Background: Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MDS/MPN) are blood disorders that can cause serious complications in children and adults. MDS and MDS/MPN can also progress to acute myeloid leukemia. Treatments for these disorders are risky and not always effective. Better treatments are needed. Objective: To test a study drug (pacritinib) in adults and children with MDS or MDS/MPN. Eligibility: Children (aged 12 to 17 years) and adults (aged 18 years and older) with MDS or MDS/MPN. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam with blood tests. They will have tests of their heart function. They may have a bone marrow biopsy: An area over the hip will be numbed; a needle will be inserted to remove a sample of soft tissue from inside the hipbone. Pacritinib is a capsule taken by mouth. All participants will take the study drug 2 times a day, every day, in 28-day cycles. They will write down the date and time they take each capsule. Doctors will assign varying dosages of the drug to different participants. Participants will have clinic visits each week during cycle 1; every 2 weeks during cycle 2; and gradually increasing to every 3 months after cycle 13. Treatment will continue for up to 8 years. Bone marrow biopsies, heart tests, and other tests will be repeated at intervals throughout the study. Participants will also fill out questionnaires about their quality of life, the symptoms of their disease, and other topics.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2026

open study

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a tool for getting pictures of the tissues and organs inside the body. MRI can help diagnose many injuries and diseases. But not all patients are equally likely to receive MRIs. Factors such as race or ethnicity, distance to imaging centers, mobility, and a lower income can limit some people s access to MRIs. A new ultra-low field (ULF) type of MRI, which can be used on a vehicle, may help take imaging scans to more people. But researchers need to know that UFL-MRI works just as well as standard MRIs. Objective: To learn whether UFL-MRI is as good as standard MRI at detecting neurological disorders. Eligibility: People aged 3 years or older who have or show symptoms of neurological disease (such as stroke, cancer, or epilepsy). Healthy adults are also needed. Design: Participants will have 1 or 2 study visits. Adult participants will have a physical exam. They will receive two MRI exams: - Standard MRI. They will lie still on a narrow bed that will move into a large tube. They will wear earplugs to muffle the sounds. - ULF-MRI. They will lie on a stretcher, and only their head will be inside a smaller tube. The noises will be quieter. They will wear earplugs to muffle the sounds. Some adults may receive a contrast agent given through a small tube attached to a needle in the arm. The contrast agent helps the researchers see differences in the body more clearly. This may be done during 1 or both MRIs. Children will have only 1 ULF-MRI. Some participants may be invited to have additional visits for up to 6 months.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Mar 2024

open study

Background: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is form of non-invasive brain stimulation. It is approved to treat depression. TMS may help decrease drug craving. It is important to understand how TMS affects the brain. Such a better understanding would help to design ways to treat drug addiction. Objectives: To learn how TMS affects the brain when it stimulates an area in the front of the brain. Also, to see how the stimulation affects the area stimulated and other connected areas. Eligibility: Healthy, right-handed adults ages 18-60 who are non-drug users. Design: Participants will be screened under protocol 06-DA-N415. Participants will have at least 3 visits. The first visit will last about 3 hours. All other visits will last up to 6 hours. Participants cannot use drugs or alcohol at least 24 hours before a visit. They cannot have more than half a cup of a caffeinated drink at least 12 hours before a visit. Each visit will include a brief medical history update, urine test for drugs and pregnancy (if female), a breath test for alcohol and smoking, and questionnaires. Participants will have a TMS orientation visit. A wire coil will be placed on the head. An electrical current will pass through the coil to create a magnetic pulse that stimulates the brain. The other visits will include 2 sessions of TMS-MRI. Participants will lie on a table that slides into a cylinder. The TMS coil and the MRI coil will be placed over the head. Pictures will be taken of the brain with and without stimulation. Participants will complete a questionnaire about how they feel before and after each TMS session and in a follow-up call 1-3 days after their last session. ...

