adults with autism. The program uses acting techniques, scripted and improvised role-play, and trained peer models to help participants practice social interactions. Researchers mea…

This study tested a new smartphone app called MEMI, designed to help adults with long-term memory problems from a past traumatic brain injury. Researchers wanted to see if the app was easy to use and if its method of giving short, frequent memory practice sessions throughout the …

This pilot study tested whether weekly telehealth mindfulness sessions help people recover better from lumbar spine surgery compared to educational sessions. 67 adults recovering from their first back surgery were randomly assigned to receive 8 weeks of either mindfulness coachin…

This study tested whether two types of non-invasive magnetic brain stimulation could reduce nicotine craving. It compared the effects in 90 participants: people with schizophrenia who smoke and people without psychosis who smoke. The main goal was to see if stimulating specific b…

This study tested whether starting brain training exercises early during a hospital stay could help older adults (65+) recover their thinking skills after experiencing sudden, severe confusion (delirium). 283 patients were randomly assigned to receive either the special cognitive…

This study tested whether a single dose of the blood pressure medication diltiazem could quickly shorten a dangerous long QT interval in adults with Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome, a rare genetic heart condition. It involved just one participant who received the drug through …

This small, early-stage study looked at whether carnitine, a nutrient found in food, could help the heart in people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Researchers first checked what participants ate and their blood carnitine levels. Then, they gave some participants carn…

This study followed 225 people for 10 years after they had surgery to repair a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in their knee. Researchers wanted to understand what factors—like age, weight, smoking, or the original knee injury—increase the risk of developing arthritis later…

This study created a registry of 3,000 children with early-onset obesity to better understand its genetic causes. The goal was to collect information and DNA samples to identify participants for future research studies and clinical trials. The research did not test treatments but…

This small, early-stage study aimed to understand how the brain maintains attention as people age, especially in those who feel their memory is declining but still test normally. Researchers temporarily blocked a key brain chemical in 19 older adults while measuring their attenti…

This study aimed to find better ways to help deaf and hard-of-hearing children learn and remember new words. Researchers tested two teaching techniques—giving feedback and spacing out practice sessions—with 13 children aged 5 to 9. The goal was to see which method helps kids lear…

This small, completed study aimed to understand if reducing insulin doses by following a low-carbohydrate diet could improve how the body uses insulin and the health of blood vessels in people with type 1 diabetes. It involved 14 adults who tried both a low-carb and a standard di…

This study explored whether brain scans and a non-invasive brain stimulation technique could help identify biological markers for catatonia in people with autism. Researchers worked with 26 participants aged 15-40 who have autism and catatonia symptoms. They used MRI scans to gui…

This study tested a new training tool for surgeons learning to perform kidney stone surgery. Researchers used augmented reality (AR) glasses to show trainees where an expert surgeon was looking inside a practice kidney model. The goal was to see if this visual guidance, combined …

This study aimed to understand why experienced anesthesiologists make specific decisions about reversing muscle-paralyzing drugs given during surgery, especially when those decisions might not follow current best practices. Researchers surveyed and interviewed 154 active anesthes…

This study aimed to understand how the body's system for regulating salt and fluid (the renin-aldosterone axis) works in people with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Researchers compared 28 people with POTS to healthy volunteers by measuring changes in blood pressure and hor…

This study tested a small, handheld device to measure leg muscle strength in people who have had a stroke. Researchers wanted to see if this tool could provide more accurate and consistent measurements than current methods. The goal is to give physical therapists better informati…

This small study explored whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique (TMS) could improve attention and reduce cigarette cravings in people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Researchers tested 15 adult smokers with these conditions to see if stimulating speci…