Clinical Research Directory

Phase I Clinical Trial of ThINKK Adoptive Immunotherapy After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Transplantation in Children With Leukemia or Neuroblastoma

A first-in-class adoptive immunotherapy we called ThINKK, for Therapeutic Inducers of Natural Killer (NK) cell Killing, have been designed for use after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), where the proper stimulation of graft-derived NK cells has been shown to prevent relapse. ThINKK immunotherapy builds on our earlier research on NK cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) in cord blood and after HSCT. PDC are the sentinels of the immune system. Upon viral nucleic acids detection, PDC secrete a vast array of chemokines and cytokines that stimulate NK cells. PDC stimulation enhances NK cells killing of infected cells that express stress-induced molecules. Cancer cells also express stress-related molecules at their surface. However, NK cells do not receive PDC stimulation when fighting cancer. ThINKK therapy is designed to provide this necessary stimulation.

Psychosocial and Behavioral Intervention for Stem Cell Transplant Patients and Their Family Caregivers

Adherence to the medical regimen after stem cell transplant is challenging for both patients and their family caregivers. The investigators propose a randomized clinical trial testing two brief psychosocial interventions to determine if either improves patient and family caregiver psychosocial and health-related outcomes.

Ruxolitinib-Enhanced Haplo HCT for Children and Young Adults With Sickle Cell Disease

This trial will determine whether adding ruxolitinib to a reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen reduces the rate of graft failure following haploidentical (haplo) hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) for children and young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). This study will enroll and treat up to 24 participants. Recruitment is expected to last for about 2 years and participants will be followed for an additional 2 years post-HCT.

Aromatherapy Inhaler Use for HSCT Distress

The purpose of this research is to evaluate aromatherapy inhaler use and how it may impact cancer distress and coping by patients in the first few days after hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).