Clinical Research Directory

A Study on Ubiquinol on Fatigue and Muscle Strength in Healthy Adults Taking GLP-1 Agonists

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a daily ubiquinol supplement can reduce fatigue and help maintain muscle strength in adults aged 30-65 who are taking a GLP-1 weight loss medication (Wegovy® or Mounjaro®). Ubiquinol is a form of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a substance the body makes naturally that plays a key role in energy production. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does ubiquinol lower fatigue levels compared to a placebo (a look-alike capsule that contains no ubiquinol)? Does ubiquinol help maintain muscle strength during weight loss treatment? Researchers will compare ubiquinol to a placebo to see if ubiquinol helps with fatigue and muscle strength in people using GLP-1 medications. Participants will: Take one ubiquinol (100 mg) or placebo capsule every day for 9 months Have a nurse visit their home 4 times (at months 0, 3, 6, and 9) to take a small blood sample, measure their body, and supervise a simple sit-to-stand exercise test Attend a short monthly video call (about 20-30 minutes) with a study dietitian Complete questionnaires and 4 days of diet logging every 3 months using a smartphone app Log all exercise sessions in the smartphone app throughout the study This is a fully remote study - participants do not need to visit a clinic. About 90 people will take part.

Obesity and Outcomes After Surgery for Thoracoabdominal and Abdominal Gunshot Injuries

This retrospective observational study evaluated whether obesity was associated with outcomes after surgery for thoracoabdominal or isolated abdominal gunshot injuries. Adult patients who underwent surgery for these injuries at a referral trauma center between 2020 and 2025 were included. Patients were grouped according to body mass index, with obesity defined as a body mass index of 30 kg/m² or higher. Clinical characteristics, injury-related variables, perioperative findings, postoperative complications, need for reoperation, intensive care unit stay, mechanical ventilation, hospital stay, and mortality were evaluated. The study aimed to determine whether outcomes differed between patients with and without obesity and to identify factors associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Long-term Effects of Avocado Consumption on Health in Pre-diabetic Individuals

Primary aim of the study is to assess the effect of 12-week daily avocado consumption on cerebral blood flow and markers of cardio- and vascular health in both, the periphery and the brain, in pre-diabetic individuals with overweight or obesity. Secondary objective is to assess the effects of 12-week daily avocado consumption on brain insulin sensitivity after intranasal insulin delivery, vascular function, markers of metabolic health, cognition, and psychological well-being. For that purpose a total of 34 men and women between the ages of 40-75 years old, will participate in a randomised crossover intervention study.

PLAY2CONTROL Study

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of active video gaming participation in otherwise sedentary patients with obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study will assess changes in sedentary time, activity level and changes in weight and Hemoglobin A1c, as well as other complications related to obesity that is monitored in clinic.

EMS vs. Resistance Training in Overweight Women

This study aims to compare the effects of eight weeks of resistance training versus electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) on oxidative stress indicators and cellular health index in overweight and obese women aged 35-45 years. Forty-two participants will be randomly assigned to three groups: resistance training, EMS, and control. The resistance training group will perform progressive resistance exercises three times per week for eight weeks. The EMS group will receive electrical muscle stimulation on biceps, abdominal, back, and quadriceps muscles three times per week for eight weeks. The control group will receive no intervention. Oxidative stress markers including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), glutathione, protein carbonyl (PC), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) will be measured from blood samples. Cellular health will be assessed using phase angle (PhA) derived from bioelectrical impedance analysis. Upper and lower body muscular strength and endurance will also be evaluated. All measurements will be taken at baseline and 48 hours after the last training session. The primary outcome is change in phase angle. Secondary outcomes include changes in oxidative stress markers and physical performance.

Digital Resistance Training for Midlife Women Using GLP-1

The goal of PLAN-RT 1.0 to learn if a 12-week app-based strength training program can help midlife women build and stick with a regular strength training routine while they are taking GLP-1 medication for weight loss. PLAN-RT 1.0 targets women ages 40 to 59 who were not regularly exercising before starting GLP-1 medication. The main questions this study aims to answer are: (1) Is the PLAN-RT 1.0 program feasible and acceptable to participants (based on how many people join, stay in the study, and use the program)? (2) Does the program lead to early changes in muscle strength, body composition, physical function, and exercise habits?

