Clinical Research Directory

Shingrix in Renal Transplant Recipients

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how well the shingles vaccine (Shingrix) works and how safe it is in adults with kidney failure who are waiting for a kidney transplant, including those who later receive a transplant. The study also aims to find out whether giving an extra (third) dose of the vaccine after transplant improves protection. The main questions it aims to answer are: How strong is the body's immune response to the vaccine at different time points (about 1 month, 2 years, and 3 years after vaccination) in people waiting for a kidney transplant? Does a third dose of the vaccine after transplant improve the immune response compared to not receiving a third dose? How long does protection from the vaccine last before and after transplant? How safe is the vaccine in this group, including whether it affects transplant-related immune markers? Researchers will compare people who receive a third dose of the vaccine after transplant to those who do not receive a third dose, as well as to results from similar groups studied in the past, to see if the extra dose improves immune protection. Participants will: Be screened to see if they can take part in the study Attend about 3 to 6 study visits over approximately 30 to 37 months Receive two doses of the shingles vaccine if they have not already been vaccinated, or complete study assessments if they were vaccinated before joining If they receive a kidney transplant during the study, be randomly assigned (by chance) to receive either a third dose of the vaccine or no additional dose Complete questionnaires, have physical exams if needed, and provide blood (and urine, if applicable) samples at study visits Take part in follow-up visits to check immune response and safety, with the option to allow samples to be stored for future research Shingrix is approved for adults aged 50 and older and for younger adults with weakened immune systems. However, giving a third dose after a kidney transplant is not standard practice and is being studied in this trial.

Sotagliflozin to Slow Kidney Function Decline in Persons With Type 1 Diabetes and Diabetic Kidney Disease

Powerful new drugs that can prevent or delay end stage kidney disease (ESKD) - so called sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) - are now available for patients with type 2 diabetes. Whether these drugs have similar effects in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains unknown because of the few studies in this population, due to concerns about the increase in risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA, a serious, potentially fatal acute complication of diabetes due to the accumulation of substances called ketone bodies) observed with SGLT2i therapy in T1D. One of the few T1D studies conducted to date showed that implementing an enhanced DKA prevention plan can reduce the risk of DKA associated with the SGLT2i sotagliflozin (SOTA) to very low levels. In the present study, a similar DKA prevention program will be used to carry-out a 3-year trial to test the kidney benefit of SOTA in 150 persons with T1D and moderate to advanced DKD. After a 2-month period, during which diabetes care will be standardized and education on monitoring and minimizing DKA implemented, eligible study subjects will be randomly assigned (50/50) to take one tablet of SOTA (200 mg) or a similarly looking inactive tablet (placebo) every day for 3 years followed by 2-months without treatment. Neither the participants nor the study staff will know whether a person was assigned to taking SOTA or the inactive tablet. Kidney function at the end of the study will be compared between the two treatment groups to see whether SOTA prevented kidney function loss in those treated with this drug as compared to those who took the inactive tablet. The DKA prevention program will include participant education, close follow-up with study staff, continuous glucose monitoring, and systematic ketone body self-monitoring with a meter provided by the study. If successful, this study will provide efficacy and safety data that could be used to seek FDA approval of SOTA for the prevention of kidney function decline in patients with T1D and DKD.

A Study of Eloralintide (LY3841136) in Participants With Renal Impairment and in Participants With Normal Renal Function

The purpose of the study is to assess the amount of Eloralintide (LY3841136) that reaches the bloodstream and the time it takes for the body to get rid of it when given to participants with renal (kidney) impairment and to healthy participants. The study drug will be administered subcutaneously (SC) (under the skin). For each participant, the study will last about 14 weeks, excluding screening.

DIALysis With EXpanded Solute Removal

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the health effects of expanded hemodialysis in patients receiving hemodialysis. The main question it aims to answer is: 1\) Does expanded hemodialysis reduce the risk of death from any cause? Researchers will compare expanded hemodialysis to conventional hemodialysis (the treatment currently used for the majority of patients receiving hemodialysis) to see if expanded hemodialysis works to improve patient outcomes. Participants will continue to receive their regularly scheduled hemodialysis treatments using either a super high-flux/expanded dialysis filter or a high-flux/conventional dialysis filter. All other aspects of treatments remain the same. No additional tests or visits are required. Data will be obtained using administrative healthcare databases and medical record review (at a subset of participating locations).

