Background: Each year, the number of cases of tick-borne diseases increases. The deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) is the vector of at least 7 pathogens that cause human diseases, including Lyme disease. Researchers want to learn more to help them develop vaccines against ticks in the future. Objective: To learn how people s bodies, particularly the skin, respond to tick bites. Eligibility: Healthy adults aged 18 years and older who have no known history of a tick-borne disease or tick bite exposure. Design: Participants will be screened with a medical history, physical exam, and blood tests. Participants will have 2 skin punch biopsies of healthy skin. For this, a sharp instrument will be used to remove a round plug of skin about the size of a pencil eraser. Participants will then have 10 clean laboratory-bred ticks placed at 2 different sites on their skin (20 ticks total). The ticks will be removed from the first site 1 day after placement and from the second site 2-4 days after placement. Participants will complete symptom diary cards. They will answer questions about itching at the tick feeding sites. They will give blood samples. Photos will be taken of the tick feeding sites. Skin punch biopsies will be collected at the sites of the tick bites. Participants will repeat the tick feeding procedures 2 times, each 2-8 weeks apart. For the 2nd and 3rd procedures, 10 clean laboratory-bred ticks will be placed at 1 site. The ticks will be removed 2-3 days after tick placement. They will have telephone follow-up visits after each procedure. After the final tick removal, participants will have follow-up visits in 4-6 weeks and again in 3 months. They will give blood samples and discuss how they are feeling. Participation will last about 5-7 months.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2022

open study

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, and quitting is especially difficult for couples who both smoke. When both partners smoke, they are less likely to quit successfully and more likely to relapse compared to people whose partner does not smoke. Research suggests that the way romantic partners interact and support each other during a quit attempt can make a real difference - but researchers do not yet know enough about what kinds of support actually help. This study examines a concept called "communal coping," which refers to when partners treat a shared health challenge - like quitting smoking - as something they are facing together as a team rather than as separate individuals. Researchers believe that couples who approach quitting this way may have better outcomes. To study this, researchers will ask both members of dual-smoking couples to complete brief daily surveys over two weeks while making a quit attempt. These surveys will track how partners support (or discourage) each other's quitting efforts on a day-to-day basis, along with cigarette use, cravings, and stress. This will help researchers understand which relationship patterns are most helpful for quitting, and identify specific targets for future couples-based smoking cessation programs.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Mar 2025

open study

This study is a large, multi-site clinical trial testing whether Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy (SAINT), a fast-acting form of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), can more effectively reduce symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) compared to a sham treatment. It will enroll 192 women within 12 months postpartum who are experiencing depression that has not improved with standard care, and will track their progress for up to 12 months. The trial's main goal is to see if SAINT leads to reduction in depression severity in women with postpartum depression.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2025

open study

The goal of this study is to better understand how two common psychological treatments for pain work in the brain of older adults living with chronic pain. This study will: 1. evaluate fMRI of adults receiving psychological treatments for chronic pain to determine how these interventions work within older adults, and 2. examine self-report and EEG variables to identify for whom do these psychological interventions work. Adults ages 60 years and older, living with chronic pain for at least 3 months will be randomly assigned to one of three conditions: 1. Mindfulness-Meditation 2. Therapeutic Hypnosis 3. Story Listening

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2026

open study

Phase 1b, open-label study of CLN-978 administered subcutaneously in patients with Moderate to Severe Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2025

open study

The purpose of this study is to know how well seltorexant works, and also to evaluate safety and maintenance effect of seltorexant compared with placebo as an adjunctive therapy to an antidepressant in improving depressive symptoms in participants with major depressive disorder with insomnia symptoms (MDDIS) who have had an inadequate response to current antidepressant therapy with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2024

open study

The purpose of this study is to test whether a dietary supplement (low-dose melatonin) commonly used to treat night owls, administered in conjunction with a behavioral sleep intervention, will help to shift the brain clock earlier and improve mood and sleep in bipolar disorder. Eligible participants will be randomized to receive melatonin plus a behavioral sleep intervention or placebo plus a behavioral sleep placebo. The hypotheses for this study include: - Melatonin plus behavioral sleep intervention (compared to placebo plus behavioral sleep placebo) will produce a greater advance of dim light melatonin onset (DLMO), between pre- and post-treatment. - Melatonin (compared to placebo) will produce a greater reduction in Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score between pre- and post-treatment.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2024

open study

This research study is investigating whether completing breathing exercises before surgery helps heart transplant patients recover after surgery. Previous studies have shown that breathing exercises can improve breathing, cough, and swallow function in patients with other diseases/conditions. The current study will investigate the impact of a preoperative respiratory muscle strength training program on breathing and cough function, swallow function, patient-reported eating and swallowing fatigue, and health outcomes in individuals undergoing heart transplantation. Participants will: - undergo tests of breathing, cough, and swallow function - complete questionnaires about the treatment, their swallow function - complete breathing exercises daily

