Clinical Research Directory

Project REACH: A Comprehensive Telehealth Intervention at Syringe Service Programs to Engage People Who Use Drugs

This trial will assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of Project REACH (Remote Engagement \& Access for Community Health), a telehealth intervention at syringe service programs (SSP) to improve access to HIV-related evidence-based interventions (EBI) for people who use drugs including those who inject them.

Digital PrEP Micro-Intervention for PWUD in Kazakhstan

This study is a mixed-methods pilot designed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of a brief digital micro-intervention aimed at reducing stigma-related barriers to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) engagement among people who use drugs (PWUD) in Kazakhstan. Participants will complete baseline and post-intervention surveys and receive structured informational content via Telegram or WhatsApp over approximately 2-3 weeks. The intervention focuses on addressing anticipated stigma, confidentiality concerns, and misinformation that may prevent PWUD from seeking PrEP services. No clinical procedures, medication provision, or biological specimen collection are involved.

Harm Reduction Services

The purpose of this study is to assess whether an integrated harm reduction intervention (IHRI), compared to harm reduction (HR) services as usual, will improve harm reduction service utilization among Black and Latinx people who use drugs (PWUD).

Family Acceptance Project Online (Pilot RCT)

Research shows that sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) experience high rates of mental health problems and other challenges (e.g., social, academic). A major factor that leads to these challenges is family rejection (family behaviors and reactions that minimize, deny, ridicule and attempt to prevent or change a child's sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression). Racial and ethnic minority youth experience the highest rates of family rejection and related health risks. The Family Acceptance Project (FAP) is a research, education, and intervention initiative that was founded more than 20 years ago to help diverse families learn to support and affirm their SGMY. FAP's Family Support Model is grounded in the lived experiences of diverse SGMY and families and uses a culture-based family support framework that enables parents and caregivers to change rejecting behaviors that FAP's research has shown contribute to health risks and increase supportive and accepting behaviors that promote well-being for SGMY. The overall goal of this research project is to evaluate a nine-week online version of FAP's Family Support Model (FAP-O). The investigators will specifically study how FAP-O: 1. Promotes parent/caregiver acceptance and support of their sexual and gender minority youth. 2. Increases family bonding and communication. 3. Increases SGMYs' feelings of pride in being LGBTQ+ and more hopeful about the future. 4. Leads to reductions in mental health problems reported by SGMY who experience family rejection. Before receiving FAP-O's family support services, racial and ethnic minority SGMY (ages 14 to 25) and their caregivers will complete an initial pre-test survey. After completing this initial (baseline) survey, half of the families will participate in program sessions. Following the first round of sessions, all participants will complete an immediate follow-up survey, with an additional survey conducted six months after this. These surveys help us learn if FAP-O impacts the project's goals above. After the final survey, the other half of the families will attend program sessions. The investigators will also ask SGMY and caregivers to share what they liked about the program and their guidance for enhancing it.

Reducing Stigma in People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) With HIV Using a Rapid Start Antiretroviral Therapy Intervention (ART)

This study seeks to develop an RS-ART implementation strategy by utilizing the Delphi method and interviewing experts and PWID regarding their experiences with ART. This strategy will then be pilot tested in a randomized controlled trial (Aim 3). The research will not impact the type of medication and dose prescribed, but rather, how soon providers are able to prescribe ART after diagnosis. The focus of this registration is Aim 3.

