Mass General - Division of Clinical Research

This study will be conducted to compare the efficacy of axatilimab versus placebo in combination with corticosteroids as initial treatment for moderate or severe chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2025

open study

The purpose of this study is to identify changes in heart tissue structure and biological function in patients with heart failure by performing an endomyocardial biopsy (EMB or heart biopsy) during a right heart catheterization (RHC). The ultimate goal is to use this information to develop new treatments for heart failure.

Type: Observational [Patient Registry]

Start Date: Nov 2024

open study

This is a study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of belzutifan monotherapy in participants with advanced pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PPGL), pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pNET), von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease-associated tumors, advanced wt (wild-type) gastrointestinal stromal tumor (wt GIST), or advanced solid tumors with hypoxia inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) related genetic alterations. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the objective response rate (ORR) of belzutifan per response evaluation criteria in solid tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) by blinded independent central review (BICR).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2021

open study

This trial will look at a drug called sigvotatug vedotin (SGN-B6A) alone and with pembrolizumab, with or without chemotherapy, to find out whether it is safe for people who have solid tumors. It will study sigvotatug vedotin to find out what its side effects are. A side effect is anything the drug does besides treating cancer. It will also study whether sigvotatug vedotin works to treat solid tumors. The study will have four parts. - Part A of the study will find out how much sigvotatug vedotin should be given to participants. - Part B will use the dose found in Part A to find out how safe sigvotatug vedotin is and if it works to treat solid tumors. - Part C of the study will find out how safe sigvotatug vedotin is in combination with these other drugs. - Part D will include people who have not received treatment. This part of the study will find out how safe sigvotatug vedotin is in combination with these other drugs and if these combinations work to treat solid tumors. - In Parts C and D, participants will receive sigvotatug vedotin with either: - Pembrolizumab or, - Pembrolizumab and carboplatin, or - Pembrolizumab and cisplatin.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2020

open study

This trial studies how well proton beam radiation therapy compared with intensity modulated photon radiotherapy works in treating patients with stage I-IVA esophageal cancer. Proton beam radiation therapy uses a beam of protons (rather than x-rays) to send radiation inside the body to the tumor without damaging much of the healthy tissue around it. Intensity modulated photon radiotherapy uses high-energy x-rays to deliver radiation directly to the tumor without damaging much of the healthy tissue around it. It is not yet known whether proton beam therapy or intensity modulated photon radiotherapy will work better in treating patients with esophageal cancer.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2019

open study

This phase II trial studies how well vismodegib, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor GSK2256098, and capivasertib work in treating patients with meningioma that is growing, spreading, or getting worse (progressive). Vismodegib, FAK inhibitor GSK2256098, capivasertib, and abemaciclib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2015

open study

This trial is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ficerafusp alfa in combination with pembrolizumab prior to surgical resection in participants with resectable, high-risk, locoregionally advanced, PD-L1-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). The names of the study drugs used in this research study are: - ficerafusp alfa (a type of bifunctional antibody and recombinant fusion protein) - pembrolizumab (a type of monoclonal antibody)

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2026

open study

This study will examine how two important brain circuits - one involving the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and one involving the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (VIM) - contribute to learning and producing speech sequences. Participants will include two groups: 1. individuals with Parkinson's disease who have deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices targeting the STN and 2. individuals with essential tremor who have DBS devices targeting the VIM. Participants will complete speech tasks involving the learning and repetition of novel sound sequences. During some parts of the study, DBS stimulation will be temporarily turned on or off in a controlled research setting. This will allow researchers to examine how stimulation affects both the learning of new speech sequences and the production of previously learned sequences. All STN participants and most VIM participants will also be equipped with a cutting-edge DBS system, the Percept PC, which will enable the recording of deep brain activity during the tasks. The results of this study will improve our understanding of how different brain circuits support speech learning and production. In particular, this study will help to differentiate the roles of the STN and VIM in learning the ordering of speech sounds within a syllable from learning of speech sequences containing multiple syllables. This knowledge may help guide future approaches to optimizing DBS settings to improve both movement and speech outcomes in individuals with neurological disorders, as well as provide greater general insight into how these brain structures contribute to speech production and learning.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2026

open study

The goal of this observational study is to learn about the natural progression of Angelman syndrome (AS) in children and adults with a confirmed genetic diagnosis of AS. The main questions it aims to answer are: - How do developmental skills, such as communication, motor abilities, and adaptive behaviors, change over a 1-year period in people with AS? - Are there specific patterns in brain activity or sleep that are associated with changes in AS symptoms over time? Participants will: - Visit the study site 5 times over 1 year (approximately every 3 months) for assessments. - Complete tests and questionnaires about development, behaviors, and sleep with the help of their caregivers. - Undergo electroencephalograms (EEGs) to measure brain activity and wear a sleep-monitoring device at home (to collect actigraphy data).

