Clinical Research Directory

The Effect of Home-Based Tele-Exercise on Dialysis Patients

The objective of the trial is to assess key areas of uncertainty regarding the use of synchronous home-based tele-exercise in future practice and research, including issues relating to feasibility, safety and potential for efficacy.

Oral Intradialytic Amino Acid Supplementation to Vitalize End-stage Kidney Disease Patients on Hemodialysis

The study will test and compare the efficacy of a single essential amino acid valine with a combination of essential amino acids (EAA) supplement on fatigue, frailty, and cognitive function in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) treatment.

Light Therapy in End Stage Kidney Disease

The goal of this clinical trial is to test light therapy in patients with end stage kidney disease who are receiving hemodialysis. The main aim is to determine if light therapy decreases fatigue severity. Participants will receive light therapy using special glasses for one hour during the dialysis sessions for four weeks of treatment.

Bupropion for Fatigue in End-stage Kidney Disease Patients on Hemodialysis

Fatigue is the most common symptom reported by end-stage kidney disease patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Unfortunately, there currently is no medical management for this overwhelming feeling of tiredness. As a result, patients continue to suffer with poor quality of life and impaired daily activities. The purpose of this pilot trial is to find out if bupropion (a medicine commonly prescribed for stopping smoking, seasonal mood disorder, and depression) may help lessen fatigue in hemodialysis patients. In this study, hemodialysis participants will receive bupropion tablet orally three times a week during routine dialysis procedure for consecutive 8 weeks. Study participants will complete a battery of questionnaires to self-report fatigue, cognition, and quality of life. The study team will collect biological specimens. All these procedures will be performed at the dialysis clinic during routine dialysis procedure.

Study of the Quality of Life in School Aged-children With Posterior Urethral Valves

Posterior urethral valves (PUV) are the most common congenital obstructive lesion of the urethra, affecting from 1 per 3000 to 1 per 8000 live births. Valve ablation usually resolves the obstruction in PUV but patients still may suffer of deterioration in renal and urinary functions. Renal insufficiency is the most feared long-term complication. Up to 50 % of the patients will develop chronic kidney disease (CKD), and up to 20 % will develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and ultimately will require kidney transplantation. PUV is the first urological cause of ESRD. Progression towards CKD depends on febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs), severity of a vesicoureteral reflux and bladder dysfunction. Bladder dysfunction is due to an overactive and small poorly compliant bladder during infancy. Detrusor overactivity usually decreases in childhood and bladder capacity increases. The most common symptom of this bladder dysfunction is urinary incontinence. 60 % of children are continent at the age of 5 years old and 90 % at 10 years old. In case of persistent bladder dysfunction, medical treatment (anticholinergics, alpha-blockers) may be introduced, or even intermittent catheterizations. Current scientific literature has very few studies on quality of life (QoL) in patients with PUV, mostly in adult patients and very small cohorts. Men treated for PUV in childhood had a good quality of life compared to the normative population, except for sleeping, eating and sexual activity. It seemed that the more severe the urological and nephrological functions were, the lower the QoL was. Children were only asked about intermittent urinary catheterization, and family point of view has never been collected. However, QoL and long-term evolution represent the first concerns of parents-to-be in prenatal counseling, or after diagnosis in an infant with PUV. Hence, the aim of the study is to investigate the quality of life in school-aged children who had been treated for PUV in their first year of life, as measured by the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Version 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0).

Xeltis Hemodialysis Access (aXess) Conduit: aXess-E Study

A prospective, single arm, non-randomized feasibility study to confirm the safety and performance of the Xeltis Hemodialysis Access conduit, aXess-E, in subjects older than 18 years with end-stage renal disease, who plan to undergo hemodialysis for at least the first 6 months after study access creation.

Xeltis Hemodialysis Access Graft (aXess) US Study

A multi-center, prospective, single-arm, non-randomized, staged, pivotal clinical study to evaluate the safety and performance of the aXess graft in subjects aged 18 and above, diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease, and possessing an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 20 ml/min, who intend to undergo hemodialysis but are considered unsuitable candidates for fistula creation by the investigating surgeon.

Blood Pressure Slopes and Ultrafiltration in Hemodialysis Patients

Kidney failure has been recognized as one of the most costly chronic conditions among United States Veterans. Approximately 13,000 Veterans develop kidney failure each year, and most require hemodialysis initiation. Hemodialysis patients suffer significantly increased risk of death and hospitalizations, and excessive body fluid is a major cause of this. While empiric aggressive fluid removal during dialysis is one approach to limit fluid overload, this can cause dangerous decreases in blood pressure during dialysis that independently contribute to the high death rate. In this study, I aim to test a new strategy that prescribes fluid removal based on a patient's recent blood pressure patterns during dialysis. This clinical trial will compare my strategy to standard care and assess the outcomes of overall blood pressure change between dialysis treatments in addition to the number of times the blood pressure becomes dangerously low during dialysis. Another aim is to determine how differences in the structure and function of the heart influence blood pressure during dialysis.