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2018

open study

Background: Glioblastoma is a common brain cancer in adults. Treatment includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. But this cancer can return after treatment and is often fatal. Researchers want to know if a study drug (LMP744) can kill glioblastoma tumor cells. Objective: To test LMP744 in people with glioblastoma. Eligibility: People aged 18 years or older with glioblastoma that returned after treatment. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have a surgery to remove a small sample of tumor tissue (biopsy) from the brain. This will be done under protocol 03-N-0164. They will stay in the clinic for 1 night. They will also have imaging scans and tests of their heart function. Participants will have a central line installed: A flexible tube will be inserted into a vein in the chest. It will be attached to a port under the skin. This port will be used to draw blood and give medicines without having to insert new needles into a vein. LMP744 will be given through the central line for 5 days in a row. Participants will remain in the clinic for this time. Participants will then have a second surgery to remove as much of their tumor as possible. They will remain in the clinic until they recover from the surgery. Then they will recover at home after surgery. Participants will return to the clinic to receive the study drug for 5 days in a row through the central line, once a month for up to 12 months. Blood tests, heart function tests, and periodic imaging scans will be repeated during these visits. Participants will continue to have telehealth visits every 3 months after they stop taking the drug.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2026

open study

Background: Cushing syndrome (CS) is a set of diseases that develop when the body produces too much adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH stimulates the production of a hormone called cortisol. Excess cortisol can cause serious issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, weight gain, and mood changes. Diagnosing CS early can be difficult. One test used to diagnose CS, the desmopressin (Desmo) stimulation test (DesmoST), has not been studied in enough people to know how accurate it is. Objective: To find ways to improve the DesmoST. Researchers especially want to learn more about how well the DesmoST identifies people with specific ACTH CSs: Cushing disease (CD) and ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS). Eligibility: People aged 18 to 70 years who have or may have CS, especially CD or EAS. Healthy volunteers are also needed. Design: Participants with CS will have 3 DesmoSTs at least 48 hours apart. The procedure for each is as follows: They will limit their fluid intake the day before each test. They will have nothing to eat or drink for 12 hours before the test. For 1 of the tests, they will take a pill that contains a hormone (dexamethasone). They will take it around 11 pm the day before the test. Desmo is given through a tube attached to a needle inserted into a vein. Blood will be drawn a total of 6 times before and after the desmo is given. Healthy volunteers will have 4 DesmoSTs. These will be 2 to 14 days apart. All participants will have follow-up visits 3 to 5 days after each test. These visits may be by phone.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2024

open study

Background: Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) gene regulates the formation of blood cells. People with mutations of this gene may bleed or bruise easily; they are also at higher risk of getting cancers of the blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. Objective: The purpose of the study includes determining which dose of imatinib is best for people with pathogenic or likely pathogenic RUNX1 mutations without blood cancers, and to determine whether there are any changes in platelet function and inflammatory markers. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 and older with RUNX1 mutations. Healthy people without this mutation, including family members of affected participants, are also needed. Design: Participants with the RUNX1 mutation will be screened. They will have a physical exam with blood tests. They will have a test of their heart function. They may need a new bone marrow biopsy if they haven't had one in the past year. Imatinib is a tablet taken by mouth once a day, every day, at home. Affected participants in different parts of the study will take imatinib for either 28 days or up to 84 days. They will fill out questionnaires about how they are feeling. For the first part of the study, participants will have blood tests every 2 weeks, either at home or at the NIH, while they are taking the imatinib. They will have a follow up visit, at home or at the NIH, when they are done taking imatinib on Day 28. Participants on the second part of the study will come to NIH on days 1 and days 84. They will have blood tests every 2 weeks (at home or the NIH) while they are taking imatinib. They may opt to have a bone marrow biopsy repeated after they finish their course of imatinib. Participants will have a follow-up visit (at home or the NIH) 30 days after they stop taking imatinib. Participants who do not have the RUNX1 mutation will have 1 clinic visit. They will have blood tests. They will fill out questionnaires. They may opt to have a bone marrow biopsy.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2023

open study

Background: In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), fat accumulates in the liver and can cause damage. Researchers want to learn what causes the damage NAFLD, and to see if a medication can help. Objective: To find out how the liver in people with NAFLD responds to feeding, and how this relates to their response to the drug semaglutide. Eligibility: People with NAFLD and healthy volunteers ages 18 and older Design: Participants will be screened with: Medical history Physical exam Blood tests Imaging: A machine will take pictures of the participant s body. Within 2-8 weeks of enrollment, participants will stay in the clinic for several days. This includes: Blood, urine, heart, and imaging tests For NAFLD participants only: A needle-like device will remove a small biopsy of the liver and fatty tissue. Participants will be alone in a special room for 5 hours. They will breathe through a tube under the nostrils. They will have blood drawn several times. The baseline visit concludes participation for healthy volunteers but NAFLD participants will contine. About 6 weeks after discharge, participants will stay in the clinic again and repeat the tests. They will get their first semaglutide dose by injection. Participants will have visits weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 of treatment. Visits include blood tests. Participants will inject semaglutide once a week at home. At week 30, participants will stay in the clinic again and repeat the tests. Participants will have a final visit 12 weeks after stopping treatment. This includes blood and urine tests. ...