Intravenous vs. Oral Hydration to Reduce the Risk of Post-Contrast Acute Kidney Injury After Intravenous Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography in Patients With Severe Chronic Kidney Disease

The use of contrast media (CM) poses a risk of post-contrast acute kidney injury (PC-AKI), especially among patients chronic kidney disease (CKD). International guidelines recommend intravenous (IV) hydration with isotonic 0.9% NaCl for three-four hours pre-contrast and four-six hours post-contrast. Recent studies have proven that oral hydration or no hydration is non-inferior to IV hydration in patients with mild to moderate CKD (eGFR 30-60 mL/min/1.73 m2). However, no randomized controlled trials have evaluated alternative hydration methods against the guideline-recommended hydration protocol for the prevention of PC-AKI in high-risk patients with severe CKD (eGFR \< 30 mL/min/1.73 m2). Thus, the main focus of this trial is to evaluate IV hydration vs. oral hydration for their efficacy to prevent of PC-AKI in patients with severe CKD, who are scheduled for an elective contrast-enhanced CT-scan (CECT) with IV contrast-administration. Our research hypotheses consist of the following: 1. Oral hydration with bottled tap water is non-inferior to IV-hydration with isotonic 0.9% NaCl as renal prophylaxis to prevent PC-AKI in patients with severe CKD referred for an elective IV CECT. 2. NGAL and cfDNA are early and precise plasma and urinary biomarkers of PC-AKI with excellent diagnostic and prognostic accuracy for PC-AKI, dialysis, renal adverse events, hospitalization, progression in CKD-symptoms, and all-cause mortality.

First-in-human Study to Examine Safety of a New Peritoneal Dialysis Device (WEAKID) in End-stage Kidney Disease Patients

The goal of this first-in-human clinical trial is to examine the safety and efficacy of treatment with a new peritoneal dialysis (PD) device called WEAKID (WEarable Artificial KIDney for peritoneal dialysis). This device, unlike conventional PD, allows for continuous flow of dialysate inside the abdominal cavity combined with continuous regeneration of spent dialysate thanks to sorbents that remove toxins from the fluid. The study will include PD patients of 18 years or older with a well-functioning peritoneal catheter and no history of a PD-related infection for at least eight weeks prior to enrolment. The main purpose of this study is to assess the (short-term) safety of the WEAKID system in a limited number (n=12) of patients and sessions. Participants will undergo six treatment sessions (of four or eight hours) in total over a period of two weeks, either with or without a sorbent chamber. Participants will be asked to collect urine and dialysate the week before the first treatment and during the treatment days. In addition, blood samples will be collected before and during the treatment weeks in order to compare the effects of conventional PD with that of WEAKID treatment. A peritoneal equilibrium test will also be done before and after the treatment weeks to test the function of the lining of the abdomen (the peritoneal membrane).

Pragmatic Randomised Trial of High Or Standard PHosphAte Targets in End-stage Kidney Disease (PHOSPHATE)

During end-stage kidney disease, clinical guidelines suggest reducing elevated phosphate levels in the blood. However, the effect of lowering blood phosphate levels on important patient-centred outcomes has never been tested. This trial will evaluate whether compared to high levels, lowering blood phosphate levels would reduce death or major events due to heart disease, improve physical health, and be cost-effective.

Empagliflozin in ESKD - A Feasibility Study

The aim of this study is to learn about the safety of empagliflozin in dialysis patients as a preparation for a future large clinical trial. Empagliflozin has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of either type 2 diabetes, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease among patients not on dialysis. The use of empagliflozin has not been studied or approved among patients on dialysis for kidney failure because empagliflozin acts on the kidneys. However, recent experimental studies have indicated that empagliflozin may provide direct heart benefits. Some dialysis patients have substantial residual kidney function, which may be protected by empagliflozin. Participants will be given empagliflozin for three (3) months on top of the standard of care (usual medical care for participants' condition) and will be followed up until one (1) month after the last dose. The investigators will collect information about participants' general health, obtain blood, urine, and imaging studies, check home blood pressure, monitor home blood sugar levels, and ask health-related questions to assess the safety and potential benefits of empagliflozin over four (4) months, including one month before the three (3)-month empagliflozin treatment.

