Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * Body mass index (BMI) of equal to or greater than 35 kg/m2, and less than 60 kg/m2 * Age great than or equal to 18 years and less than 70 years * Able to provide informed consent * If female with reproductive potential, agrees to use a reliable method of birth control for the duration of the study (6 months) Exclusion Criteria: * Enrolled in another clinical study which involves an investigational drug * Any condition where protocol compliance is unlikely (e.g. anxiety disorder, inadequate comprehension) * Pregnancy * Previous gastric or esophageal surgery * Immunosuppressive drugs including corticosteroids * Type 2 diabetes * Coagulopathy (INR \> 1.5 or platelets \< 100,00/ul) * Anemia (Hgh \< 10.0 g/dl) * Any contraindication to treatment * A severe concurrent illness likely to limit life (e.g. cancer) * Significant malabsorptive or gastrointestinal disorder (e.g. pancreatic insufficiency, Celiac sprue, or Crohn's disease)