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2024

open study

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked disorder that causes muscle wasting, cardiopulmonary failure, and premature death. Heart failure is a leading cause of death in DMD, but substantial knowledge gaps exist regarding predisposing risk factors. In the general population, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and decreased heart rate variability (HRV; reflecting autonomic dysfunction) are associated with cardiomyopathy (CM). It is unclear whether these factors are associated with DMD-CM. Closing this knowledge gap may lead to novel screening and therapeutic strategies to delay progression of DMD-CM, now the leading cause of death in patients with DMD. Despite risk factors for hyperglycemia, including the use of glucocorticoids (GCs), sarcopenia, obesity, and reduced ambulation, little is known regarding glucose abnormalities in DMD. Some of these same risk factors, along with the distance needed to travel for specialty care, present significant barriers to research participation and clinical care for individuals with DMD. Remote wearable technology may improve research participation in this vulnerable population. Therefore, this study will leverage remote wearable technologies to overcome these barriers and define the relationship between dysglycemia and DMD-CM. The goal of this remote study is to evaluate rates of hyperglycemia in individuals with DMD compared to control participants using continuous glucose monitors, and to determine the relationship between hyperglycemia and heart rate variability. Participants will utilize continuous glucose monitors, cardiac monitors, and activity monitors to evaluate glucose levels, heart rate, activity, and sleep.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Mar 2024

open study

This proposed study aims to conduct timely research that promotes vaccine confidence and vaccination of one strongly recommended vaccine with suboptimal uptake rates: Human papillomavirus (HPV) in vulnerable and underserved youth aged 11-14.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2025

open study

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the feasibility & acceptability of an integrated CM-PST intervention (in K99 phase) and preliminary efficacy (in R00 phase), vs. CM alone, to improve treatment efficacy and inform about neural mechanisms of treatment effects in young adults with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The aims are as follows: K99 Aim: Test feasibility & acceptability of a developed CM-PST, by meeting these benchmarks: 2a Feasibility: enroll 20 participants in the new CM-PST in a single-arm pre- and post-study, and retain ≥85% at wk 12. 2b Deliver CM-PST at ≥90% fidelity to intervention protocol. 2c Acceptability to participants: Achieve mean score ≥3 on Client Satisfaction Scale Questionnaire and satisfaction from semi-structured interviews. R00 Aim 1) Test preliminary efficacy of CM-PST in a 2-arm pilot RCT: Male/female young adults (aged18-24) who meet AUD criteria will be randomized to CM-PST or CM-only control, and assessed at baseline (0), 3, and 6 months. Primary study endpoint will be 3 months. R00 Aim 2 (Exploratory) Explore potential neural mechanisms of CM-PST effects, by fMRI scanning & analyses of core regions of the brain circuits regulating positive affect (ventral striatum), negative affect (amygdala), and cognitive control (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), and connectivity between these core regions.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2023

open study

Lack of perceived control, particularly during stress, has been critically implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD) and anhedonic symptoms, especially among female adolescents; yet the neural underpinnings of perceived control disruptions in MDD remain poorly understood. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging with a novel "value of control task" in conjunction with a prospective design, this study will provide a comprehensive understanding of stress and perceived control related mechanisms in female adolescents with MDD and will examine stress-induced disruptions in perceived control as a predictor of "real world" expressions of maladaptive coping and anhedonia.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2021

open study

The purpose of this study is to test the safety and efficacy of BHV-3000 versus placebo in the acute treatment of moderate or severe migraine in children and adolescents.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2021

open study

The overall purpose of this study is to learn more about the metabolic effects of angiotensin-(1-7) in the insulin resistant state associated with obesity. Pharmacologic approaches to increase angiotensin-(1-7) levels or its actions are currently in development for treatment of metabolic-related diseases such as obesity and type II diabetes, based on findings from animal studies. It is unclear if this peptide contributes to the regulation of metabolism in humans. The investigators will test if angiotensin-(1-7) infusion can improve insulin sensitivity measured by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp methods in individuals with obesity and insulin resistance. The investigators will also examine for changes in blood pressure and related hemodynamic and hormonal changes following angiotensin-(1-7) infusion.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2016