Investigation of Systemic Inflammation Markers in Lipedema

The aim of this study is to evaluate systemic inflammation in individuals with lipedema using hematological and biochemical inflammation indices and to examine the relationship between these indices and clinical findings. Additionally, the study aims to evaluate whether systemic inflammatory markers serve as objective biomarkers reflecting lipedema progression and clinical severity, and to assess their practical applicability in clinical practice. Hypothesis: Systemic inflammation markers are higher in the lipedema group compared to healthy controls, and these markers are associated with clinical severity.

A Randomized Controlled Study of Dose-tapering Regimen of Semaglutide for Weight-Loss Maintenance in Adults With Overweight or Obesity

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether a semaglutide dose-tapering regimen is non-inferior to a treatment-dose maintenance regimen for weight-loss maintenance in adults with overweight or obesity who have achieved stable weight loss. This trial will also evaluate the safety of the dose-tapering regimen. The primary research questions are: Is the semaglutide dose-tapering regimen non-inferior to the treatment-dose maintenance regimen for weight-loss maintenance at 24 weeks? Can the dose-tapering regimen alleviate adverse events and offer a more personalized, sustainable pathway for medication discontinuation? Researchers will compare the semaglutide dose-tapering regimen against a treatment-dose maintenance regimen to assess whether the tapering strategy preserves weight loss and improves cardiometabolic markers. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to receive either the semaglutide dose-tapering regimen or the treatment-dose maintenance regimen for 24 weeks. Complete a 24-week follow-up period after medication discontinuation (48 weeks total study duration). Attend scheduled clinic visits for physical examinations and laboratory testing to assess weight, BMI, waist circumference, cardiometabolic markers (including blood glucose, blood pressure, and lipids), and to monitor adverse events.

E-Health Lifestyle Intervention for Arthritis: A Pilot RCT on Feasibility

Knee osteoarthritis and obesity are common health problems in Hong Kong, especially among South Asian communities, where obesity rates are much higher than the general population. These two conditions often make each other worse-pain from arthritis leads to less physical activity, which can lead to more weight gain and more joint pain. This pilot study is testing a new digital health program called CHALAANE(Community health asian lifestyle for ameliorating arthritis with navigational e-health), which means "walk" in Hindi and Urdu. The program uses a smartband and a mobile app with artificial intelligence to help participants track their activity and diet. It also includes a 12-week supervised program with group walking sessions and lifestyle education. The study will include 50 South Asian adults aged 40 to 75 years who have knee osteoarthritis and obesity. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The intervention group will receive the full CHALAANE program with an activated smartband and mobile app. The control group will receive an inactivated smartband for activity monitoring only. The study will last 10 months, with assessments at multiple time points. The main goal of this pilot study is to see if a larger future study would be feasible. The researchers will measure how many participants follow the program as instructed and how many complete the full 10-month study. They will also look at whether the program is acceptable to the South Asian community and gather early data on pain, physical function, and body composition. The study is a collaboration between the Department of Orthopaedics \& Traumatology at Queen Mary Hospital and The Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital. A total of 50 participants will be recruited. Results will help inform the design of a future full-scale trial to improve health outcomes in this underserved population.

Bariatric Endoscopic Antral Myotomy Combined With Fundal Gastric Mucosal Ablation

The gastric fundus regulates appetite through orexigenic ghrelin-mediated and anorexigenic visceroceptive pathways. Accordingly, endoscopic gastric fundal mucosal ablation (GFMA) may benefit patients with obesity. Ablation not only affects these mechanisms, but similar to what happens after mucosal ablation for other indications (e.g. ESD for tumor removal), it is expected to cause shrinking of the fundus and reduce gastric volume. Another potential target to achieve weight loss is gastric emptying. This is a critical step in digestion that has been found to be more rapid after prolonged exposure to a high-fat diet in both animal and human studies, with rapid emptying also being more common in young people with obesity in some studies. The bariatric endoscopic antral myotomy (BEAM) procedure has been shown to consistently delay gastric emptying without triggering symptoms of gastroparesis and to produce substantial weight loss. Both GFMA and BEAM procedures have the advantages of being minimally invasive, performed completely endoscopic and less costly than surgical alternatives or other known endoscopic techniques like intragastric balloon or endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty.