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2019

open study

Background: Endocrine disorders involve changes to glands that produce hormones. Hormones are released by these glands into the blood so they can direct the function of other tissues in the body. Researchers want to study people who may have endocrine disorders. They want to learn more about the conditions that affect endocrine glands. Objective: To study adults with a variety of endocrine disorders for research and physician education. Eligibility: Adults ages 18 and older who have an endocrine or metabolic-related disorder Healthy volunteers 18 and older Design: Participants will be screened with a review of their medical records. Participants will have a physical exam and medical history. The length of the study and the schedule will vary by participant. Tests may include: Blood and urine tests Stool and saliva samples Imaging studies: Participants will lie on a table while a machine takes pictures of the body. They may be injected with a substance to make their organs more visible in the pictures. Tests of endocrine tissue function Consultation with other specialists Sleep study Medical photographs Participants may be treated for their endocrine disorder. This could include: Surgery. If tissue is removed during surgery, it may be studied. Radiation Medicine Participants may have genetic testing. This will be done with a small amount of blood, cells from a cheek swab, or saliva. Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Digestive, Diabetes and Kidney Disease

Type: Observational

Start Date: Mar 2019

open study

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. MS lesions can appear on the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans in many ways. Sometimes they light up from the outer edge and fill inward. This is called ring enhancement. Researchers think this type of lesion may not heal as well as others. Corticosteroids are the standard treatment to reduce symptoms of MS relapse. But there is no standard treatment for people with enhancing MS lesions without signs of MS relapse. Researchers want to see if a short-term high-dose course of corticosteroids helps heal those lesions. Objective: To study the effects of short-term high-dose corticosteroids on ring-enhancing MS. Eligibility: Adults ages 18 and older who: - Have MS and a rim-enhancing lesion on a prior brain MRI - Are enrolled in another NINDS protocol Design: Participants will be screened under another protocol Participants will be randomly assigned to get either no treatment or 3 days of treatment with a corticosteroid. Participants will have: - 1 baseline visit - 3 days of high-dose steroids, intravenous or oral. If IV, participants will receive methylprednisolone by IV each day. Participants will also be prescribed medicine to protect their stomach. - Follow-up visits will be at week 13 and week 25 after randomization to treatment or no treatment. Visits include medical history and physical exam. Participants will have blood and urine tests. Participants will also have neurological exams and MRIs. Participants lie on a table that slides into a cylinder. They are in the scanner 1.5-2 hours. They get a dye through a catheter: A needle guides a thin plastic tube into an arm vein.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2016

open study

Between 10% and 15% of patients with endogenous hypercortisolism (Cushing syndrome) have ectopic (non-pituitary) production of adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) that causes cortisol excess. In approximately 50% of these patients, the tumoral source of ACTH cannot be found initially despite very detailed and extensive imaging, including studies such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and octreotide scan (Octreoscan) using the standard dose of indium- 111 pentetreotide ([111In-DTPA-D-Phe]-pentetreotide). The sensitivity and specificity of structurally based imaging studies depends on anatomic alterations and the size of the tumor. In contrast, positron emission tomography (PET) and somatostatin ligand imaging detect pathologic tissue based on physiologic and biochemical processes within the abnormal tissue. This protocol tests the ability of [18F]-L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (18F-DOPA) PET, and the somatostatin imaging analogue, 68Ga-DOTATATE-PET, to localize the source of ectopic ACTH production.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2014

