Clinical Research Directory

Ivabradine for Heart Rate Reduction During Exercise in Healthy Adults

During exercise, working muscles require more oxygen. The heart meets this demand in two ways: by beating faster (heart rate) and by pumping more blood with each beat (stroke volume). Heart rate increases steadily with exercise intensity until exhaustion, but the amount of blood pumped with each beat tends to plateau at moderate intensities. Why the amount of blood pumped with each beat becomes limited before heart rate, however, is not well understood. Studying these mechanisms is difficult because most drugs that lower heart rate also affect how strongly the heart pumps, making it hard to separate the two effects. One medication that can help with this is ivabradine, which is used to treat people with heart disease who have high resting heart rates. It slows the heart rate without changing how strongly the heart pumps. This study will investigate whether ivabradine lowers heart rate during exercise in healthy younger and older adults, and whether a higher dose lowers heart rate more. The results will help us better understand how heart rate influences the heart's ability to supply oxygen to the body during exercise, and what limits the ability to exercise as people age. Participants will: * Attend three visits at SportsCardiologyBC in Vancouver * Complete a cycling exercise test at each visit to measure heart rate and how hard they can exercise * Take ivabradine (a heart-rate-lowering medication) before the exercise test at Visits 2 and 3 (a lower dose at Visit 2 and a higher dose at Visit 3) * Be monitored for side effects including slow heart rate, visual symptoms, and headache.

Effect of Systematic and Sequential Leg Elevation on Cardiac Output in Healthy Volunteers

Passive leg raising (PLR) transiently increases venous return and cardiac preload and is commonly used to predict fluid responsiveness in critically ill patients. Repeated fluid boluses contribute to fluid overload in septic shock, whereas PLR may provide similar hemodynamic effects without fluid administration. Before evaluating repeated PLR in septic shock patients, it is necessary to determine whether the cardiac output response to PLR remains present during repeated PLR maneuvers. SYSLE-1 is a prospective interventional physiological crossover study conducted in healthy volunteers. Participants will undergo six consecutive passive leg raising sessions performed either during spontaneous breathing or non-invasive ventilation, in randomized order. The study aims to determine whether the increase in cardiac output induced by the first PLR maneuver persists during repeated PLR sessions.

Dysfunction of Respiratory Enzymes in Adults With Mental Illness (DREAM)

This study tested whether intravenous methylene blue changes brain activity during a working-memory task differently in adults with schizophrenia taking stable antipsychotic medication and healthy volunteers. Each participant received methylene blue and a placebo solution with no methylene blue at separate visits and completed the task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Pharmacokinetics and Safety of GH001 Delivered Via a GH001 Aerosol Delivery System in Healthy Subjects

The primary objectives of this trial are to determine the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile and the safety and tolerability of GH001 delivered via a proprietary aerosol delivery device in healthy subjects after single-dose administration.

Testing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for First Responders

The purpose of this pilot study is to improve protection of first responders in case of biological disasters (e.g., pandemics, biotoxin incidents). For this goal we will compare two different kinds of personal protective equipment (PPE) to be used for a variety of exercises simulating activities of first responders in the field at two different environmental temperature profiles in a randomized cross-over study design. The goal is to find the best possible compromise between protection and ergonomics as well as to determine potential factors that might limit the performance of first responders while wearing PPE. This should provide guidance for future improvement of PPE and how biosensors for monitoring heart rate and body temperature in combination with AI models may reduce risk for first responders in the field.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Kinetics of Urolithin A

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of Mitopure® consumption on urolithin A (UA) kinetics in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF).

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.

Diurnal Strength Variation

Healthy individuals will be tested at different times of day to determine whether exercise at a non-expected time results in poorer performance.

The Impact of Insomnia on Pain Sensitivity and the Trajectory of Exercise-induced Muscular Pain

Sleep is a critical determinant of physiological recovery and pain regulation. Growing evidence suggests that sleep disruption directly heightens central and peripheral pain sensitivity to sensory stimuli (e.g., mechanical pressure, thermal stimuli), serving as a significant risk factor for the onset and persistence of musculoskeletal pain. However, the precise mechanisms through which sleep quality regulates bodily sensory sensitivity and influences the onset, progression, and recovery trajectories of acute musculoskeletal pain in the general public remain insufficiently understood. This study aims to investigate the relationship between sleep condition, pain sensitivity, and musculoskeletal pain dynamics in healthy adults from the general population, regardless of their physical activity levels. Utilizing a standardized, safe, and fully reversible exercise-induced muscle soreness (EIMS) protocol as an experimental pain model, this project will continuously evaluate participants' quantitative sensory testing (QST) profiles and sleep parameters. The findings from this study will advance the mechanistic understanding of sleep-mediated pain modulation, providing evidence-based insights to inform future targeted sleep management and pain prevention interventions.