Lakota Family Acceptance Project

The goal of this open pilot trial (OPT) is to develop a Lakota-adapted Family Acceptance Project (LFAP) for Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ youth and their caregivers. The OPT is specifically focused on acceptability, feasibility, and safety of programming and research protocols. The investigators will also examine pre- to post- changes on outcomes for the sole purposes of making sure scores on measures are changing in the hypothesized direction (e.g., depression scores are going from moderate to minimal as opposed to no change or depression scores increasing). Once enrolled in the study, participants complete a baseline survey. Then participants will engage in LFAP which is an 8-session group intervention; sessions will be scheduled once a week for eight weeks (at 2 hours per session). Participants will complete survey instruments before and immediately after the program sessions, in addition to post-program surveys and an exit interview.

mHealth to Enhance & Sustain Drug Use Reduction of the QUIT BI in Primary Care

The QUIT-Mobile study proposes to use mobile phone self-monitoring and feedback to enhance and sustain over 12-months the impacts of the Quit Using Drugs Intervention Trial (QUIT), an effective screening and brief intervention (SBI) previously successful in reducing risky drug use (i.e., moderate use) in low-income, diverse patients over a 3-month follow up. The investigators will conduct the QUIT-Mobile study for patients who receive care in clinics of federally qualified health centers (FQHC) in Southern California over 12-months follow up. The study is an Effectiveness-Implementation Hybrid Type 1 design consisting of a single-blind, 3-arm, RCT with adult, mostly Latino FQHC primary care patients with risky drug use (ASSIST score 4-26), randomized to 3 conditions (n=200/arm, n=600 total): 1) QUIT-Mobile; 2) standard QUIT; 3) Usual Care. Qualitative data on implementation facilitators and barriers will inform future scale-up and sustainability, in addition to cost data analyses. The aims are to examine effectiveness in reducing risky drug use and cost-effectiveness comparing the three arms over 3-, 6- and 12-months. Drug use measures include self-reports for past 30-days and urine drug screen validation for underreporting (acknowledging that people with moderate risk drug use have sporadic drug use patterns requiring longer self-report recalls for drug use that urine screens may not detect). The 3-arm study enables testing of the independent and synergistic effects of QUIT-Mobile compared to QUIT and both to Usual Care. The 12-month timeline reflects annual primary care visits when screening and brief intervention would be repeated routinely. The QUIT intervention contains 3 primary components: 1) patient screening with the WHO ASSIST, 2) brief clinician advice (\<3 minutes) including opioid overdose prevention education, and 3) 2- and 6-week telephone drug-use health coaching sessions utilizing motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral techniques, delivered by paraprofessional health coaches. QUIT-Mobile tests the addition of mobile phone self-monitoring, automated feedback, and coach monitoring dashboard to enhance and sustain QUIT\'s drug use reductions using mobile-web app, text-messaging (SMS), or interactive voice response (IVR).

Peer Supported Collaborative Care Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Care

This is a research study to assess the effectiveness of a peer-led collaborative care model for integrating treatment for substance use and or mental health disorders into HIV care settings. Depending on whether or not participants enroll in this study, participants will be assigned randomly (by chance, like drawing a number from a hat) to one of two groups. In group 1, participants would receive usual clinical care. In group 2, participants would work with a peer-case manager who would help support participants to engage in substance use or mental health disorder care. Regardless of the group participants are in, participants will fill out a survey when first enrolled in the study, and then again 12 months later.

Families With Pride ("Familias Con Orgullo").

This study will evaluate the effects of a parenting intervention for Hispanic sexual minority youth in preventing/reducing drug use and depressive symptoms. It will also examine whether the intervention improves parent social support for the adolescent, parent acceptance, family functioning, and whether it reduces general stress and stress associated with being a Hispanic sexual minority.

Syringe Service Based Telemedicine and Social Network Driven HIV Prevention Service Implementation