open study

This study will evaluate members in families with a history of small bowel carcinoid cancer to study the natural history of those family members that have the disease, determine ways to improve early detection by performing surveillance on those at risk but without disease and to identify the gene(s) that may cause the tumors. Familial carcinoid tumors usually originate in hormone-producing cells that line the small intestine or other cells of the digestive tract. The tumors are slow-growing and usually take many years before they cause symptoms. It is known that these tumors occur more often in some families and are then passed from one generation to the next by inherited genes. Members of families, including all siblings and offspring in which two or more immediate blood relatives have had small bowel carcinoid tumors are eligible for this study. In some cases unaffected spouses of family members diagnosed with carcinoid cancer are also requested to participate by donating a sample of blood only. Participants undergo a medical evaluation every 3 years during a 3- to 5-day hospital stay at the NIH Clinical Center. All participants have a personal and family medical history obtained and undergo a physical examination, blood and urine tests. People who already have a small bowel carcinoid tumor or are at risk of developing a carcinoid tumor have some or all of the following procedures to determine the presence of carcinoid tumor and its (omit next two words- location or) spread to other areas of the body: - Video Capsule Endoscopy: Visualization of the gastrointestinal tract by ingesting a disposable, "vitamin-pill sized" video capsule that has its own camera and light source. - CT of the chest abdomen and pelvis with oral and IV contrast : X-ray examination of the chest, abdominal and pelvis organs. - 18 FDOPA Positron emission tomography (PET) with CT for localization: Nuclear imaging scan to look at tumor activity. - MRI Liver with contrast - to determine if disease has spread to liver - Gallium 68 PET/CT-limited to individuals that have residual tumor. - Clinical and research blood work Should mid gut carcinoid tumors be found every participant will be assisted in determine what the best course of treatment will be for them.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Aug 2008

open study

Study Description: This study examines relations between neurocognitive and clinical features of pediatric anxiety disorders. The study uses neuro-cognitive tasks, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), as well as magneto- and electro-encephalography (M/EEG). Patients will be studied over one year, before and after receiving either one of two standard-of-care treatments: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Healthy comparisons will be studied at comparable time points. Primary Objectives: To compare healthy youth and symptomatic, medication-free pediatric patients studied prior to receipt of treatment. The study seeks to detect relations between clinical features of anxiety disorders at baseline and a wide range of neurocognitive features associated with attention, memory, and response to motivational stimuli. Secondary Objectives: 1. To document relations between baseline neurocognitive features and response to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or fluoxetine, as defined by the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS) and Clinical Global Improvement (CGI) Scale. 2. To document relations between post-treatment changes in neurocognitive features and anxiety symptoms on the PARS following treatment with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or fluoxetine. 3. To document relations among broad arrays of clinical, cognitive, and neural measures Primary Endpoints: Indices of percent-signal change in hypothesized brain regions, comprising amygdala, striatum, and prefrontal cortex (PFC) for each fMRI and MEG paradigm. Secondary Endpoints: 1. Treatment-response as defined by a continuous measure, the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale score (PARS), and a categorial measure, the Clinical Global Improvement (CGI) score. 2. Levels of symptoms and behaviors evoked by tasks that engage attention, memory, and elicit responses to motivational stimuli.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2001

open study

Studies performed under 89-N-0045 are designed to examine the natural history of multiple sclerosis (MS) using MRI and immunological measures. In addition to studying the natural history of untreated patients, the natural history of patients receiving approved disease-modifying therapies of MS will be examined. In both cohorts of patients levels of disease activity on MRI will be compared with immunological characteristics in order to help identify disease mechanism. Patients with either definite MS (based either on clinical or combined clinical and MRI criteria) or with an initial presentation of neurological dysfunction consistent with MS will be studied longitudinally by MRI. Disease activity on MRI will be assessed using several MRI measures of disease activity including the number of contrast enhancing lesions, the overall burden of disease, brain atrophy and measures to assess axonal damage. Patients will be assessed clinically and correlations between immunological and genetic factors and disease activity as seen clinically or by MRI will be studied. A second cohort of patients starting the use of approved therapy will also be examined. Patients referred to NIH prior to beginning approved therapy will be assessed with a series of three monthly MRIs to determine the level of pretreatment disease activity. After beginning approved therapy under the direction of their private physician, patients will be followed similarly to the natural history cohort. Immunological and genetic findings will be accessed before and during therapy in order to help establish the mechanisms of action of the therapies and to identify mechanisms accounting for either a response or lack of response to therapy. Part of the collected samples willl be cryopreserved to provide respository for further studies focusing on detection of biomarkers indicative of disease state, disease stage or repsonse to therapies. Additionally, a cohort of normal volunteers will be studied. The studies in the normal volunteers will be used to establish the most appropriate imaging sequences for studying normal white matter in MS patients using magnetization transfer (MT) imaging sequences for studying normal white matter in MS patients using magnetization transfer (MT) imaging and to provide normative immunological measures. ...