Effect of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Periodontal Health and Response to Nonsurgical Periodontal Therapy

This study aims to evaluate the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) use on periodontal health and the response to non-surgical periodontal therapy in individuals with obesity and periodontitis. Participants with obesity and periodontitis will be divided into two groups: those who have been using a GLP-1 RA for at least 3 months and those who are not using any medication for obesity. All participants will receive the same non-surgical periodontal treatment, including oral hygiene instruction, scaling, and root planing. Periodontal clinical measurements and gingival crevicular fluid samples will be collected before treatment and at 3 and 6 months after treatment. The study will compare changes in periodontal health and inflammatory markers between the two groups to determine whether GLP-1 RA use is associated with periodontal health and the response to non-surgical periodontal therapy.

Shift Workers' Health Behavior Action Program Across Europe

This study evaluates the effects of a Combined Lifestyle Intervention Program (CLIP) on sleep, lifestyle behaviors, obesity risk and health in night-shift workers. The primary objective is to assess the effect of the CLIP on objectively measured sleep duration. Secondary objectives include behavioral outcomes related to sleep, diet, physical activity, and stress, as well as body weight and metabolic outcomes, . It is hypothesized that CLIP participants will show a greater increase in sleep duration than controls, alongside favorable changes in lifestyle and health outcomes.

Redefining Evaluation of Adiposity and Leanness: Broadening Objective Diagnostics for Obesity

The purpose of this study is to evaluate body composition across a variety of medical, professional, and commercial devices, including: bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) devices, 3-dimensional optical imaging (3DO), manual anthropometry measurements, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and blood tests. The secondary study purpose is to compare body composition measurements from BIA devices, 3DO, and manual anthropometry measurements within a 1-week period for a subset of the study population. The study plans to enroll 300 healthy (having no life-threatening conditions or diseases; male and female) participants, 18 years of age or older.

Pre-Diagnosis GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Use and Post-Cancer Mortality in Adults With Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

This study will examine whether the type of diabetes treatment used before cancer diagnosis is associated with survival and serious complications after obesity-associated cancer in adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes. The study focuses on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) and compares them with other commonly used glucose-lowering therapies, including SGLT2 inhibitors, DPP-4 inhibitors, sulfonylureas, metformin, and usual care. Using de-identified electronic health record data from the TriNetX US Collaborative Network, the study will assess whether patients who used GLP-1 RA before cancer diagnosis have different risks of death, hospitalization, sepsis, and other major outcomes after cancer diagnosis. This is an observational study designed to evaluate associations in routine clinical care and not to prove a treatment effect.

Polydextrose Functional Gummies for Weight Management in Adults With Overweight or Obesity

Overweight and obesity are common conditions that increase the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Polydextrose is a type of dietary fiber that may help increase feelings of fullness by influencing natural hormones involved in appetite regulation. It may also improve postprandial glycemic responses and modulate the gut microbiota. However, evidence for its effectiveness in weight management remains limited. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of functional gummies containing polydextrose compared with placebo for weight management in adults with overweight or obesity. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either polydextrose or placebo gummies for 24 weeks, together with standardized dietary and physical activity recommendations. The primary objective is to compare the percentage change in body weight over 24 weeks between participants receiving polydextrose gummies and those receiving placebo. The study will also evaluate appetite and satiety, body composition, waist circumference, metabolic parameters, quality of life, gastrointestinal symptoms, and the safety and tolerability of the study product. The study hypothesis is that daily intake of polydextrose gummies for 24 weeks will lead to a greater reduction in body weight than placebo and may improve subjective feelings of appetite and satiety in adults with overweight or obesity.

