Clinical Research Directory

GLUCOSE-MGH: Genetic Links Understood Through Challenge With Oral Semaglutide Exposure at MGH

The goal of this research study is to evaluate the pathophysiologic mechanisms by which genetic variation impacts response to an FDA-approved medication commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes called oral semaglutide (Rybelsus) and to characterize the physiological response to a mixed meal tolerance test (MMTT) before and after a 14-day treatment with oral semaglutide. The investigators will do this by measuring factors in the blood, such as sugars, fats, metabolites, and proteins, after eating a standardized breakfast meal at the first visit and after taking 14 doses of oral semaglutide over two weeks before the second study visit. The food (mixed meal breakfast) we will be studying is specially prepared to contain a set amount of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. The investigators hypothesize that understanding how the acute biochemical response to oral semaglutide differs by genetic variation will generate insight into drug mechanisms and type 2 diabetes pathophysiology.

Evaluation of Therapeutic Adherence Among Patients Followed in the Department of Hereditary Metabolic Diseases at Necker Hospital

The purpose of this study is to evaluate treatment adherence among patients followed in the Department of Inherited Metabolic Diseases at Necker Hospital, in order to assess the need for implementing a therapeutic education workshop focused on medication adherence.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Metabolic Diseases

This study aims to leverage structural, functional, and metabolic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain to identify imaging features that correlate with clinical parameters. It is hypothesized that individuals with metabolic diseases exhibit distinct functional and structural brain differences compared to healthy controls. These differences may evolve over time due to changes in whole-body metabolism or body weight, influenced by factors such as the natural progression of the disease or therapeutic interventions. Additionally, potential brain changes may correlate with body composition metrics, such as the fat content of specific body compartments. This is a prospective, single-center study conducted at Ulm University Hospital, designed to track the clinical and imaging histories of patients with metabolic diseases and compare them to healthy individuals. Eligible participants include adults (aged 18 and older) capable of providing informed consent. Recruitment will occur through routine clinical care or existing research studies. To provide a comprehensive understanding, the study will include both cross-sectional analyses and longitudinal follow-up of participants, integrating repeated assessments during routine medical visits.

Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes

This study aims to examine the role of genetic and epigenetic factors, maternal nutrition, lifestyle, emotional health, and other environmental factors in pregnancy or postpartum period that can influence future maternal risk of metabolic and mental wellness, including body weight changes. The study will recruit women in early pregnancy and later follow their children after birth, tracking both the mother and child until the child reaches at least 20 years of age.

Effects of Daily Beef Intake, as a Component of a Heart-Healthy Diet on Cellular Zinc

The objective of the current study is to test the overarching hypothesis that the beef nutritive matrix is uniquely suited to direct dietary zinc to cellular compartments for improved metabolic function, leading to a greater effect on health outcomes. Specifically, whether beef, as a component of a healthy meal, will promote the absorption of zinc into cells, where the zinc will have greater effects on zinc-dependent metabolic processes supporting cardiovascular health. To maximize the observability of these beef-related effects, individuals who are 55- to 70-year-old who generally have a higher risk of zinc deficiency and cardiovascular disease will be enrolled.

Landscape of Gout in French Polynesia.

The aim of this research is to characterise the genetic and molecular landscape of gout, inflammation and metabolic diseases, as well as the associated molecular, anthropomorphic and pathological characteristics.

Comparing Dumping Symptoms and Quality of Life 6 Months After Sleeve Gastrectomy With or Without Transit Bipartition in Adults With Obesity