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jul 1992

open study

Participants in this study will be patients diagnosed with or suspected to have a thyroid nodule or thyroid cancer. The main purpose of this study is to further understand the methods for the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. Many of the test performed are in the context of standard medical care that is offered to all patients with thyroid nodules or thyroid cancer. Other tests are performed for research purposes. In addition, blood and tissue samples will be taken for research and genetic studies.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jun 1977

open study

Background: Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV)-associated inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS) and KSHV-multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) occur in people living with HIV. These diseases cause severe inflammation that can be fatal if not treated. Objective: To test a drug (pacritinib) in people with KSHV-associated KICS or MCD. Eligibility: People aged 18 years and older with KSHV-associated KICS or MCD. They must have at least one symptom. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam with blood tests and tests of their heart function. They will have imaging scans. Their ability to perform everyday tasks will be reviewed. In some participants who have Kaposi sarcoma (KS) with KICS or MCD, these individuals may need a bronchoscopy and/or endoscopy of the upper or lower intestine: A flexible tube with a camera and a light source will be inserted through the mouth or anus to see these structures and assess any KS. Pacritinib is a capsule taken by mouth. Participants will take the drug twice a day, every day, for up to 24 weeks. They will write down each dose in a diary. Participants will visit the clinic 3 times in the first 4 weeks. Their visits will taper to once every 4 weeks. Imaging scans, blood tests, and other tests will be repeated during these visits. Participants will give samples of saliva. They may opt to allow tissues samples to be taken from their skin and lymph nodes. Participants will have follow-up visits 7 days and 30 days after their last dose of pacritinib. After that, they will visit the clinic every 3 months for up to 1 year. The physical exam and blood, heart, and imaging tests will be repeated at these visits.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2025

open study

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 study conducted at a single center with approximately 78 healthy adults aged 18-59 years. Part 1 Single Ascending Dose (SAD) will enroll 48 participants into six cohorts (S1-S6) to receive single oral doses of VNT-101 (100-1500 mg) or placebo under fasting or fed (S5 only) conditions. Part 2 Multiple Ascending Dose (MAD) will enroll 30 participants into three cohorts (M1-M3) to receive multiple oral doses of VNT-101 (250-750 mg BID Days 1-5, QD Day 6) or placebo under fasting conditions. Dose escalation in both parts will proceed after Protocol Safety Review Team (PSRT) review. The primary objective for Part 1 is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of single ascending oral (SAD) doses of VNT-101 in healthy adult participants under either fasting or fed conditions. The primary objective for part 2 is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of multiple ascending oral (MAD) doses of VNT-101 in healthy adult participants.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2025

open study

Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a disease that causes inflammation in the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that moves food from the mouth to the stomach. Diagnosing EoE currently requires a specialized tool called an endoscope. The esophageal string test (EST) is another test; the EST collects fluid from the upper digestive tract. An EST is simpler and cheaper than an endoscopy. Researchers want to know if an EST can diagnose EoE. Objective: To test if the EST can diagnose EoE in people who have trouble swallowing. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 to 65 years with trouble swallowing. They must have been born in the African continent or their parents were born in Africa. Design: Participants will be screened. They will give blood, stool, urine, and skin swab samples. They will complete surveys about their medical history, diet, symptoms, and home environment. They will bring a sample of their drinking water for testing. Participants will have an EST. They will swallow a pill capsule that contains a nylon string. One end of the string will be taped to their cheek. The string will unravel down the esophagus and into the stomach. It will be pulled out after 1 hour. Fluids that soaked into the string will be tested. At a different visit, participants will have an endoscopic exam. An endoscope is a flexible tube that is inserted down the mouth; it can be used to take tissue samples from the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Participants will have a final visit in person, online, or by phone. They will take a survey and talk about their test results.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2026

