Clinical Research Directory

Triple EIT (Electrical Impedance Tomography)

This study plans to learn more about ways to look at participant's lungs using new machines called Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). The EIT does not use harmful radiation like CT or x-ray. It is read through electrodes like using EKG reading heartbeats. The investigators want to compare the results of patients who have chronic respiratory disease to patients without chronic respiratory disease to learn more about lung structure and composition.

Observational, Non-Interventional Study Supporting Validation of VO2Max Estimation Methods Using Results in Patients Receiving Standard of Care Cardiopulmonary Exercise Tests (CPET)

In this study, the hypothesis being explored is that VO2Max and other CPET parameters can be accurately estimated from biosignals (namely, motion from accelerometers and cardiopulmonary variables from EKG) collected during activities of daily living using wearable biosensors worn by study participants. This study will aim to collect development and validation data for a machine learning algorithm and to evaluate the performance of the algorithm. A total of 1000 participants will be enrolled including: (Normal) 100 participants, self-reported healthy male and female participants aged 18 to 80 and (Standard of Care) 900 participants.

Effects of Rope Skipping in Cardiopulmonary Fitness in Children

The study will be conducted in a school setting, involving a randomized control trial (RCT) of 178 children aged 6 to 12. The participants will be divided into two groups: a control group engaging in regular physical education (PE) classes and an experimental group practicing rope skipping for 50 minutes, three times a week, over a period of 8 weeks. Cardiopulmonary fitness will be assessed before and after the intervention using the borg rating scale and talk test of perceived exertion.. Data will be analyzed to determine changes in endurance, heart rate recovery, and lung function between the groups. The expected outcome is a significant improvement in cardiopulmonary parameters among the rope-skipping group, highlighting the exercise's effectiveness in promoting heart and lung health in children.

Firefighter Collaborative Research Project

The goal of this research is to test interventions to reduce firefighter cardiovascular, cognitive, and overall disease risks, including but not limited to risks associated with Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) exposure. Approximately 1,500 - 2,000 firefighters will be enrolled in the Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study (FFCCS). Among these individuals, those that express interest will then be screened for eligibility for the Firefighter Collaborative Research Project (FCRP) using information they provided for the Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study. Firefighters enrolled in the study will provide an initial blood sample and urine sample. The blood sample will be analyzed to determine the participant's PFAS levels. Based upon serum PFAS levels and responses from the screening survey, eligible participants will be randomly assigned into one of the following interventions: 1. Blood Donation, or Plasma Donation or Blood/Plasma Control Group; 2. Zone 2 Training or Zone 2 Control; 3. Intermittent Fasting or Intermittent Fasting Control. Individuals participating in the blood donation, plasma donation or blood/plasma control group would donate blood every 12 weeks, plasma every 6 weeks, or not donate blood or plasma. Participants in this intervention arm would continue this for a 12-month period. Individuals in the zone 2 training, zone 2 training control, intermittent fasting or intermittent fasting control group would participate in their intervention or control for a 4-month period. After 4 to 12 months participating in an intervention or control group, participants will be asked to provide a final urine sample and blood draw to determine if and to what degree their PFAS levels or other cardiovascular disease and other health risks have changed.

Feasibility and Acceptability of Non Weight-bearing Physical Activity for People With Diabetic Foot Ulceration

Intervention in the form of a PA (physical activity) program combining aerobic, resistance, and flexibility exercises adapted for wearing a lower limb offloading device and limiting weight-bearing on the feet, with a duration of twelve (12) weeks, consisting of two supervised sessions and one unsupervised home session per week.