Personalizing Financial Incentives

The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of providing personalized incentives for dietary self-monitoring and/or interim weight loss to people enrolled in a weight-loss program

Prebiotic Inulin for Late-Reproductive Individuals

This study aims to evaluate the effects of 2 weeks of inulin supplementation in perimenopausal women with overweight or obesity. The primary questions this study seeks to answer are: 1. Does 2 weeks of inulin supplementation alter the gut and vaginal estrobolome compared with placebo? 2. Does 2 weeks of inulin supplementation affect cardiovascular health compared with placebo? 3. Does 2 weeks of inulin supplementation affect skeletal muscle health compared with placebo? Researchers will compare inulin with a placebo (a similar-looking supplement that does not contain inulin) to determine whether inulin influences gut and vaginal microbial function, cardiovascular health, and skeletal muscle health during the perimenopausal transition. Participants will: * Take either inulin or a placebo for 2 weeks, followed by a 2- to 4-week washout period, and then switch to the other supplement for an additional 2 weeks. * Attend 8 study visits over approximately 12 to 16 weeks for assessments and sample collection. * Complete weekly phone calls to monitor symptoms, supplement adherence, and dietary intake. * Wear a Fitbit device throughout the study to monitor physical activity.

Optimizing Lifestyles Through Increased Vegetable-rich Eating Pilot Study

The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to examine how receipt of ingredients for a Mediterranean diet (with or without nutrition classes) impacts Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus risk factors among adults in the US South. The main question it aims to answer is: \- Will greater improvements in diet quality (HEI Score) and body weight be seen in the group that receives grocery delivery and nutrition classes (TK+FiM) compared to the group receiving grocery delivery only (FiM only)? Researchers will evaluate the changes in diet quality and body weight among participants in each group to see which group experiences greater improvements. Participants will: * be randomly assigned to either receive weekly grocery deliveries and attend weekly virtual nutrition classes for 4 weeks or receive weekly grocery deliveries only. * be asked to complete surveys/questionnaires at the baseline and 4-week timepoints in the study. * be asked to participate in a post-study focus group to talk about their experiences during the intervention.

Improving Cervical Cancer Prevention Among Women Living With Chronic Conditions.

Our overarching goal is to adapt and test the PINPOINT intervention -PatIent Navigation for the Prevention of CervIcal CaNcer inTervention. We will test the PINPOINT intervention among patients with high-risk profiles for cervical cancer who do not meet the recommended screening for cervical cancer.

Waiting on Atrial Fibrillation Intervention Therapy (WAIT) Study

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder and is associated with symptoms, reduced quality of life, heart failure, stroke, and a high risk of recurrence after catheter ablation. Many patients scheduled for their first ablation are overweight or have obesity, which is one of the strongest predictors of AF recurrence. Weight loss and risk-factor management are known to improve the outcome of ablation, but lifestyle changes are often difficult to achieve in routine care. Semaglutide (Wegovy®) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist approved in the EU for weight management. It has been shown to produce substantial and sustained weight loss and to improve metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors. Whether treatment with semaglutide before AF ablation can improve long-term rhythm outcomes has never been tested in a randomized clinical trial. The WAIT-AF study is a randomized, open-label trial with blinded endpoint assessment. The study includes adults with AF who are scheduled for their first catheter ablation and have a BMI ≥30 kg/m², or ≥27 kg/m² with at least one additional cardiovascular risk factor (such as hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia). A total of 200 participants will be enrolled. Participants are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either standard care or semaglutide (plus lifestyle advice) prior to their scheduled ablation. Semaglutide is administered according to the approved EU label with gradual dose escalation. All participants receive an implantable loop recorder (ILR) before ablation to continuously monitor heart rhythm throughout the study. The primary objective is to determine whether semaglutide improves arrhythmia-free survival 12 months after AF ablation. Recurrence is defined as AF, atrial flutter, or atrial tachycardia lasting ≥30 seconds on continuous ILR monitoring, excluding the standard 3-month blanking period. Secondary outcomes include weight loss, changes in blood pressure, AF symptoms, quality of life, AF burden, need for repeat ablation, hospitalizations for cardiovascular causes, and changes in metabolic risk factors. The study also evaluates safety and tolerability of semaglutide in this patient population. The study aims to determine whether targeted weight management with semaglutide before AF ablation can improve long-term rhythm outcomes and overall cardiovascular health. If successful, this strategy may offer a new approach to optimizing treatment and improving the results of catheter ablation for patients with AF and overweight or obesity

Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of LUM-201 Plus Semaglutide Versus Semaglutide Plus Placebo in Older Obese Adults

This is a phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center study evaluating the efficacy and safety of LUM-201 plus Semaglutide versus Semaglutide plus placebo in obese adults with body mass index between 30 and 45 kg/m\^2, between the ages of 60 and 85 years that have mild functional impairment.