Type: Observational

Start Date: Mar 2026

open study

Estrogen-dominant gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is standard of care for transgender women and gender-diverse individuals and typically consists of estrogen together with anti-androgen/ testosterone therapy. Estrogen and testosterone balance influences fat and muscle mass, muscular strength and the development of sarcopenia. Sarcopenia, a condition characterized by the loss of muscular mass, strength, and function, in turn, is associated with increased mortality and adverse health outcomes. Estrogen-dominant GAHT may have deleterious effects on body composition and muscular performance that place TGD individuals at-risk for sarcopenia. As part of NCT04128488, our investigative team found that appendicular lean mass (ALM)/ height2 decreases after estrogen-based GAHT, thereby portending a higher risk for sarcopenia after GAHT. Early recognition of the changes in body composition and muscular performance leading to sarcopenia are critical, providing potential avenues to intervene and abrogate untoward downstream health effects. A promising intervention is resistance exercise, which has been shown in select populations to improve muscular mass and strength and reduce fat mass, and, thus, mitigate progression to sarcopenia in at-risk populations. For this prospective, pilot clinical trial, investigators will enroll participants who are about to be initiated on estrogen-dominant gender-affirming hormone therapy. Investigators will be randomizing participants 1:1 to either an at-home resistance exercise intervention or no exercise intervention (nutritional and exercise counseling only) for 12 weeks and assess muscle mass, strength, and function both before and after this 12-week period. The exercise intervention group will be provided with the necessary materials to complete the exercise program along with weekly virtual visits with our study team in order to learn their assigned exercises for the week. Further, survey tools will be administered to ascertain whether the resistance exercise intervention may affect gender congruence.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2026

open study

PIONEER-ALS is a Phase 1/2, multicenter, open-label, ascending dose, uncontrolled, first-in-human study that will evaluate the safety, tolerability and effects on clinical and biomarker endpoints of intracisternal administration of Vtx-002 in participants with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Two escalating dose (low dose and high dose) cohorts are planned. The duration of the study will be a maximum of 5 years and 5 weeks (265 weeks) for each participant. The screening period may last up to 5 weeks to complete screening procedures.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2025

open study

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether the study drug THRV-1268 can safely and effectively shorten the QT interval in people diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome Type 2 (LQTS 2). The study will also learn about the safety and tolerability of THRV-1268 at different doses. The main questions this study aims to answer are: Does THRV-1268 reduce the QTc interval (a measure of the heart's electrical recovery time)? What side effects or medical problems occur when participants take THRV-1268? Which dose of THRV-1268 works best and is safest? Participants will: Complete a 3-week observation period with ECG and Holter monitoring to establish baseline QTc measurements Take THRV-1268 tablets twice daily at two dose levels for 6 weeks (Part A) or be randomly assigned to a dose group for 6 weeks (Part B) Have clinic visits and tests to monitor safety and changes in their heart rhythm May continue taking THRV-1268 for up to 1 year for ongoing safety and efficacy evaluation Researchers will compare changes in QTc over time and evaluate side effects to determine whether THRV-1268 can help reduce the risk of abnormal heart rhythms and sudden cardiac events in people with LQTS 2.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2026

open study

The objective of this protocol is to use a case-control paradigm to compare the response to an intravenous administration of kisspeptin in individuals with and without post-covid-19 syndrome. The study subjects will receive a single bolus of kisspeptin. This study will utilize the technique of frequent blood sampling (q10 minutes) to provide detailed neuroendocrine characterization of endogenous LH secretion before and after kisspeptin administration. This frequency of blood sampling is required to define the features of LH pulses.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2026

open study

This is a study of LY4337713 in participants with certain types of cancer that is advanced or has spread. Participants must have cancer with high levels of a protein called fibroblast activation protein (FAP). The purpose of this study is to evaluate safety, side effects, and efficacy of LY4337713. In addition, this study will evaluate how much LY4337713 gets into the bloodstream, how it is broken down, and how long it takes the body to get rid of it. For each participant, the study will last about 5 years.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2025

open study

The goal of this study is to determine the feasibility and impact of delivering long-acting injectable cabotegravir HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and suite of support services to adults who inject non-prescription drugs who are risk for HIV through known sexual risk.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2026

open study

This study explores how a physical activity program can affect hormone health and diabetes risk in girls ages 8-12 who may be at higher risk. The study aims to address: - Does the 'ActiveGirls' program meet the needs of girls and families in engaging them to increase physical activity? - What is the trend of markers of diabetes risk and puberty hormones over a 1-year period and how are these levels related to physical activity levels? Participants in this study will either: - Participate in a 'full' intensity intervention that includes educational messages (text/email) as well as health coaching visits to support physical activity over a 6 month period - Participate in a delayed 'lower intensity' intervention that includes only educational messages (text/email) - Participants in both groups will complete at-home activity monitoring, two study visits for check-ups and tests, and surveys