The Impact of Acute Pain on Sleep Parameters in the Insomnia Population and Healthy Controls

This study investigates how acute exercise-induced muscular pain affects sleep quality and sleep architecture in people with insomnia compared to healthy sleepers. Sleep disturbances and pain often influence each other, creating a negative cycle; however, it remains unclear how acute muscle pain - such as delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after strenuous exercise - alters continuous sleep parameters and pain sensitivity differently in clinical insomnia populations versus healthy controls. Participants will be divided into two groups: individuals with clinical insomnia and age- and sex-matched healthy sleepers. Both groups will undergo a standardized exercise protocol designed to safely induce temporary, acute muscular soreness (DOMS). Objective sleep parameters (measured via wrist Actigraphy) and subjective sleep parameters (measured via sleep diaries), will be monitored before and after the pain induction. The primary goal is to determine whether individuals with insomnia experience greater sleep disruption and altered pain recovery trajectories following an acute painful event compared to healthy individuals.

Cyclic vs. Constant Estradiol: Regimens' Effects on Brain Health

The purpose of this study is to learn more about how estradiol patch treatment affects brain processes, health, and wellbeing.

The Effect of Different rTMS Interventions on Acute Experimental Muscular Pain in Individuals Comorbid With Insomnia

Insomnia exacerbates pain sensitivity and impairs physiological recovery from acute musculoskeletal pain. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a promising non-invasive neuromodulation intervention to alleviate pain and modulate central sensory processing. However, whether rTMS can effectively mitigate insomnia-induced pain hyperalgesia and accelerate the recovery trajectory of acute musculoskeletal pain remains unclear, as does the optimal neuroanatomical stimulation target. Building upon an established experimental pain model, this randomized, sham-controlled study aims to evaluate the restorative effects of three distinct rTMS interventions - targeting the left primary motor cortex (L M1), the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (R DLPFC), and a sham condition - on individuals experiencing insomnia. Following a standardized eccentric exercise protocol to induce muscle soreness, participants will receive three sessions of the allocated rTMS intervention at 0, 24, and 48 hours post-exercise. Pain sensitivity, recovery dynamics, and quantitative sensory testing (QST) metrics will be continuously monitored across the recovery timeframe. The findings from this trial will clarify the therapeutic efficacy of rTMS in modulating acute pain under insomnia states and identify the target-specific mechanisms of cortical stimulation, offering evidence-based non-invasive interventions for musculoskeletal pain management.

Digital Game and Simulation in Midwifery Education

Preeclampsia and eclampsia are among the leading causes of maternal death and morbidity, and are obstetric emergencies that lead to serious complications during pregnancy. Preeclampsia affects 2-8% of pregnancies worldwide; approximately 46,000 maternal deaths and approximately 500,000 fetal or neonatal deaths occur annually due to preeclampsia. This situation highlights the importance of well-equipped midwifery care, especially in terms of early diagnosis, accurate assessment, emergency intervention, and effective management. Traditional teaching methods alone are insufficient for midwifery students to develop clinical decision-making skills in life-threatening situations such as preeclampsia and eclampsia, and to translate theoretical knowledge into practice. Therefore, new teaching approaches that support active learning, interaction, and decision-making processes in education are needed. In recent years, digital game-based learning has emerged as an innovative tool in health education with its potential to attract learners' attention, improve problem-solving skills, and increase their motivation. Especially for midwifery students, digital games facilitate experiential learning by providing a safe simulation environment in preparation for information overload and stressful clinical environments. However, the use of digital games in teaching complex clinical processes such as preeclampsia and eclampsia management has been researched to a limited extent. Scientifically examining the effects of such innovative methods on students' learning motivation, attitude, and active participation in the learning process in midwifery education will fill an important gap in the literature. In this context, evaluating digital game-based learning in preeclampsia-eclampsia management education by comparing it with simulation training and traditional teaching will make a significant contribution to both the midwifery education literature and the knowledge base regarding the use of technology in health education.

Optical Imaging of Retinal Vascular Metrics Under Different Dietary Conditions

In a typical clinical setting, patient eating habits are not controlled when performing optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging for retinal diagnostics. Nevertheless, the timing of the patient's most recent meal has the potential to impact OCT metrics particularly for those involving blood vessels, such as vascular density. Studies have shown that eating a high fat meal can increase blood fat levels in the hours following the meal. In particular, chylomicrons, the fat particles that will most likely affect the OCT signal, peak in concentration about 2-3 hours after eating. Preclinical animal studies have shown that intravascular injections of fat emulsions in rodent models can cause an increase in OCT signal and make blood vessels more visible. This study investigates the impact of a single high fat meal on OCT and OCT angiography (OCTA) measurements of retinal vessels and whether these effects differ from the effects of a single low-fat, high carbohydrate meal.

tVNS Responsiveness Testing With Pupil Size

The goal of this study is to learn about the acute pupil response to transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) in stroke survivors and healthy adults. The main question it aims to answer is whether pupil size response is greater with bilateral tVNS compared to unilateral tVNS. Participants will receive tVNS and sham at the outer ear unilaterally and bilaterally in resting condition. The pupil size of the participants will be recorded during tVNS.