DePTH: De-emphasize PTH

The De-emphasize Parathyroid Hormone (DePTH) Study is a 12-month pragmatic, randomized, parallel-group, active comparator, open-label, blinded end-point study of 90 patients with incident or prevalent secondary hyperparathyroidism and kidney failure treated with in-center hemodialysis. It tests the hypothesis that low fixed-dose oral calcitriol (intervention) will have more favorable effects on a comprehensive panel of biomarkers that assesses mineral metabolism, bone turnover, and serum calcification propensity, compared with variably-dosed intravenous activated vitamin D titrated to PTH targets (usual care).

Roxadustat's Effect on Heart, Nutrition, and Inflammation in Hemodialysis Patients

Patients with kidney failure who require hemodialysis often suffer from anemia (low red blood cell count), heart and blood vessel problems, and a condition involving poor nutrition, inflammation, and hardening of the arteries (called MIA syndrome). Standard treatments for anemia often involve injections and iron supplements. This study aims to see if a newer oral medication, Roxadustat, works better than these standard treatments not only for anemia but also for improving cardiovascular health and the MIA syndrome. Participants in the study will be randomly assigned (like by chance) to one of two groups. One group will receive Roxadustat, while the other group will continue with their conventional anemia treatment. Researchers will compare the effects on heart function, markers of nutrition and inflammation, and anemia levels in both groups over a 6-month period.

Effects of Royal Jelly Supplementation in Chronic Kidney Disease

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of royal jelly on inflammation and cellular senescence in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on hemodialysis (HD).

Repository of Novel Analytes Leading to Autoimmune, Inflammatory and Diabetic Nephropathies (RENAL AID)

A central goal of this data repository is to collect data from a large population of subjects with a variety of renal disease states. Cohorts will include subjects with diabetes, inflammatory/autoimmune and transplant related renal conditions. Additionally, the repository will have the capacity to store biospecimens and electronic data in control subjects without established renal disease. This initiative will provide an opportunity to compare data from various disease states and controls with the objective of determining clinical and biological factors that predict disease progression, response to therapy and identify discriminating noninvasive clinical and biological features that predict renal biopsy findings.

Glucose Disorders Induced by Tacrolimus on Pre Transplantation Endstage Renal Disease Patients

Diabetes after kidney transplantation is a frequent complication, the incidence of which varies from 7 to 45% depending on the studies and on the diagnostic criteria used. Post-transplant diabetes is an early complication, most often occurring in the first month after transplantation. In addition to the additional health costs generated by the appearance of post-transplant diabetes, the risk of graft loss is increased by 60% and the overall mortality risk by 90%. Similarly, the development of glucose intolerance after transplantation is associated with higher mortality. Tacrolimus treatment is therefore currently one of the most important risk factors for diabetes at the time of transplantation. Indeed, several in vitro and in vivo animal studies have shown that tacrolimus alters pancreatic endocrine function. In the final stage, this cellular toxicity leads to diabetes, most often diagnosed on the rise in capillary or venous blood sugar levels after transplantation. This diabetes often requires hypoglycemic treatment with insulin or oral anti-diabetic drugs. for a variable period. The pro-diabetogenic effect of tacrolimus is sometimes irreversible, justifying preventive treatment. No clinical studies have looked at "sub-clinical" changes in insulin secretion or insulin resistance under tacrolimus prior to the onset of diabetes. The static indices HOMA-β% and HOMA-IR (Homeostasis Model Accessment of insulin resistance) make it possible to estimate insulin secretion and insulin resistance in fasting patients respectively, while the oral glucose disposition index (IDO) makes it possible to study insulin secretion and action dynamically (after a 75 g glucose load), and are calculated as follows: HOMA IR= Fasting blood glucose (mmol/L) x Fasting insulin (mU/L)/ 22.5 HOMAβ% = 20 x fasting insulinemia (mU/L) / fasting plasma glucose (mmol/L) - 3.5 IDO = (delta insulinemia T30-T0/ delta blood glucose T30-T0)/insulinemia T0 These indices have already been studied in dialysis patients (diabetic and non-diabetic) and may allow a more detailed study of pancreatic response and insulin resistance under tacrolimus in patients prior to renal transplantation. Determining the "pancreatic response" to tacrolimus in patients prior to transplantation would prevent diabetes by adapting immunosuppressive treatment and post-transplant screening modalities in the event of pre-transplant subclinical abnormalities identified in our study. The development of tacrolimus-induced diabetes in pre-transplantation in our study will be a contraindication to tacrolimus at the time of transplantation and ciclosporin therapy will be preferred.