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2025

open study

This study will evaluate the safety, efficacy, optimal dose, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of BNT326 as monotherapy (Part 1) and as combination treatment with immunotherapeutic agents (Part 2) in participants with histologically or cytologically confirmed solid tumors that are advanced (i.e., either metastatic or recurrent tumors with no further definitive treatment possible) and/or have relapsed/progressed after prior therapy.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2025

open study

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare a core set and enhanced set of implementation strategies in increasing the reach of evidence-based treatments to patients with HIV and depression. The main questions it aims to answer are: What proportion of patients start an evidence-based treatment for depression (reach)? What percentage of patients show clinical improvement in depression and what percentage attain viral undetectability within one year (effectiveness)? Researchers will compare high and low reach clinics to further inform tailored implementation strategies for uptake and maintenance. Clinics will be randomized into one of two study arms: core versus enhanced strategies. In both arms, core strategies will be utilized. Enhanced clinics will also receive more resource-intensive training.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2026

open study

Perioperative fasting has historically been viewed as a low-risk intervention. However, preliminary data indicate that perioperative loss of nutrition and fluids is likely harmful. This study intends to characterize perioperative fasting practices and their potential effects on clinical outcomes through possible effects on patient well-being (anxiety, hunger, thirst), physiology (hypovolemia, hypotension), perioperative aspiration, etc. The research team hypothesized that in addition to known adverse effects on patients' well-being, prolonged preoperative fasting adversely affects circulating blood volume-related (hypotension, decreased urine output etc.) and glucose metabolism-related (e.g., hypo/hyperglycemia) perioperative physiology. The investigators will also test for an association between the duration of preoperative fasting and the risk of perioperative pulmonary aspiration. Additional knowledge on the potential adverse effects of preoperative fasting will inform preoperative fasting policies and research interventions that are relevant to hundreds of millions of patients subjected to preoperative/preprocedural fasting worldwide each year.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jan 2016

open study

The investigator aims to conduct a feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT) (N=50) to test the feasibility, acceptability, and credibility of an asynchronous web-based mind-body intervention (Toolkit for Resilient Life beyond Pain and Substance Use; Web-TIRELESS) versus web-based minimally enhanced usual care (Web-MEUC) among adult patients with a painful non-traumatic upper-extremity condition(s) (PNUC) and commorbid risky substance use. Deliverables: [1] Adapt and refine open pilot protocol, patient recruitment, and other study materials. [2] Assess the feasibility, acceptability, and credibility of Web-TIRELESS and Web-MEUC in preparation for future research.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2025

open study

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital are looking to see if a program created to help improve thinking and memory can work for refugees with traumatic brain injury (TBI). They're checking if this program is practical and if people find it helpful. The study will have two groups. Participants will complete a first questionnaire and then be assigned to a group by chance. One group will participate in the program immediately and then answer the second questionnaire (approximately 3 months after the first questionnaire they did). Then they will wait and then answer the third and final questionnaire approximately 6 months after the first one. The second group will wait and answer the second questionnaire approximately 3 months after the first one. Then they will receive the program and answer the third and final questionnaire (approximately 6 months after the first one they did.)

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2025

open study

Tenapanor is the newest FDA-approved drug for IBS with constipation (IBS-C). This study seeks to understand tenapanor as a treatment for cystic fibrosis-related constipation (CFrC) in CF patients. Participants will ingest one 50 mg tablet of tenapanor, twice daily, for a 4-week treatment period. They will also complete three questionnaires, the PAC-SYM, PAC-QoL, and IBS-SSS, and daily diaries to characterize GI symptom burden and spontaneous bowel movement (SBM) frequency.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2025

open study

The ReMATCH Study is a prospective, single arm, open label, multi-center, study utilizing the FARAPULSE PFA System, including the FARAWAVE and FARAPOINT PFA Catheters.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2025

open study

The main objective of the study is to compare overall survival in participants receiving xaluritamig versus investigator's choice (cabazitaxel or second androgen receptor-directed therapy [ARDT]).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2024

open study

This is a first-in-human study of MEN2312, a lysine acetyltransferase 6 (KAT6) inhibitor, in adult participants with advanced breast cancer.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2024

open study