open study

The current study aims to explore the efficacy of a text message-based Safety Behavior Fading Intervention compared to a PMR control condition.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2026

open study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate how well MER511 is tolerated and what side effects may occur in adults who have Graves' disease. The study drug will be administered either intravenously (into a vein in the arm) or subcutaneously (under the skin). Blood tests will be performed to investigate how the body processes the study drug and how the study drug affects the body.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2025

open study

The goal of this observational study is to learn more about how genes impact the risk of kidney disease. Anyone 18 or older living in the US is eligible, and a diagnosis of kidney disease is NOT required. Study participation is online, and it takes about 20 minutes to complete health surveys and request a saliva collection kit sent through US mail. In return, study participants may opt to receive information about their genetic ancestry at no cost.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Apr 2026

open study

This study compares insulin icodec, an insulin taken once a week to insulin glargine, an insulin taken once a day. The study medicine will be investigated in participants with type 1 diabetes. The study will look at how well insulin icodec taken weekly controls blood sugar compared to insulin glargine taken daily. The study will last for about 8.5 months.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2025

open study

The goal of this clinical trial is to test a culturally adapted mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention in a community setting for African American adults with high blood pressure (hypertension) and depression. The main questions it aims to answer are: - Does participation in a culturally adapted mindfulness-based intervention improve depressive symptoms? - Does participation in a culturally adapted mindfulness-based intervention improve blood pressure control? - Is the intervention acceptable, appropriate, and feasible as delivered in a community setting? Participants will: - Participate in an 8-week group-based mindfulness intervention (CALM-Chicago). During intervention sessions, participants will learn about mindfulness and stress management and complete mindfulness-based activities, such as guided deep breathing and meditation. - Complete surveys online - Have their blood pressure measured with a non-invasive blood pressure cuff - Attend 1 focus group (optional)

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2025

open study

The purpose of this study is to identify which supplemental intervention components added to an online exercise program contribute to the greatest increases in physical activity (total MVPA and percent meeting guidelines [≥150 min/week of MVPA]) in adults with knee replacement at 6 and 12 months. Secondary outcomes will examine changes in pain and physical function.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2025

open study

This study's long-term goal is to improve clinical outcomes among smokers living with HIV (SLWH) by providing smoking cessation interventions in HIV clinical care that will increase the chances of quitting smoking, limits costs and burden on staff and reach many smokers living with HIV.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2024

open study

The goal of this study is to determine whether romosozumab will improve bone density in girls and women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (cessation of the menstrual period due to intense exercise, stress, or an eating disorder) who have low bone density. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive romosozumab or placebo for 6 months. All participants will receive one IV infusion of zoledronate at the 6 month visit. All participants will also receive transdermal estradiol and cyclic progesterone. We will investigate whether participants who receive active romosozumab will demonstrate greater improvements in bone density at one year than those who receive placebo. We will also compare bone density over a year with healthy controls (girls and women of similar age who have regular menstrual periods).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2025

open study

The proposed research is a parallel arm, randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to assess changes in muscle strength, volume, fatigue resistance, and mobility in older adults after daily consumption of 12g of linoleic acid-rich oil.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2025

open study

Advance care planning is important for all adults, but perhaps even more so for the 5.7 million persons with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia (ADRD), due to the progressive and protracted cognitive deterioration associated with the disease process. In the context of ADRD, medical decision-making at the end of life is typically left to one's care partner, who often does not have the knowledge or confidence in their ability to make such decisions. This study will refine and evaluate a web-based platform, called the LEAD Intervention (Life-Planning in Early Alzheimer's and other Dementias), which is designed to help persons in the preclinical or early stage of ADRD engage in conversations about, document, and share their end-of-life values and preferences with a care partner, extended family members, and health care providers.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2024

open study

The SMARTer trial will be a three-arm, randomized controlled non-inferiority trial that compares the optimized, adaptive SMARTer intervention, fixed DPP, and Self-Guided (Control). The trial will address whether a scalable, stepped-care intervention can stand up to gold-standard DPP by achieving comparable weight loss at a lower cost. Alongside evaluation of clinical non-inferiority, a comprehensive economic evaluation will inform relative affordability. Cost information is important to inform treatment policy and change standard of care, but is sorely lacking for behavioral interventions. The SMARTer intervention reduces costs by initially offering minimal intervention to all and stepping up to offer more costly treatment components only to non-responders who fail to attain the target weight loss. A rigorous economic evaluation planned and designed alongside the SMARTer trial will provide an accurate, robust head-to-head comparison of costs, cost-effectiveness, and projected lifetime health care costs between the three arms.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2024

open study