Mass General - Division of Clinical Research

There are no guidelines or prospective studies defining the optimal surgical treatment for gliomas of older patients (≥70 years) or those with limited functioning performance at presentation (KPS ≤70). Therefore, the decision between resection and biopsy is varied, amongst neurosurgeons internationally and at times even within an instiutition. This study aims to compare the effects of maximal tumor resection versus tissue biopsy on survival, functional, neurological, and quality of life outcomes in these patient subgroups. Furthermore, it evaluates which modality would maximize the potential to undergo adjuvant treatment. This study is an international, multicenter, prospective, 2-arm cohort study of observational nature. Consecutive HGG patients will be treated with resection or biopsy at a 3:1 ratio. Primary endpoints are: 1) overall survival (OS) and 2) proportion of patients that have received adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Secondary endpoints are 1) proportion of patients with NIHSS (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale) deterioration at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after surgery 2) progression-free survival (PFS); 3) quality of life at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after surgery and 4) frequency and severity of Serious Adverse Events (SAEs). Total duration of the study is 5 years. Patient inclusion is 4 years, follow-up is 1 year.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jan 2023

open study

This is a master protocol for a prospective Phase I-II study evaluating feasibility and efficacy of incorporating magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) simulation into the planning of radiation treatments.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2020

open study

The purpose of this study is to find out if pulsed dye laser treatment or timolol maleate 0.5% gel can help infants who have a hemangioma. The investigators also want to find out if pulsed dye laser treatment and timolol maleate 0.5% gel are safe to use without causing too many side effects. Hemangioma is a common type of birthmark. These birthmarks happen when many new blood vessels grow in a specific area on the skin. Blood vessels are tiny tubes that carry blood through the body. No one knows what causes blood vessels to group together. Most birthmarks don't hurt at all and they usually aren't a sign of any kind of illness. Lots of newborns have these birthmarks on their bodies, like between the eyebrows. These birthmarks usually disappear within the first few months to years of life. These birthmarks tend to disappear spontaneously. Most hemangiomas are not treated unless the hemangioma threatens the child's health, which occurs in about 1 in 3 children with hemagiomas. Pulsed dye laser is widely used in children, and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating hemangioma. The FDA has approved timolol maleate to treat glaucoma in adults, but the FDA has not approved timolol maleate to treat hemangiomas in children. About 7 infants with hemangiomas have received timolol maleate. The results so far show that timolol maleate may be helpful and safe in treating hemangiomas in infants. An important question being tested in this study is whether pulsed-dye laser or timolol maleate can prevent hemangioma from growing when used very early after birth.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2011

open study

The overall objective of this study is to compare knowledge, decisional conflict, preferences, and caregiver burden over time caregivers of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) patients by comparing the effectiveness of a video decision aid intervention and enhanced usual care.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2022

open study

Current methods of measuring the response to new treatments for muscular dystrophies involve the examination of small pieces of muscle tissue called biopsies. The investigators are interested in finding less invasive methods that reduce the need for muscle biopsies. The purpose of this research is to learn about the possibility of detecting and measuring the activity and severity of muscular dystrophies by examining a urine sample and a blood sample, and some muscles in the arms and legs using tests called ultrasound and electrical impedance myography; both tests are painless and non-invasive. The information that is gathered from this study may help to evaluate, prevent, diagnose, treat, and improve the understanding of human muscle diseases.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Feb 2015

open study

The proposed research will test the hypothesis that objective social isolation and loneliness are linked to neurobehavioral mechanisms involved in social perception and motivation in individuals with and without serious mental illness. Moreover, it will investigate the specific dynamic interactions among these experiences in daily life and how they, and their neurobehavioral predictors, are linked to day-to-day functioning. The findings of this project could provide novel targets for therapeutics aimed at improving functioning and overall quality of life in individuals with serious mental illnesses, as well as quantitative phenotypes for use in early detection efforts.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2022

open study

This study will evaluate whether LDCT findings differ between firefighters and non-fighters, the relationship between occupational exposures and LDCT findings, and whether a proteomics assay can further risk-stratify screen-detected nodules among a study population of 850 current and retired firefighters and 1,120 matched controls.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2021