This clinical study aims to compare two types of bariatric (weight loss) surgery used to treat obesity: sleeve gastrectomy alone and sleeve gastrectomy with transit bipartition. Both procedures help patients lose excess weight and improve obesity-related conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. However, they may differ in how they affect digestion and patients' quality of life after surgery. One possible complication after bariatric surgery is dumping syndrome. This occurs when food passes too quickly from the stomach into the small intestine, causing symptoms such as nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, or fatigue after eating. These symptoms can be uncomfortable and may interfere with daily activities, eating habits, and overall well-being. The main goal of this study is to evaluate and compare both the occurrence of dumping syndrome and the overall quality of life six months after surgery in two groups of patients: Those who undergo sleeve gastrectomy alone. Those who undergo sleeve gastrectomy combined with transit bipartition. Participants will be adults with obesity who are scheduled to undergo bariatric surgery. Each participant will be evaluated before and after surgery using medical assessments and validated questionnaires that measure symptoms, eating patterns, and different aspects of quality of life-including physical health, emotional well-being, and social functioning. Follow-up visits and questionnaires will be conducted six months after surgery to determine how each surgical technique affects patients' digestion, comfort after meals, and overall satisfaction with their health and lifestyle. The study's hypothesis is that adding transit bipartition to sleeve gastrectomy may decrease the frequency or severity of dumping syndrome and lead to better quality of life outcomes compared to sleeve gastrectomy alone. By comparing these two surgical approaches, this study hopes to help surgeons and patients make better-informed decisions about bariatric surgery, aiming for the best combination of effective weight loss, minimal side effects, and improved long-term quality of life.

A Phase 3 Study of NTLA-2001 in ATTRv-PN

This study will be conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single dose of nexiguran ziclumeran (NTLA-2001) compared to placebo in participants with ATTRv-PN.

Effects of HIIT vs. TRE on Type 2 Diabetes Risk

The primary aim of this randomized controlled trial is to examine the effects of a 4-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and time-restricted eating (TRE) intervention on cardiometabolic biomarkers in adolescents and young adults.

Sarcopenia, Metabolic Diseases, and Integrated Aging Longitudinal Evaluation (SMILE)

This study aims to establish an ambispective cohort platform centered on the pathological axis of "sarcopenia-metabolic disorders-aging progression", integrating multimodal data including demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, clinical phenotypes, laboratory tests, medical imaging, and biospecimens. Namely 'Sarcopenia, Metabolic Diseases, and Integrated Aging Longitudinal Evaluation (SMILE)'.

Adipose Tissue and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)(EIFFEL)

The purpose of this study is to collect data to help understand why some women develop Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) associated with decreased lower-body fat.

A Multi-cohort Study of Safety, Efficacy, PK and PD of GNR-055 in Patients With Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II

This is phase 2/3 study to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy of the investigational product GNR-055 in MPS II (Hunter syndrome) patients of different age groups.

Nicotinamide Riboside Supplementation and Exercise Training to Promote Healthy Longevity

The prevalence of age-related chronic diseases (like obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases) is mounting worldwide, reaching pandemic proportions. These age-related chronic diseases are associated with diminished skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in humans. Nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide (NAD) is a coenzyme that regulates mitochondrial function, therefore, plays an important role in energy metabolism. Importantly, it has been shown that high cellular NAD+ levels as well as a high NAD+/NADH ratio promote metabolic and mitochondrial health. In contrast, NAD+ bioavailability declines upon aging in humans as well as in animal models of metabolic disorders and type 2 diabetes. These findings fuel the notion of boosting the NAD+ bioavailability in order to improve metabolic disturbances and mitochondrial dysfunction in aged individuals. Supplementation with nicotinamide riboside (NR), a naturally occurring form of vitamin B3, boosts cellular NAD+ levels. However, in contrast to animal studies, NR supplementation in humans has so far been unsuccessful in improving skeletal muscle mitochondrial function, exercise capacity or insulin sensitivity. Interestingly, Recently, it has been suggested that metabolic conditions where NAD+ levels become limited, is needed for NR supplementation to exert beneficial health effects. This metabolic condition could be achieved by exercise. However, studies combining NR and exercise are lacking, and that is why we will perform the present study.