CAPABLE Transplant

The purpose of this mixed methods study is to adapt CAPABLE as CAPABLE Transplant to accomplish two things: 1) To resolve barriers to being classified as active on the Kidney Transplant (KT) waitlist, 2) as a surgical prehabilitation intervention targeting the pre-frail/ frail KT waitlist population. It consists of two phases- an open label pilot and a randomized waitlist control trial, and 3) pilot test the feasibility and acceptability for CAPABLE Transplant in symptom and waitlist specific metrics amongst low-income active kidney transplant waitlist candidates.

Pumpkin Seed Oil as a Nutraceutical for Hemodialysis Patients

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on maintenance hemodialysis experience chronic systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and dyslipidemia, which together drive much of the excess cardiovascular morbidity and mortality seen in this population. Pumpkin seed oil is a nutraceutical rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols,and tocopherols, with documented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antihyperlipidemic properties in preclinical and limited clinical studies. This study investigates the potential role of pumpkin seed oil as a nutraceutical on the clinical and biochemical outcomes of hemodialysis patients. It is a randomized, open-label, prospective interventional study in which daily oral supplementation with pumpkin seed oil (1000 mg once daily) for 3 months is evaluated against usual care. Eighty-five participants will be assigned to either an intervention group (n=45, pumpkin seed oil 1000 mg/day plus usual care) or a control group (n=40, usual care only). The biochemical outcomes assessed are changes in serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), lipid profile, malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) from baseline to the end of the 3-month follow-up period. The study is being conducted at the Hemodialysis Center, Al-Karama Teaching Hospital, Iraq

Post Market Study for VasQ, an External Support Implant for Arteriovenous Fistula

VasQ is an external support implant for arteriovenous fistulas created for dialysis access. This is a postmarket surveillance, prospective, multi-center, randomized, controlled, open label trial enrolling 300 patients randomized into two study arms: * Treatment arm: End to side fistula supported with VasQ * Control: Standard of care end to side fistula

Study of ChoironeX GalKO Porcine Thymokidney Xenotransplantation in End-Stage Renal Disease

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a GalKO Porcine Thymokidney can maintain renal function, without the need for dialysis, after transplantation into adult subjects with End Stage Renal Disease.

AMSC for Reducing Anastomotic Stenosis in Primary Arteriovenous Anastomoses

Researchers are evaluating the safety of allogeneic Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (AMSC) use during hemodialysis arteriovenous fistula and arterial bypass creation and its efficacy on improving access maturation and primary anastomotic patency.

Association of Middle Molecules Clearance With HDF Volume

HDF is a dialysis technique which involves diffusion and convection. HDF with high convection volume has consistently shown to improve survival in dialysis patients in number of robust RCTs. The precise reason of this survival benefit remains unclear. The investigators hypothesize that this survival benefit with high volume HDF is related to enhanced middle molecule clearance and hemodynamic stability. However, this relationship has not been studied so far. This observational study is aimed to understand the relationship between HDF convection volume with middle molecules (Beta 2-Microglobulin) clearance during HDF. Exploring the relationship of HDF volume with middle molecules clearance has significant clinical ramifications. Only a minority of patients are able to achieve target convection volume. Understanding these relationships can rationalize the HDF prescription from convection volume-based prescription to β2-Microglobulin clearance-based prescription which may be applicable to wider range of patients. The relationship between pre-dialysis β2-Microglobulin levels and RKF offers the prospect of dispensing with pre- and post-dialysis urea and creatinine measurements and interdialytic urine collections, currently necessary for estimating RKF, thus simplifying its estimation. β2-Microglobulin reduction ratio and its component pre and post-dialysis β2-Microglobulin levels could therefore provide a composite estimate of small and middle molecule clearance and RKF.

VIRTUUS Children's Study

The objective of the VIRTUUS Children's Study is to adapt identified and validated adult noninvasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for the characterization of allograft status in pediatric recipients of kidney allografts.

Screening for Asymptomatic Coronary Artery Disease in Kidney Transplant Candidates

The Canadian Australasian Randomized Trial of Screening Kidney Transplant Candidates for Coronary Artery Disease (CARSK) will test the hypothesis that eliminating the regular use of non-invasive screening tests for CAD AFTER waitlist activation is not inferior to regular (i.e., annual) screening for CAD during wait-listing for the prevention of Major Adverse Cardiac Events. Secondary analyses will assess the impact of screening on the rate of transplantation, and the relative cost-effectiveness of screening.

