Clinical Research Directory

SweetSpot - The Effect of Non-nutritive Sweeteners on Health

The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of non-nutritive sweeteners on glucose regulation. Secondary objectives are to investigate the effect of NNS on gut microbiome, gut hormone secretion, sweet taste sensitivity and preference, and the excretion of NNS in urine.

Sex-difference in Response to Resistance Exercise and Training

Sex-Difference in Response to Resistance Exercise and Training Given the importance of muscular strength for athletic performance as well as for daily activities in the general population-including clinical populations-and the lack of data in both men and women, the aim of this study is to compare neuromuscular, intramuscular, and systemic adaptations in men and women in response to both acute and chronic resistance exercise. Specifically, the investigators will test the hypotheses that: the neuromuscular response to resistance exercise, including corticospinal excitability and motor unit activation patterns, differs between men and women; the hormonal response and exosome release following resistance exercise are reduced in women compared to men. Participants (n = 15 per group) will follow a supervised resistance training program for 8 weeks. Neuromuscular function of the knee extensor muscles, body composition, intramuscular adaptations, as well as blood profiles (hormonal and metabolic) and exosomes will be assessed before and after a single resistance exercise session and after the training period. This protocol will allow determination of both the acute and long-term effects of resistance exercise. Women's participation in sports is increasing, yet research in this area remains very limited. This project aims to better understand the mechanisms by which resistance training-a non-pharmacological and low-cost strategy-may induce different adaptations in men and women, and, where appropriate, to contribute to the development of sex-specific recommendations to maximize the health benefits of resistance training.

The Effect of SPU on Hormonal and Cardiometabolic Factors

The study examines the immediate effect of soleus pushup exercise on cardiometabolic and hormonal functions among hypothyroid patients.

Effect of Three Force Magnitudes During the Cross-Hand Technique in the Thoracolumbar Region on the Myofascial System in Healthy Adults

Orthopedic Manual Therapy (OMT) employs specific manual techniques to assess and treat musculoskeletal dysfunctions. Among these, the Myofascial Induction Method (MIM) and its "crossed hands" technique are designed to restore fascial mobility and hydration through sustained mechanical forces. However, the lack of standardization (particularly regarding applied force) limits reproducibility and clinical consistency. The objective of this research is to compare the effects of three force magnitudes (2 kg, 5 kg, and 11 kg) applied during the crossed-hands technique on fascial stiffness, thickness, pain pressure threshold, and lumbopelvic mobility in healthy adults.

Vagal Nerve Stimulation for Interoception Modulation

Explore the effects of variable ingested volumes and auricular transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS) on brain and stomach outcomes in healthy adults.

Finding Immune Nascent Type 1 Diabetes

The goal of this clinical trial is to understand how many individuals who previously participated in the Indiana Biobank will return a type 1 diabetes home screening kit based upon different methods of recruitment communication. The main question it aims to answer is: What form of recruitment communication is most effective for completing a type 1diabetes home screening kit? Researchers will compare two types of recruitment contact: email and mail based communication (low-touch) versus phone contact and follow-up by a research team member (high-touch). Participants will be contacted either via email/mail or by phone and asked if they want to complete a type 1 diabetes home screening kit.

Food Supplement for Longevity

As we age, the cells in our body gradually lose their ability to produce energy efficiently and repair damage. This process, known as cellular ageing, is linked to lower levels of a molecule called Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD⁺), which is essential for energy production and maintaining healthy cell function. Other factors, such as reduced antioxidant capacity and mitochondrial decline, also contribute to ageing. This study will explore whether a daily food supplement, taken for one month, can improve markers of cellular health in adults aged 35 and over. Thrive⁺ contains ingredients that may support energy metabolism and antioxidant defences, including compounds that boost NAD⁺ levels and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which helps cells produce energy. It also includes resveratrol, a plant compound thought to promote healthy ageing. The research will take place at The Functional Gut Clinic in Manchester and will involve 15 healthy volunteers. Participants will attend two clinic visits: one at the start and one after 30 days of supplementation. At each visit, they will have blood tests, blood pressure and heart rhythm checks, a simple grip strength test, and complete short questionnaires on mood and wellbeing. Women of childbearing potential will also have a pregnancy test. The supplement will be taken as one capsule per day for 30 days. The main question is whether the supplement increases NAD⁺ levels in the blood. We will also look at other markers, such as antioxidant status, inflammation, and physical measures like grip strength. The study aims to provide insight into whether supplementation can support healthy ageing in everyday life.