Investigating the Impact of Probiotics on Wellbeing in a Community

The aim of this clinical trial is to investigate whether taking probiotics can improve thinking ability and digestive symptoms in healthy adults, and whether these effects depend on how often someone drinks alcohol. The study will also explore whether probiotics affect mental health, alcohol cravings, and drinking and eating behaviours. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Do probiotics improve everyday thinking, attention, and memory? * Do probiotics reduce digestion issues or discomfort? * Does how often someone drinks alcohol affect how much they benefit from probiotics? * Do probiotics modulate alcohol cravings? * Do probiotics improve mood, stress, and anxiety levels? * Do probiotics influence drinking behaviour? * Do probiotics influence eating behaviour? Researchers will compare a probiotic supplement to a placebo (a look-alike product with no active ingredients) to see whether probiotics have real effects. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of these groups, and neither the participants nor the researchers will know who is receiving which treatment during the study. Participants will: * Take either a probiotic supplement or a placebo every day for 8 weeks * Complete online questionnaires about their mood, thinking, eating and drinking behaviours, and digestive health at the start and end of the study * Provide basic lifestyle and demographic information This study aims to better understand whether probiotics could be a simple and low-cost way to support cognitive function, digestive health, and other wellbeing outcomes in generally healthy adults - and whether these benefits vary depending on how often someone drinks alcohol.

The Dosimetry, Safety and Diagnostic Efficacy of ⁶⁸Ga-FC516 in Healthy Subjects and Patients With Prostate Cancer

This goal of this study is to investigate the dosimetry, safety, biodistribution of ⁶⁸Ga-FC516. In this study, we will evaluate the safety, biodistribution and dosimetry of ⁶⁸Ga-FC516 in subjects and compared them with the results of ⁶⁸Ga-labeled prostate cancer-targeting tracer imaging to evaluate the dosimetric characteristics and diagnostic efficacy of ⁶⁸Ga-FC516.

Assessment of Total Pulmonary Resistance sPAP/CO Between High Altitude HA vs. Sea Level LA in Healthy Individuals H

To study the effect of relocation from high altitude (Quito Ecuador: 2850m) to sea level on pulmonary resistance (sPAP/CO) and other hemodynamic outcomes in healthy individuals, who live permanently \>2600m.

Assessment of Total Pulmonary Resistance sPAP/CO Between Sea Level LA vs. High Altitude HA After Re-ascent in Healthy Individuals

To study the effect of a re-ascent after a one-week stay at sea level (after prior descent from 2850m) to high altitude (Quito Ecuador: 2850m) on pulmonary resistance (sPAP/CO) and other hemodynamic outcomes in healthy individuals, who live permanently \>2600m.

Assessment of Lung Function (Lufu) at Sea Level LA vs. High Altitude HA in Healthy Individuals

To study the effect of a re-ascent to high altitude (Quito Ecuador: 2850m) after a one-week stay at sea level (after prior descent from 2850m) on lung function and pulmonary resistance/reactance in healthy individuals, who live permanently \> 2600m.

Sleep-Assessment in Patients Between High Altitude HA vs. Sea Level LA in Healthy Individuals H

To study the effect of relocation from high altitude (Quito Ecuador: 2850m) to sea level on sleeping parameters by polygraphy in healthy individuals, who live permanently \>2600m.

Assessment of Six-minute Walking Distance 6MWD Between High Altitude HA vs. Sea Level LA in Healthy Individuals H

To study the effect of descent from high altitude (Quito Ecuador: 2850m) to sea level on six-minute walking distance and scores in healthy individuals, who live permanently \>2600m.

Assessment of Heart Rate Variability HRV During Descent DE From 2850m to Sea Level and During Re-ascent A From Sea Level to 2850m in Healthy Individuals H

To study the effect of relocation from high altitude (Quito Ecuador: 2850m) to sea level and re-ascent from sea level to 2850m on heart rate variability and other hemodynamic parameters in healthy individuals, who live permanently \>2600m.

PET Imaging of Natriuretic Peptide Receptor C (NPR-C) in Carotid Atherosclerosis With 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF (Volunteer - Dosimetry Study)

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the biodistribution, safety, and calculate the radiation dosimetry of the novel atherosclerotic PET imaging radiotracer, 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF, in normal healthy adult volunteers. Participants will receive a single intravenous administration of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF and then undergo PET-CT imaging at various time points following injection. Safety will be assessed through evaluation of vital signs, clinical laboratory tests, physical examination, and electrocardiograms (EKGs). Telephone follow-up will occur 2-3 days after discharge.