open study

The DISCORDANCE TAVR study will determine the discordance between echocardiography-derived and invasive transaortic gradients, as determined by a consistent and reproducible technique (Standardized Invasive Hemodynamics) post-TAVR.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Aug 2021

open study

The aim of this study is to assess whether the use of a commercially available nutraceutical, turmeric, is an effective option to manage pain and stiffness in patients with basal joint arthritis. To conduct a pilot Randomized Controlled Trial evaluating the impact of turmeric on basal joint arthritis.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2017

open study

The study will consist of a 24-week-long trial examining outcomes in patients with Major Depressive Disorder and suicidal ideation who will receive intravenous (IV) ketamine and intranasal (IN) esketamine, compared to a large sample of matched historical controls. Patients will be recruited from an inpatient psychiatric unit. Eligible patients who provided informed consent will be enrolled in the study that will include a eight IV ketamine treatments, 13 esketamine treatment visits, seven long assessment visits, five short assessment visits, and daily surveys. The study will examine the feasibility, tolerability, and efficacy of repeated IV ketamine followed by esketamine, as well as predictors of treatment response.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2022

open study

This trial will determine the clinical effectiveness of polygenic risk score testing among patients at high genetic risk for at least one of six diseases (coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, type 2 diabetes mellitus, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, or prostate cancer), measured by time-to-diagnosis of prevalent or incident disease over 24 months.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2020

open study

This research study is studying a combination of drugs as a possible treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma or Biliary Tract Cancer. The interventions involved in this study are: - Durvalumab - Tremelimumab - Radiation Therapy

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2018

open study

This research study is studying a combination of drugs with radiation therapy as a possible treatment for Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, or MSI High Colorectal Cancer. The interventions involved in this study are: - Nivolumab - Ipilimumab - Radiation Therapy

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2017

open study

The study evaluates the effect of theophylline in 100 subjects with Pseudohypoparathyroidism.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2019

open study

This research study is a Phase I clinical trial. Phase I clinical trials test the safety of an investigational intervention. Phase I studies also try to define the appropriate dose of the investigational therapy to use for further studies. "Investigational" means that the intervention is still being studied and that research doctors are trying to find out more about it. Retroperitoneal sarcomas are soft tissue tumors located at the far back of the abdomen. Typically, patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas either have surgery for the removal of their tumors alone, or have their tumors removed, followed by standard radiation therapy, or have pre-operative radiation followed by surgery. When conventional radiation therapy is delivered after surgery, it can damage normal tissue. In this study, you will undergo proton beam radiation therapy or IMRT before undergoing surgery for the removal of your tumor. Proton radiation and IMRT are FDA approved radiation delivery systems. Protons are tiny particles with positive charge that can be controlled to travel a certain distance and stop inside the body. In theory, this allows better control of where the radiation dose is delivered as compared to photons. Since proton radiation is more targeted, it may help to reduce unwanted side effects from radiation. In this study, a standard dose of radiation will be given to the majority of the tumor, while a simultaneously integrated boost of additional radiation will be given to certain areas of the tumor identified as higher risk. This means that a higher radiation dose will be given to the higher risk areas of the tumor. The purpose of this study is to determine the highest dose of radiation therapy with protons or IMRT that can be delivered safely in patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas and the effectiveness of proton beam radiation therapy as an intervention for patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2012

open study

This is a Phase 1b/2, Open-label Study to Investigate the Safety and Efficacy of Invikafusp alfa (STAR0602), a Selective T Cell Receptor (TCR)-targeting, Bifunctional Antibody-fusion Molecule, in Combination with Sacituzumab Govitecan in Participants with Unresectable, Locally Advanced, or Metastatic Solid Tumors.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2025