Musculotendinous Adaptations to Strength and Endurance Training in Cyclists

This study investigated whether adding strength training to regular endurance training improves performance and muscle function in competitive cyclists. Endurance training is essential for cycling performance, while strength training has been widely recognised as a complementary strategy that may enhance performance and reduce injury risk. However, in practice, strength training is often performed only during limited periods of the training season, and it remains unclear to what extent the adaptations achieved are maintained during subsequent phases of endurance-focused training. Male competitive cyclists were assigned to either a 10-week off-season combined strength and endurance training programme or an endurance-only training programme. The strength training group performed two weekly strength sessions in addition to their usual cycling training, while the control group continued with endurance training only. Participants were assessed at four time points: before the intervention, after the initial 10-week training period, after a high-volume endurance training camp, and during a competition preparation phase. Measurements included body composition, muscle strength, explosive force production, muscle and tendon structure, and cycling performance variables such as maximal power output and aerobic capacity. The primary aim of the study was to determine whether short-term strength training enhances neuromuscular performance and muscle-tendon characteristics in trained cyclists, and whether these adaptations are maintained or reduced when strength training is discontinued. A secondary aim was to examine how these changes interact with endurance adaptations across different phases of the training season. It was hypothesised that strength training would improve muscle strength, power, and muscle-tendon structure, but that these adaptations would be partially reduced during subsequent training phases without continued strength stimulus.

Nicotinamide Riboside, Vit B3 Analogue, and Brain Energy Metabolism

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how nicotinamide riboside (NR), a form of vitamin B3, affects brain energy metabolism in healthy adults. Researchers want to find out if taking NR by mouth for 2 weeks can raise the balance of two related brain chemicals called NAD+ and NADH, which play a key role in how cells make and use energy. The main questions are: Does short term NR treatment increase the NAD+ to NADH ratio in the brain, and does it change other brain energy measures that we can see with a special type of MRI scan called phosphorus 31 MR spectroscopy. Adults between 18 and 65 years old who are generally healthy and do not have a personal or close family history of mood or psychotic disorders may be able to take part. People who join the study will first have a screening visit with a psychiatric interview and safety checks to confirm they are eligible and to review the risks and procedures. Eligible participants will then have a baseline visit that includes a blood draw, vital signs, urine drug and pregnancy tests when needed, and a 7 Tesla MRI/MRS scan focused on brain chemistry and structure. After the baseline visit, participants will take NR capsules by mouth at home, 1500 milligrams in the morning and 1500 milligrams in the early afternoon each day, for about 2 weeks, for a total daily dose of 3000 milligrams. They will be asked to avoid alcohol and other drugs during the study and to complete a short food diary near the end of the dosing period so that researchers can track diet. On the last day of taking NR, participants will return for repeat MRI/MRS scans, blood tests, and vital signs so that researchers can compare brain and blood measures before and after NR treatment. Researchers will compare each participant's brain NAD+ to NADH ratio and other bioenergetic markers before and after NR to see if NR changes these measures in a consistent way. If NR raises brain NAD+ and improves measures of energy metabolism in healthy adults, this may provide important background information for future studies that test whether NR can help people with psychiatric or neurological disorders linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. There is no expected direct health benefit for participants, but their involvement may help improve understanding of how NR affects human brain metabolism.

Ultrasound Muscle Biomarkers as Predictors of Isometric Quadriceps Muscle Strength and Handgrip in Healthy Adults: an Observational Study

This observational study aims to determine whether ultrasound-derived muscle biomarkers can predict isometric quadriceps muscle strength and handgrip in healthy adults aged 18-89 years. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Which ultrasound muscle characteristics are associated with isometric quadriceps muscle strength and handgrip? * Can ultrasound-derived biomarkers be used to develop predictive models of muscle strength in healthy adults? Participants will undergo: * Ultrasound assessment of the quadriceps and forearm flexor muscles; * Measurement of isometric quadriceps muscle strength and handgrip using standardized dynamometry protocols; * Assessment of functional capacity, mobility and balance; * Completion of questionnaires related to health status, physical activity, nutrition, fatigue and health-related quality of life. The study will also assess the reliability of ultrasound measurements and explore the relationship between ultrasound variables, muscle strength, physical function and health-related factors.