Pentoxifylline for Vascular Calcification in Kidney Disease

This study is research to find out if the drug pentoxifylline can help prevent or lessen the problem of blood vessel hardening (vascular calcification) in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). People with CKD are at higher risk for heart problems and blood vessel hardening. Vascular calcification happens when calcium builds up in the blood vessels, making them stiff. Pentoxifylline is a drug that might have helpful effects that could reduce this hardening. In this study, some CKD patients will receive pentoxifylline in addition to their usual medications, while others will only receive their usual medications. The researchers will then compare the amount of vascular calcification in both groups over 6 months to see if pentoxifylline makes a difference. The goal is to learn if pentoxifylline could be a new way to protect the blood vessels of people with chronic kidney disease.

Clazakizumab in Highly-HLA Sensitized Patients Awaiting Renal Transplant

Patients who have had a previous allograft failure represent a major problem for transplant centers as they are highly-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) sensitized and unlikely to receive another transplant without significant desensitization. This single center, phase I/II, open label single-arm exploratory study focuses on enrolling twenty patients (ages 15-75) who will begin desensitization therapy to achieve HLA incompatible (HLAi) renal transplantation. Patients who qualify will receive up to 6 doses of clazakizumab 25 mg monthly pre-transplantation. If patients receive an HLAi transplant during the study, the participants will continue to receive another 6 monthly doses of clazakizumab 25 mg, followed by a 6 month protocol biopsy. Patients will continue another 6 doses over 6 months if improvements are seen after the 6th dose of clazakizumab. Patients who develop evidence of persistent allograft dysfunction may have non-protocol biopsies for cause. Patients who receive 12 doses of clazakizumab post-transplant will receive a 12M protocol biopsy.

Fingolimod for the Abrogation of Interstitial Fibrosis and Tubular Atrophy Following Kidney Transplantation

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in de novo kidney transplant patients to determine if the addition of fingolimod (brand name Gilenya®, candidate name- FTY720) on the background of standard immunosuppression will prevent expansion of the interstitial compartment of the transplanted kidney. Interstitial expansion is the precursor of interstitial fibrosis and graft loss. The study will test the hypothesis that abgrogating the fibrogenic effects of both the RhoA and mTOR pathways with fingolimod will reduce structural damage in transplanted kidneys and possible subsequent transplant failure.

Kidney Function in Sickle Cell Anemia

This is a prospective clinical cohort study that involves a baseline study visit followed by up to 3 annual follow-up study visits for a total follow-up of 36-48 months to evaluate the age- and sex-adjusted rate of change in kidney function, and to identify biomarkers of endothelial function, metabolomic profiles and clinical characteristics for the worsening of kidney function and for a rapid decline in kidney function. "Funding Source - FDA OOPD"