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a social network intervention to recruit people who inject drugs and their networks for HIV testing and linkage to HIV prevention and treatment services in Maryland. Study aims are to determine the effectiveness of a social network driven intervention to increase: * HIV testing (primary); * PrEP knowledge; * Uptake of HIV services and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP); * Uptake of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) initiation. Eligible participants who access syringe service programs (SSPs) serving two counties in Maryland and their risk network members (NMs) will be recruited using an established network inventory and coupon recruitment method. When an index successfully recruits NMs, the index-NM cluster will be randomized to either a peer-educator intervention arm or an equal-attention control arm. Index participants randomized to the peer-educator intervention arm will complete a training program adapted with stakeholder input to context that emphasizes effective communication, frequent HIV testing, and awareness of evidence-based HIV prevention and treatment services. An important innovation to the network intervention will be training indexes to use and distribute HIV self-test kits and naloxone to their NMs. Index participants randomized to the equal-attention control arm will receive training sessions focused on the opioid overdose epidemic and will not include any training to serve as a peer educator. All participants (indexes and NMs) will complete study assessments at baseline and at 3 and 9 months. We will compare the peer-educator intervention group and the equal-attention control group on rates of HIV testing, knowledge of PrEP options and resources, and rates of initiation of HIV treatment, PrEP, and MOUD treatment since the previous assessment (past 3 or 6 months).

A Hybrid Effectiveness Implementation Study of Latino/a Alcohol and Drug Users

Alcohol use is a significant problem among Latinxs and immigration-related stress increases risk for substance use. A theoretically-based cultural adaptation of motivational interviewing (CAMI) that specifically integrated discussion of immigration-related stressors (e.g., stigma, social isolation) resulted in significant reductions in alcohol-related harms for those Latinx heavy drinkers with high discrimination compared to standard MI, and reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms one year later compared to MI. Rigorous tests that examine theoretically-informed adaptation of efficacious addiction interventions are not common, yet are needed to advance implementation science. This Hybrid Type 1 Effectiveness-Implementation study will investigate the feasibility of implementing CAMI in a real-world clinical setting. The key questions are: Would CAMI have positive effects among individuals who use both drugs and alcohol? How do providers view this intervention? The investigators will collaborate with a primary care center that serves a mainly Latinx client population to train their Community Wellness Advocates (CWAs) to deliver CAMI to patients who are heavy drinkers. The investigators will conduct a concurrent investigation on the process of implementing CAMI in primary care - a two-arm randomized clinical effectiveness trial will enroll Latinx heavy drinkers (18 years or older) in primary care who use alcohol (and may use other drugs) - and follow them for 12 months after the intervention. Specific Aims are: (1) To examine the impact of CAMI plus a booster session (vs. assessment only) on outcomes: % heavy drinking days, frequency of alcohol-related consequences, depressive/anxiety symptoms, and number of illicit drug use days, using a Hybrid Type 1 Effectiveness-Implementation design and (2) To gather indicators of implementation outcome from multiple stakeholders using a mixed-methods approach. The investigators will follow Curran's framework to evaluate the process of implementation and Proctor's framework to measure implementation outcomes. This study, a first to examine the acceptability of culturally-adapted addiction treatments in primary care settings, will answer essential questions on implementing evidence-based care for Latinxs that can improve health disparities related to substance use. Long term goals are to translate the lessons from this Hybrid study to the broader community to focus on population health for all primary care patients.

Low Dead-space Injecting Equipment Distribution Program for People Who Inject Drugs in Low- and Middle-income Countries

Implementation and evaluation of a distribution program for low dead-space syringes/needles (LDSS/N) in Armenia, Georgia, and Tanzania, Egypt, Nigeria, Vietnam, India, Ukraine, and South Africa. This study aims to generate evidence on best practice LDSS/N distribution programs which will enhance acceptability and sustain high levels of LDSS/N uptake. People who inject drugs and access needle and syringe programs will be invited to attend up to three focus group discussion rounds (with 25 participants in each focus group round) to inform and provide feedback on a concurrent distribution program of LDSS/N. Throughout distribution, a cohort study will be run alongside distribution with 240 participants enrolled per country (with the exception of Nigeria, where 480 participants will be recruited) who will undergo HIV and HCV testing and answer surveys on their sociodemographic and behavioral status. Key informant interviews will also be held with participating staff and stakeholders to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of this program. Primary outcomes assessed through this study include 1) community values and preferences for LDSS/N, 2) barriers and facilitators to accessing LDSS/N, 3) feasibility and effectiveness of the distribution program on increasing LDSS/N uptake, 4) model the potential public health impact and cost effectiveness of LDSS/N distribution in this setting.