The Effects of Finger Extensor Training on Climbing Performance Compared With Traditional Flexor Training

The purpose of this study, is to assess climbing performance metrics that include max strength testing on a rock climbing hangboard, maximum grip strength, assessment of pain and function using the DASH (disability of the arm, shoulder and hand), and maximum flexor strength and maximum extensor strength in climbers who perform a traditional finger training protocol compared to climbers who train both traditional flexor training protocol and extensor tendons.

Improving Vaccine Protection for Adults

As people grow older, their immune system - the body's natural defence against diseases - becomes weaker, making them more vulnerable to infections and less responsive to vaccines. This was clearly seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, where older adults were more likely to develop severe illness. Researchers have made an interesting discovery about AS01, an ingredient already used in successful vaccines like the shingles vaccine. They found clues that AS01 might work like a general fitness trainer for the immune system, potentially making it stronger and better at fighting off various types of infections, not just specific ones. To confirm this possibility, we are conducting this research study with adults aged 21-59 to test whether AS01 by itself can boost and train the immune system, how long this boost lasts, and if it actually helps you fight off other infections more effectively.

Exploring Pain Modulation With TMS and Repeated Pain Conditioning in Healthy Individuals

Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) is the behavioral measure of diffuse noxious inhibitory control (DNIC), an endogenous pain inhibitory pathway in which pain inhibits pain. CPM is less efficient in individuals with chronic pain conditions, and it is a predictor for the development of chronic pain. Continuous stimulation of central/cortical mechanisms through engaging CPM might alter pain processing and improve pain inhibition. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a valuable tool for assessing how effectively the brain's central and cortical mechanisms engage in pain inhibition, particularly through pathways like CPM. While alterations in cortical excitability related to analgesic-induced pain inhibition have been documented, the effects of continuous stimulation of central pain pathways, along with the mediating influence of psychosocial factors, remain underexplored. This study aims to investigate the central pain modulatory mechanisms, as assessed by CPM, and cortical excitability, as measured by TMS, in healthy participants. Additionally, the study will evaluate the impact of sociocultural factors, including ethnic identity, optimism, resilience, perceived stress, and marginalization, on the magnitude and efficiency of CPM responses. The successful completion of this research will determine how cortical excitability changes due to training and whether these changes are mediated by psychosocial factors.

Safety and Effects of High-Intensity Blood Flow Restriction Training in the Rotator Cuff

This study aims to analyze the effects of an 8-week strength training program combining different exercise intensities and blood flow restriction (BFR) conditions on safety, tolerability, muscle adaptations, and physical performance variables. Three training modalities will be compared: 1) high-intensity exercise with BFR therapy; 2) low-intensity exercise with BFR therapy; and 3) high-intensity exercise without BFR therapy. All groups will perform the same exercise modality, differing only in intensity and the application of BFR. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the three groups and will undergo a 8-week intervention. The variables of interest will be assessed in each group for subsequent analysis and comparison.

Human Skin Safety Testing of 1 Mitopure Topical Product Using a Clinical Safety in Use Study in Healthy Volunteers

The objective of this study is to investigate the safety of 1 topically applied test article containing Mitopure in a panel of healthy volunteers.

Isokinetic Strength and Anaerobic Capacity

This study aims to investigate differences in isokinetic knee extensor and flexor strength parameters among recreationally active young adult males classified into low, moderate, and high anaerobic power groups based on relative peak power (W/kg) obtained from the Wingate Anaerobic Test. Eighty male participants aged 22-30 years, engaging in regular physical activity, will undergo body composition analysis, isokinetic strength testing at 60°/s, and a 30-second Wingate test performed on separate days. Participants will be grouped according to median-based anaerobic power classification to allow meaningful group comparisons. Group differences in peak torque and total work will be analyzed using ANOVA or non-parametric equivalents, and relationships between Wingate parameters and isokinetic strength will be examined using correlation analyses. The findings are expected to provide novel insights into the relationship between anaerobic power classification and lower-extremity muscle strength profiles, contributing to performance profiling and training planning in recreationally active populations.