Growth Hormone Resistance of Beta-cells

The purpose of the research study is to better understand how beta-cells (cells in the pancreas that make insulin and help regulate blood sugar) respond to growth hormone in people with impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance at the University of Missouri. The aim of the study is to advance understanding of how growth hormone affects beta-cells and risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes.

GLP-1 Agonists for Lung Function Improvement and Muscle Restoration in COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with systemic inflammation, obesity-related metabolic dysfunction, skeletal muscle impairment, and progressive decline in lung function. While obesity has historically been viewed as protective in COPD, emerging evidence suggests that excess adiposity and adipokine dysregulation, particularly elevated leptin levels, contribute to chronic inflammation, impaired muscle function, and worse clinical outcomes. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, metabolic, and potential muscle-preserving effects beyond weight loss, making them promising therapeutic candidates for COPD. The GLIMR COPD study is a prospective, randomized, controlled pilot trial designed to evaluate the effects of tirzepatide on lung function, skeletal muscle health, inflammation, and body composition in overweight and obese adults with COPD. Thirty participants will be enrolled at the Cleveland Clinic COPD Center, including 20 participants receiving tirzepatide and 10 age- and sex-matched control participants. Study participants will be followed for 12 months with assessments performed at screening, baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Tirzepatide-treated participants will undergo standard dose escalation to a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg weekly. The primary objective is to determine the effect of GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy on skeletal muscle function and physiology over 12 months. Secondary objectives include evaluating changes in body composition, systemic inflammation, adipokine signaling, immune function, pulmonary physiology, physical performance, and treatment tolerability. The study is built around three mechanistic aims. First, we will characterize the effects of GLP-1 therapy on systemic inflammation and immune dysregulation using longitudinal blood-based proteomic analyses and adipokine measurements, including leptin and adiponectin. Second, we will investigate the impact of GLP-1 therapy on skeletal muscle mitochondrial function and fatty acid oxidation using muscle biopsies obtained at baseline and 12 months, combined with high-resolution respirometry, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics. Third, we will assess changes in clinical outcomes including lung function, body composition, muscle strength, and physical performance. Participants will undergo comprehensive phenotyping that includes spirometry, respiratory muscle strength testing, six-minute walk testing, handgrip strength, sit-to-stand testing, body composition assessment, diaphragm ultrasound, and non-contrast CT imaging of the lungs and thighs. Blood samples will be collected for biomarker, proteomic, metabolomic, genomic, and immunologic analyses. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies will be performed at baseline and study completion to evaluate mitochondrial bioenergetics and molecular pathways associated with muscle remodeling. Eligible participants will be adults aged 40-80 years with COPD, a smoking history of at least 10 pack-years, and overweight or obesity. Individuals with diabetes, active malignancy, recent COPD exacerbations, contraindications to tirzepatide, or conditions that could interfere with study participation will be excluded. This pilot study is designed to generate critical mechanistic and clinical data regarding the role of GLP-1 receptor agonists in COPD. Findings will help define the relationships among obesity, adipokine signaling, systemic inflammation, skeletal muscle dysfunction, and lung disease progression, while providing preliminary efficacy estimates to support the design of a future multicenter randomized clinical trial evaluating GLP-1 therapy as a novel treatment strategy for COPD.

Rosuvastatin and Losartan Pharmacokinetics After Bariatric Surgery

This prospective, open-label, non-randomized pharmacokinetic study will evaluate how Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy affect systemic exposure to single oral test doses of rosuvastatin and losartan. Sixty adults scheduled for bariatric surgery will enter one of two parallel groups according to the clinically selected operation (30 RYGB and 30 sleeve gastrectomy). Each participant will receive rosuvastatin 10 mg and losartan 25 mg once within 30 days before surgery and again approximately 12 weeks after surgery. Plasma samples collected before dosing and at 1.5 and 4 hours after dosing will be used with maximum a posteriori Bayesian estimation to estimate individual pharmacokinetic parameters. In the 30-participant RYGB group only, paired stool samples will be used to explore gut microbiota and untargeted fecal metabolomic changes. The primary objective is to compare within-participant changes and between-procedure differences in drug exposure after bariatric surgery.