Mental Health in Primary Care

The goal of this study is to evaluate in an effectiveness-implementation type I hybrid trial, an enhanced version of eHealth Familias Unidas for reducing depressive, anxious symptoms and suicide behavior in Hispanic youth. The study will use a randomized rollout design with 18 pediatric primary care clinics in the South Florida area.

E-PAUse: Encouraging Proper Antibiotic Use in Outpatient Setting

Specific Aim 1: To determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of PHCC physicians regarding appropriate prescription of antibiotics in the outpatient setting. Hypothesis 1a: PHCC physicians will have adequate theoretical knowledge regarding use of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections. Hypothesis 1b: Despite adequate theoretical knowledge, fear of complications of untreated infection and patient demand and expectations will drive inappropriate antibiotic prescription for upper respiratory tract infections Specific Aim 2: To test the effectiveness of a comprehensive multi-component intervention in a cluster randomized trial upon rate of antibiotics prescription for upper respiratory tract infections in individuals aged \> 2 years presenting to primary care by PHCC physicians Hypothesis 2: Compared with a single intervention, a comprehensive multi-component intervention package will be associated with a significant reduction in inappropriate antibiotic prescription. Investigators will conduct this study in the Primary Healthcare Center (PHCC) setting in Qatar. Investigators will identify four large PHCCs from the existing active centers. The study has 2 parts. Part 1 corresponds to specific aim 1 and comprises of a KAP survey which will be carried out in all four PHCCs and will include all physicians. Part 2 corresponds to specific aim 2 and is a cluster randomized clinical trial in which Investigators will randomize the four PHCCs into two groups. First group (2 PHCCs) will receive training in appropriate documentation of infections and antibiotics prescription and will continue to provide usual care. Second group (2 PHCCs) will receive the comprehensive multi-component intervention, which consists of four elements: 1. Option for deferred prescription fulfilment; 2. Education of staff regarding appropriate uses of antibiotics, 3. algorithm-driven decision support tool, 4. Feedback on individual and group performance.

Development of a Multilevel HIV Prevention Intervention for the Emergency Department

The goal of this clinical trial is to pilot test a psychosocial-behavioral mobile health (mHealth) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention intervention in people who use drugs presenting to the emergency department (ED). The main question the study aims to answer is: is the intervention acceptable and appropriate? Participants will use the mHealth app while waiting in the ED and also at home for 90 days. Participants will be asked to complete surveys at baseline, before leaving the ED, and at 30-, 60-, and 90-day follow up visits.

Morning Versus Bedtime Dosing of Antihypertensive Medication

Previous studies have shown that elevated nighttime blood pressure (BP) was more closely associated with cardiovascular mortality and morbidity than daytime and clinic BPs. With increasingly advanced technology, not only 24-hour ambulatory but also home BP monitors can be used to evaluate nighttime BP. The validation study of the Omron HEM 9601T showed that the wrist-type home BP monitor could be a suitable and reliable tool for the diagnosis and management of nocturnal hypertension. However, up to now, there is no data on home nighttime BP in Chinese patients and it is unclear if different dosing time would reduce ambulatory and home nighttime BPs differently. The investigators therefore designed a multicenter randomized clinical trial to compare between morning dosing and bedtime dosing of antihypertensive medications in the difference in nighttime, daytime and the 24-h BP reductions evaluated by both ambulatory and home BP monitoring, and in target organ protections.

NALIRI-XELOX+AK104 for First-line Treatment of Advanced PDAC

This study is a single-center, Phase II Study to assess the efficacy and safety of the regimen of Nanoliposomal Irinotecan and XELOX (NALIRI-XELOX) in combination with Cadonilimab in subjects with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who have not previously received systemic treatment.