Modulation of Appetite Signaling Through Enterohormone Stimulation by DNF-10

This is a pilot, proof-of-concept, exploratory, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. The study will be conducted in 50 healthy volunteers with a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/m². The objective is to comprehensively evaluate the potential of DNF-10 to modulate appetite through the regulation of enteroendocrine hormones and to determine its relevance in human physiology.

Evaluation of the Pharmacokinetics, Biodistribution and Radiation Dosimetry of [18F]MODAG-009 Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Radiotracers in Adult Healthy Volunteers

This is an open-label, single-center, phase 1 study to further characterize \[18F\]MODAG-009 in Healthy Volunteers (HV). Approximately 6 participants will be enrolled in this study. Each participant will receive a single dose of \[18F\]MODAG-009 radiotracer and undergo whole body PET imaging covering up to 10 bed positions to capture the whole body from skull vertex to mid-thigh.

A Study to Evaluate the Food Effect on the Pharmacokinetics of DA-5223 in Healthy Adult Subjects

This study will evaluate the food effect on the pharmacokinetics of DA-5223 in healthy adult subjects

A Phase I Single and Multiple Dose Study to Evaluate the Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of HS-10522 in Healthy Chinese Participants and Chinese Participants With Mild Hypertension

The purpose of this study is to investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ascending single and multiple oral doses of HS-10522 in healthy Chinese participants and Chinese participants with mild hypertension.

Contactless Human-Machine-Interface Based on Magnetometers for Consumer Applications

This study explores the use of novel, highly sensitive quantum-based magnetometers for creating a contactless human-machine interface for consumer applications. These sensors can detect extremely weak biomagnetic fields, such as those from the brain's neural activity (magnetoencephalography), at room temperature. The research aims to quantify interfering biological signals and evaluate the system's performance in detecting user intention for a simple use case. The results will serve as a foundation for developing future applications.

The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy and Relationship Support

This randomized and controlled study investigates the effectiveness of relationship counselling and couple therapy in improving couples' relationship satisfaction and overall well-being. It compares four intervention groups both with each other and with a waitlist control group. The groups are: 1. HUS Self-Help (Mielenterveystalo.fi): Participants independently complete online self-help tasks based on couple therapy, developed by Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) Psychiatry and Väestöliitto. 2. Peloton Parisuhde (eng. Fearless Relationship) Online Course: Based on Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT), this course by EFCT trainers Eklund-Mikola \& Pinomaa uses online lectures and exercises to help couples identify negative interaction patterns and strengthen their emotional connection. 3. Short Manualized Emotionally Focused Couple Intervention: Five face-to-face sessions with a couple therapist. 4. Face-to-Face Couple Therapy (Treatment As Usual): 1 to 10 sessions, with the therapeutic approach varying depending on the therapist's training. The study is conducted at the Relationship Counselling Unit of the City of Helsinki's Social Services in Finland, which provides counselling and family guidance under Section 26 of the Social Welfare Act to couples with children living in Helsinki. A total of 200 couples from the unit's treatment queue will be invited to participate and randomly assigned to one of the interventions or the control group, with 40 couples in each group. Participants will complete questionnaires at the beginning and end of the service, and at a 4-month follow-up. The questionnaires measure relationship satisfaction and well-being, among other things. The study also examines how individual, couple-level, and treatment-related background factors influence and mediate the effectiveness of the interventions. In addition to the questionnaires, registry data, therapist assessments, and ongoing treatment feedback collected within the unit is utilized. The results will provide new scientific insights into the effectiveness of short interventions and their suitable target groups and can be used to develop relationship counselling work both within the unit and nationally.

Human Repeat Insult Patch Test to Evaluate Skin Irritation and Sensitization in Healthy Volunteers

This study evaluates skin irritation and sensitization following repeated application of a collagen-based material in healthy adult volunteers under controlled conditions. Skin responses will be assessed during study participation.

This Study Evaluates Skin Response Following Application of a Collagen-based Material in Healthy Adult Volunteers Using a Standardized Skin Prick Test. Skin Responses Will be Assessed at Multiple Time Points Following Application, and the Study is Intended to Evaluate Dermal Safety.

This study evaluates the allergic (immunogenic) response following application of a collagen-based material in healthy adult volunteers using a standardized skin prick test. Skin responses will be assessed at multiple time points following application.