The Effect of Intradialytic Eye Exercise in Hemodialysis Patients

This pilot randomized trial will evaluate whether a structured intradialytic eye-exercise program can be delivered safely and consistently during maintenance hemodialysis and whether it shows preliminary promise for improving physical function, balance, and fall-related concern. The study is needed because hemodialysis patients commonly experience impaired physical performance, reduced balance, and fear of falling, and these problems are associated with higher fall risk; at the same time, supervised exercise during dialysis is increasingly viewed as a practical way to reach this medically complex and often sedentary population. Eye-movement and gaze-stability training has also shown benefit for balance- and fall-related outcomes in older adults and stroke survivors, but its feasibility and potential value during dialysis sessions remain uncertain.

Safety & Tolerability Study of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Reg Cell Therapy in Living Donor Renal Transplant Recipients

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of TX200-TR101 and its effects on the donated kidney in living donor kidney transplant recipients. TX200-TR101 is a product made from a kidney transplant recipient's own immune cells, which are genetically modified and designed to help the transplant recipient's body accept their donated kidney and prevent their immune system from rejecting it.

Reduction of Plasma Free VEGF-A Using Low-dose Bevacizumab in Hemodialysis Patients

The primary purpose of this pilot study is to assess the pharmacokinetic profile of low-dose bevacizumab and its effectiveness in reducing plasma free VEGF-A levels safely in hemodialysis patients. This information will be used to plan a phase 1 clinical trial evaluating bevacizumab's role in hemodialysis vascular access failure.

BicMag Study - Improving Mineral Buffering Capacity in Dialysis Patients

The BicMag study is a prospective, randomized, controlled cross-over study that aims to examine the potential additive effect of a dialysate enriched with both bicarbonate and magnesium on mineral buffering capacity in the blood of chronic hemodialysis patients.

Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Pegcetacoplan in Adults at High Risk of Delayed Graft Function (DGF) Following Kidney Allograft Transplantation

A Phase 3 Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Pegcetacoplan in Adults at High Risk of Delayed Graft Function (DGF) Following Kidney Allograft Transplantation

Development and Test of a Communication Skills Training for Transplant Providers - Aims 2 & 3

The goal of this clinical trial is to understand the communication occurring between Black and Caucasian patients and their transplant providers during transplant evaluation consultations and assess relationships between these communicative elements and patient and provider factors, patient-reported outcomes and living donor transplant outcomes - living donor referrals, evaluations, and transplants. We will use these findings to inform the development of a communication skills training for transplant providers and test the impact of the training on providers' communication about live donor kidney transplants with Black and Caucasian patients and living donor transplant outcomes. The main questions it aims to answer are: * How does the use of the use of instrumental, relational and affective communication by patients and providers during the transplant consultation differ by patient and provider factors, patient-reported outcomes and patient ethnicity? * What elements of instrumental, relational and affective communication will be predictive of live donor kidney transplant (LDKT) process outcomes (LD inquiries and evaluations, and actual LDKTs)? Participants will be asked to complete brief surveys before and after the transplant consultation and to give permission for the consultation to be audiorecorded. This data will be used to develop a training to educate providers on the key communication factors predictive of LDKT process outcomes specific to Black and Caucasian patients, and provide guidance on their application during patient consultations. Researchers will then compare communication and patient-reported and LDKT process outcomes between trained and untrained providers to see whether the training has any effect on living donor inquiries and evaluations, and actual LDKTs.

Genetic Causes of FSGS, Nephrotic Syndrome, or Kidney Failure

The investigators are trying to learn more about the cause of kidney diseases such as Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and Nephrotic syndrome by studying genetics. The investigators are interested in discovering which genes play a role in causing a predisposition to FSGS/NS. The investigators also want to learn why FSGS/NS can run in families. Participation in our study involves a saliva sample and a urine sample that you can give from home. There is no cost to participate. All information is kept private and confidential. The investigators also like to include healthy volunteers (parents, spouses) if interested/available but of course this is completely optional.

PReSeRVE-HD: Observational Study of the Merit HeRO® Graft and Super HeRO® in Patients on Hemodialysis

The goal of this observational study is to increase the understanding of the safety and performance of Merit Medical's HeRO Graft System (HeRO) and Super HeRO Adaptor and Support Seal System (Super HeRO) devices. This study includes adults that are being treated with one of these devices as part of their regular medical care for maintaining long-term dialysis access when all other dialysis access options have failed. If participants in the study are not seen for a standard of care clinic visit during the 4 visit timepoints over 2 years, the participant will be followed by phone to check their current health and dialysis status.