Clinical Pharmacist Intervention to Reduce Drug-related Readmissions Among Older People

This randomized controlled trial primarily investigates if a clinical pharmacist intervention can reduce drug-related readmissions among patients \>75 years. The intervention targets the transfer between hospital and primary care. In brief, the intervention includes medical chart reviews and patient interviews during a period of 180 days.

Improving Medication Therapy Through a Digital Interdisciplinary Medicine Therapy Optimisation Model

This study investigates if a digital interdisciplinary medicine therapy optimisation (MTO) model in primary care can improve medication therapy, quality of life, medication adherence, and beliefs about medicines, among patients \>65 years living in sparsely populated areas. The intervention includes digital medication interviews, comprehensive medication reviews, interdisciplinary patient-centred discussions, and follow-ups.

Project Khanya: Peer-Delivered Intervention to Improve HIV Medication Adherence and Substance Use in South Africa

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a stepped care behavioral intervention for HIV medication adherence and substance use ("Khanya") integrated into an HIV primary care setting in South Africa. The intervention is specifically designed to be implemented by non-specialist counselors with lived substance use experience (i.e., peers), using a task sharing, stepped care model in local primary care clinics. The Khanya stepped care package will be compared to usual care, enhanced with referral to a local outpatient substance use treatment program (Enhanced Standard of Care - ESOC) over 12 months.

Evaluation of the Implementation of Drug Prescription Recommendations Using Clinical Decision Support in Patients With Severe Obesity: Retrospective Study

No drug prescription guidelines for severe obesity (BMI\>35 kg/m2) are available, leading to non-standardized and / or potentially inappropriate drug management. After validation of guidelines by the Delphi method, the main objective is to assess the agreement between the drug prescriptions and the guidelines after implementation in two health data warehouses. The investigators will perform a retrospective, multicentric study in 2 hospitals. The investigators will check the relevance of rules (alerts) derived from the recommendations identified using the Delphi method.

Active Pharmacovigilance Study of the Medicine Rinvoq™ (Upadacitinib)

The LOOK-UP is an investigator-initiated clinical study with the aim of monitoring the post-marketing safety of the medicine Rinvoq™ (upadacitinib), which is indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, atopic dermatitis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. The Marketing Authorisation Holder is AbbVie Deutschland GmbH \& Co. KG.

Developing a Positive Approach to Substance Use Prevention in North American Indian Adolescents

The overall objective of this project is to develop and obtain preliminary data on acceptability, feasibility, and initial efficacy of Native PATHS. This work is guided by the stage model guidelines for treatment development and adaptation 25. Stage 1a will occur in two sequential steps. First, the investigators will recruit youth who are in 5th - 8th grade and their family members (N=24, 12 youth, 12 adults 18+) to participate in three talking circle sessions to obtain feedback on the cultural adaptation and implementation of the treatment. Next, the investigators will conduct an open label pilot (N=9). Youth and their family members, (up to 3 per youth) will provide qualitative and quantitative feedback after each session. In Stage 1b, 60 youth will participate in a pilot randomized controlled trial, testing the efficacy of the newly created program (n=30) against a wait list control (WLC) condition (n=30). Ultimately, this program of research is expected to result in a well-specified, efficacious prevention program that could be readily disseminated and generalizable to other Indigenous populations with minimal adaptation.

A Model for Drug Concentration Prediction of Vancomycin

Objective: This study aims to use machine learning methods to establish an optimal model for predicting serum vancomycin trough concentrations in critically ill patients. Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective study. Data on serum vancomycin concentration in the Critical Care Database of Peking Union Medical College Hospital were screened and extracted to construct a prediction model using machine learning methods. The MIMIC-IV (Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care) database will be further used for external verification of the constructed model. The study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Peking Union Medical College Hospital (K24C1161).