International (Pediatric) Peritoneal Biobank

Within few years the peritoneal membrane of adult peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients undergoes substantial morphological transformation, including progressive fibrosis, vasculopathy and neoangiogenesis. Ultrafiltration capacity steadily declines and ultimately results in PD failure. In children, peritoneal biopsies demonstrating PD associated alterations have not yet been obtained. They, however, should be particularly informative, since secondary tissue and vascular pathology related to ageing or diabetes is absent. An international, prospective peritoneal membrane biopsy study in children on PD will therefore be performed. Biopsies will be obtained at time of PD catheter insertion, on occasion of intercurrent abdominal surgery (e.g. hernia repair, catheter exchange) and at time of renal transplantation. Quantitative histomorphometry and tissue protein expression analyses will be correlated with time integrated PD treatment modalities and functional characteristics as well as inflammatory and cardiovascular comorbidity surrogate parameter. Blood will be obtained during clinical routine sampling. Biopsies will be obtained during clinically indicated operations, without substantially increasing operation time and associated surgical risks. The detailed histomorphometry of the PD membrane will give additional information, potentially impacting on the individual PD regime. 3/2018: The analyses of the pediatric PD biopsy demonstrated early and major transformation of the peritoneal membrane with neutral pH low GDP fluids, and significant vasculopathy already in children with CKD stage 5, further progressing with PD. The underlying mechanisms are partly understood, only. In view of these major findings and the numerous open questions, collection of biosamples will be continued in children and also in adult PD patients. The following questions will be addressed: Molecular counterparts of peritoneal semi-permeability, solute and water transport (beyond AQP1), pathomechanisms and molecular and functional impact of peritoneal transformation with low and high GDP fluids, and the respective pathomechanisms and molecular and functional impact of vascular disease in CKD and with different PD fluids. The impact of renal transplantation following PD will be assessed in a subgroup of patients with tenckhoff catheter removal several weeks after transplantation and a functioning graft.

Clinical Impact of the IBox As an Early Intervention TooL

International, multicentre, randomized 1:1 controlled trial to prove the clinical and medico economic benefits of the medical device Predigraft, by showing that the use of Predigraft could improve patient's follow-up.

VR-Guided Mindfulness for ESKD Caregiver Well-Being

This pilot randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a virtual reality (VR)-guided mindfulness intervention for caregivers of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Thirty ESKD caregivers will be randomly assigned to either a 6-week VR-guided mindfulness intervention or a sham VR control group. The study will assess changes in caregiver burden, stress, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and mindfulness using validated questionnaires. Feasibility outcomes, including recruitment, retention, adherence, and participant experiences, will also be evaluated. The findings will inform the design of a future larger-scale trial and may lead to the development of an accessible, technology-based support option for ESKD caregivers.

Acetoacetate and Acetate Metabolism in Patients With Chronic Kidney Failure.(RENO-TEP)

The objective of this study is to nake a comparison between 11c-acetate and 11c-acetoacetate kidney uptake in chronic kidney failure patients.

The Effect of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Patients With Chronic Renal Failure

Psychological flexibility, life satisfaction and adaptation to the disease of individuals with chronic kidney disease were increased with psychoeducation based on acceptance and commitment therapy to be given to individuals with chronic kidney disease.

EuroSIDA - Clinical and Virological Outcome of European Patients Infected With HIV

The EuroSIDA study is a prospective observational cohort study of 23,000+ patients followed in 100+ clinics in 35 European countries, Israel and Argentina. The study is the largest pan-European cohort study and few studies of a comparable design are available on a global scale. The EuroSIDA study is an ongoing collaboration and patients have been enrolled into the study through 11 cohorts since 1994. The main objective of the study remains the same as in 1994: to prospectively study, clinical, therapeutic, demographic, virological and laboratory data from HIV-1 positive persons across Europe in order to determine their long-term virological, immunological and clinical outcomes. Historically, EuroSIDA has been crucial in reporting key changes in the HIV epidemic, such as the dramatic changes in morbidity and mortality when combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) was first introduced. As new anti-HCV treatment is introduced to HIV/HCV co-infected patients, it is important for EuroSIDA to remain in the forefront of investigating the treatment benefits and adverse effects. All study documents, study status, newsletters, scientific publications and presentations are available online and are updated continuously at project website. In general terms, the objective of the EuroSIDA study is to continue a long-term, prospective collection of clinical, laboratory and therapeutic data as well as plasma on a large cohort of consecutive HIV infected patients from across Europe in order to (1) assess the factors associated with the clinical, immunological and virological course of HIV infection and HIV-related co-infections and co-morbidities, and (2) continue to provide and develop a surveillance system to describe temporal changes and regional differences in the clinical course of HIV and HIV-related co-infections and co-morbidities in Europe.

Assessment of the Effect of Restriction on Alimentary AGE in Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease

Normal-protein and low-AGE through raw or rare proteins diet versus normal-protein and high-AGE diet in stage IIIa-b renal failure patients