Intestinal Metabolic Reprogramming as a Key Mechanism of Gastric Bypass in Humans

The purpose of this research study is to determine how gastric bypass surgery effects metabolism in obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. One mechanism that has been investigated in animal models is change to the biology of the small intestine (Roux limb) and how glucose and other fuels are metabolized (or how the body digests and uses sugar and other fuels). This study will evaluate the role of the intestine in the beneficial metabolic effects of gastric bypass surgery. It specifically will examine whether the intestine increases its metabolism and its activity, and whether this results in an increase in fuel utilization. Thirty two (32) subjects will be recruited (18 with and 14 without Type 2 Diabetes). At the time of gastric bypass surgery, a small piece of intestine that is usually discarded will be collected. At three time points over the first year after surgery, intestinal samples will be obtained by endoscopy or insertion of a lighted flexible tube through the mouth. Blood samples will be taken at all time points, as well. All samples will undergo comprehensive metabolic analyses. Comparisons will be made between the two groups to understand the metabolic changes over time and if there are differences between the two groups.

Genetic and Metabolic Disease in Children

This is a prospective, non-randomized, non-blinded observational study. The overarching goal is to discover new disease-associated genes in children, while establishing a specific focus on disorders where molecular characterization is most likely to lead to novel therapies. This study will merge detailed phenotypic characterization of patients presenting to the Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism Division in the Department of Pediatrics/Children's Medical Center at Dallas and collaborating clinics with Next-Generation sequencing techniques to identify disease-producing mutations. The primary objective of the study is to identify novel pathogenic mutations in children with rare Mendelian disorders. A secondary objective of the study is to establish normative ranges of a large number of metabolites from healthy newborns and older children.

The Effect of Processing on Food Reward

The minimally processed diets of our ancestors have been rapidly replaced by UPFs driving poor diet to become the leading risk factor for preventable death globally. Hence, it is essential to understand what properties of UPF are driving their overconsumption to reduce diet-related mortality. To address this gap in knowledge this proposal will test: * If UPFs have a greater post meal metabolic response when compared to MPFs an essential signal for food reward * Through the use of an auction task paradigm if UPFs overvalued and if this value is differentially encoded in the brain This study is a fully cross-over design in that each participant receives all conditions and therefore serves as their own control. All orders of foods will be counterbalanced. Although participants cannot be blinded to the conditions as they must be aware of the foods they are eating, they will not be made aware that the key manipulation is food processing. On different days participants will come to the lab and consume a meal containing either minimally or ultra-processed foods as determined by the widely used NOVA (not an acronym) scale. These conditions will be consumed in a whole room metabolic chamber allowing for simultaneous measurement of multiple metabolic responses (glucose, insulin, and metabolic rate). These measures will be collected for 45 min before consumption of the meal (baseline) and for 3 hours after consumption (post-prandial). All participants will also undergo a Becker-Degroot-Marschak auction paradigm that consists of foods that are either minimally or Ultra-processed in the MRI scanner. Food value will be measure in participants' willingness to pay for each food and Neural responses will be measured during presentation of the food cues.

The Efficacy and Safety of Puerarin in Obesity Treatment

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of puerarin intervention in weight management and metabolic regulation among obese populations. The study will systematically address two primary endpoints: 1) The capacity of puerarin to induce clinically significant body weight reduction in individuals with BMI ≥30 kg/m²; 2) Its modulatory effects on postprandial lipid metabolism as measured by serum lipids and quantitative fecal lipid excretion analysis. Secondary outcomes focus on puerarin's pleiotropic effects, including continuous glucose monitoring-derived glycemic parameters and indirect calorimetry-assessed resting metabolic rate. Secondary exploratory objectives include investigating puerarin's potential mechanisms of action through continuous glucose monitoring and indirect calorimetry measurements to assess glycemic variability and resting energy expenditure, respectively. Participants will be randomized into two parallel groups: the intervention group receiving daily oral puerarin injection (75 mg/day, dissolved in 100 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution) and the control group receiving matched blank 100 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution, both administered double-blind for 6 consecutive months. Primary efficacy endpoints (body weight, waist circumference, lipid profile) and safety monitoring (adverse events, hematological/ biochemical parameters) will be assessed at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months post-intervention.