open study

The goal of this study is to conduct a feasibility open pilot study (N=5) of HIPS with virtual exit interviews among adult patients with chronic hip joint-related pain (HRP). We will use this mixed methods information to assess the feasibility, credibility, and acceptability of the HIPS intervention and optimize the program and study methodology in preparation for a pilot feasibility randomized control trial (RCT). Deliverables: [1] Adapt and refine open pilot protocol, patient recruitment, provider training, and other study materials. [2] Assess the feasibility, acceptability, and credibility of HIPS in preparation for a future feasibility RCT.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2025

open study

This project is a single center, prospective randomized controlled trial (N=198) primarily evaluating the efficacy of the Survivorship Sleep Program vs. Enhanced Usual Care on insomnia severity among cancer survivors. The investigators will also examine secondary outcomes associated with cancer-related insomnia including subjective and objective sleep measures (i.e., sleep diaries, actigraphy), emotional distress, fatigue, and use of sleep medications. Notably, most CBT-I trials with cancer survivors who have completed primary treatment with curative intent (i.e., curvivors) but not those in treatment or living with metastatic cancer (i.e., metavivors). To enhance generalizability, this RCT will stratify enrollment by survivorship phase (1:1:1). This project in strengthened by partnerships with community organizations (SurvivorJourneys and Ellie Fund) and use of both quantitative (i.e., surveys, actigraphy) and qualitative methods (i.e., interviews) to inform considerations for future implementation. Collectively, the proposed project will yield multiple deliverables to innovate cancer survivorship care, namely an efficacious, virtually delivered intervention addressing chronic insomnia, one of the most deleterious concerns among the growing population of cancer survivors in the US. Findings will inform a future effectiveness trial and the expansion of the synchronous delivery of CBT-I to survivors across different phases of cancer survivorship.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2025

open study

This is a multi-center, hospital based, cross-sectional study based on data from patient medical records, including laboratory results. The study will include adult patients with chronic (> 1 year duration) primary Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) only. Patients will be identified based on a laboratory confirmed diagnosis of ITP in the medical records, where there is also a physician-confirmed diagnosis of primary ITP. If patients consent to take part in the study, a routine clinical visit will also serve as the study visit. All study participants will have a routine blood test as part of their standard clinical care at the study visit, and this same procedure will be used to collect supplementary blood samples to assess a variety of biomarkers. Data will be collected using a combination of chart review, clinical outcome assessment administration, and laboratory results through blood tests.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jan 2025

open study

The purpose of TEAM-HF IDE clinical trial is to evaluate safety and effectiveness of the HeartMate 3 LVAS compared to guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT) in a population of ambulatory advanced heart failure patients who are not dependent on intravenous inotrope.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2024

open study

The purpose of this study is to assess the safety, tolerability, drug levels, drug efficacy and determine the recommended dose of BMS-986497 in participants with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2024

open study

The goal of this study (iMMagine-3) is to compare the study drug, anitocabtagene autoleucel to standard of care therapy (SOCT) in participants with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who have received 1 to 3 prior lines of therapy, including an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody and an immunomodulatory drug. The primary objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of anitocabtagene autoleucel versus SOCT in participants with RRMM as measured by progression-free survival (PFS) per blinded independent review committee (IRC).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2024

open study

SC291-102 is a Phase 1 study to evaluate SC291 safety and tolerability, preliminary clinical response, cellular kinetics and exploratory assessments for subjects with severe autoimmune diseases.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2024

open study

This study is open to people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). They can only take part if they have completed treatment in a previous study with a medicine called nerandomilast or BI 1015550 (study 1305-0014 or 1305-0023). The goal of this study is to find out how well people with pulmonary fibrosis tolerate long- term treatment with nerandomilast. The study also tests whether nerandomilast improves lung function and prolongs the time until symptoms get worse, participants need to go to the hospital, or die. Every participant takes nerandomilast as tablets for up to 1 year and 10 months. The participants may also continue their regular treatment for pulmonary fibrosis during the study. Participants visit their doctors regularly. During these visits, the doctors collect information on any health problems of the participants. Participants also regularly do lung function tests.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2024

open study

The purpose of this study is to determine efficacy of guanfacine immediate release (GIR) for the treatment of hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention in children 6-12 years of age with Down syndrome (DS) after 8 weeks of treatment.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2024

open study