The SWITCH Dietary and Behavioural Intervention Study

The overall objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an optimized lifestyle intervention based on dietary advice, behavioral support, and provision of key foods compared to dietary advice with behavioral support or dietary advice alone. The intervention aims to improve nutritional status, metabolic risk factors, and planetary sustainability. A total of 300 participants (150 men and 150 women) who meet all inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria will be recruited. The study will be conducted at the Centre for Lifestyle Intervention at Östra Hospital in Gothenburg, led by researchers from Chalmers University of Technology, University of Gothenburg, and Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Participants will be recruited from two different socioeconomic areas in Gothenburg to examine how dietary interventions function in diverse population groups. The study follows a twelve-week randomized, controlled, parallel intervention design. Participants will be randomized into three groups, each with 100 individuals: Optimized lifestyle intervention group - receiving dietary advice, behavioral support, and provision of key foods. Behavioral support intervention group - receiving dietary advice and behavioral support. Control group - receiving dietary advice according to the SWITCH diet. The SWITCH diet, developed within the EU project SWITCH, is designed to align with European dietary guidelines and promote sustainable and healthy eating habits. It emphasizes whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and sustainable seafood while limiting processed foods, added sugars, and salt. Throughout the study, participants will undergo clinical assessments at baseline, midpoint (week 7), and endpoint (week 13). Key measurements include anthropometric data, blood pressure, blood glucose, blood lipids, and inflammatory markers. Dietary intake and sustainability aspects of food consumption will also be evaluated. Participants in the intervention groups will receive personalized coaching and access to practical resources, such as meal plans, recipes, and visual educational materials. The primary outcome of the study is the difference in cardiometabolic risk factors (e.g., blood lipids, blood pressure, glucose, insulin resistance markers) between the intervention groups. Secondary outcomes include changes in dietary intake, nutritional status markers, inflammatory markers, and sustainability measures (e.g., CO₂ emissions, land use, biodiversity impact). Additionally, exploratory analyses will investigate associations between diet, lifestyle changes, gut microbiota, and metabolic responses. This study aims to generate valuable insights into the effectiveness of different dietary intervention strategies in real-life Nordic conditions. The results will contribute to the development of evidence-based recommendations for sustainable and health-promoting dietary patterns.

Cardiometabolic evalUation REgistry of Heart Failure

This is a combined retrospective-prospective observational cohort study investigating the role of systemic and local cardiometabolic risk factors in cardiac structural/functional remodeling and clinical outcomes among heart failure (HF) patients. The study integrates retrospective clinical data (from the past 10 years) and prospective longitudinal follow-up (5 years) of HF patients across HF with reduced (HFrEF), mildly-reduced (HFmrEF), preserved (HFpEF) and improved ejection fraction (HFimpEF) phenotypes. Systemic metabolic factors (e.g., blood lipid profiles, glycemic levels, insulin resistance) and local factors (e.g., epicardial adipose tissue \[EAT\], perivascular adipose tissue \[PVAT\]) will be analyzed for their associations with changes in cardiac geometrics and function, dynamic transitions between HF phenotypes, as well as the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). The study seeks to advance risk stratification by integrated evaluation of cardiometabolic profiles so as to refine personalized cures in HF management.

Effect of Low Valine Diet on Body Weight and Metabolic Parameters

This study aimed to explore the effects of ordinary meal replacements and low-valine meal replacements on the weight and risk of related metabolic diseases in overweight/obese patients through a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial.

Clinical Trial Assessing Human Placental Membrane Products and Standard of Care Versus Standard of Care in Nonhealing DFUs and VLUs

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of multiple human placental membrane products and Standard of Care (SOC) versus SOC alone in the management of nonhealing diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and venous leg ulcers (VLUs) over 12 weeks using a modified platform trial design.

Relationship Between Metabolic Profiles and Chronic Diseases and Neoplasms

Metabolic disorders are involved in the occurrence and development of a variety of chronic diseases and tumors. There are many common risk factors between chronic diseases and tumors. However, the mechanisms of chronic diseases and tumors caused by metabolic disorders are not completely clear. By observing the relationship between metabolic indexes and chronic diseases and tumors, the investigators intend to explore the possible mechanisms of metabolic status participating in the occurrence and development of chronic diseases and tumors.

Study to Create Potential Cell-Based Therapies to Treat Human Disease and Disability

This is a research study in which your cells will be used for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), and/or genetic reprogramming research which may result in the production of stem cell lines. This study does not provide treatment.