open study

Background: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are disorders of blood stem cells that can develop into blood cancers. Treatment options are limited. To find better treatments, researchers need to better understand how MDS develops. To do that, they must be able to compare biospecimens from people with the disease to those of healthy people. Objective: This study will create a database of biospecimens collected from healthy volunteers. Eligibility: Healthy people aged 18 and older. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam with blood and urine tests. Up to 5 types of samples will be collected on 1 or more days within 1 month of screening: Blood: Blood will be drawn by inserting a needle into a vein. Saliva: Participants will scrape the insides of their cheeks with a brush. Stool: Participants will be given a container to collect stool at home. They will use a prepaid envelope to mail in the sample. Bone marrow: A sample of the soft tissue inside the bones will be drawn out. The area to be biopsied, usually the lower back, will be numbed. A needle will be inserted through a small cut to remove the sample. Participants' pain will be monitored; additional numbing medicine may be used. Skin: A piece of skin about 1/6 of an inch across will be cut away. Stitches may be used to close the wound. Participants will return to the clinic to have the stitches removed. Participants do not have to provide all of the samples listed. They will give each sample only once.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jan 2023

open study

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that damages the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). This leads to increased physical disability over time. The disease is lifelong once it begins. Researchers want to learn more about MS s stages and follow them until a person s death. Objective: To understand how the physical and clinical signs of MS relate to its changes over time. Eligibility: Adults age 18 or older with MS or a disease of the brain and spinal cord that may act like MS. Design: Participants will have a medical history and a complete neurological exam. They may have timed tests of neurological function, such as a 25-foot walk and a 9-hole peg test. Participants will have multi-day visits about once a year. Participants will have blood drawn. Participants may have a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. They may also have an MRI of the spinal cord. They may get a contrast agent (dye) injected into a tube in an arm vein. During the MRI, participants will lie on a table that slides in and out of a metal cylinder. Participants will have the thickness of their retina measured using optical coherence tomography. A camera on top of a table uses lasers. Participants will look through a lens and follow instructions. Eye drops may be used to dilate the pupils. Participants will chew on a piece of sterile cotton for 1 minute to collect saliva. Participants agree to have an autopsy at the time of their death and to donate some of their organs to research, such as the brain and spinal cord.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Apr 2016

open study

Background: - Malignant mesothelioma is a malignancy arising from the mesothelial cells of the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium, or tunica vaginalis. - Mesothelioma accounts for 0.10% of deaths annually in the United States. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most common of these, comprising of 80% of the cases with an annual incidence of about 2,500 in the United States. - The median survival from diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is approximately 12 months. The majority of patients present with stage III or IV disease with 85-90% of patients considered unresectable at diagnosis. - Peritoneal mesothelioma has a better prognosis than pleural mesothelioma; nevertheless, patients undergoing therapy for peritoneal mesothelioma have few well-studied treatment options due in large part to the rarity of the disease. Objectives: -To allow sample acquisition for use in the study of mesothelioma. Eligibility: - All patients age greater than or equal to 2 years with malignant mesothelioma - Must be able and willing to provide informed consent if 18 or over; parent or guardian must be able and willing to provide consent for patients under the age of 18 Design: - Up to 1000 subjects will be enrolled. - Patients will be followed to determine the course of disease and to record any treatment received for mesothelioma. - Patients will undergo sampling of blood, urine, tumor and abnormal body fluids for tissue banking. - Studies which may be performed on banked material include genetic and genomic studies, establishment of cell cultures and immunologic studies....

Type: Observational

Start Date: Sep 2013

open study

Background: Blood cancers (such as leukemias) can be hard to treat, especially if they have mutations in the TP53 or RAS genes. These mutations can cause the cancer cells to create substances called neoepitopes. Researchers want to test a method of treating blood cancers by altering a person s T cells (a type of immune cell) to target neoepitopes. Objective: To test the use of neoepitope-specific T cells in people with blood cancers Eligibility: People aged 18 to 75 years with any of 9 blood cancers. Design: Participants will have a bone marrow biopsy: A sample of soft tissue will be removed from inside a pelvic bone. This is needed to confirm their diagnosis and the TP53 and RAS mutations in their cancer cells. They will also have a skin biopsy to look for these mutations in other tissue. Participants will undergo apheresis: Blood will be taken from their body through a vein. The blood will pass through a machine that separates out the T cells. The remaining blood will be returned to the body through a different vein. The T cells will be grown to become neoepitope-specific T cells. Participants receive drugs for 3 days to prepare their body for the treatment. The modified T cells will be given through a tube inserted into a vein. Participants will need to remain in the clinic at least 7 days after treatment. Participants will have 8 follow-up visits in the first year after treatment. They will have 6 more visits over the next 4 years. Long-term follow-up will go on for 10 more years.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2026

open study

Background: Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, have been highly effective against preventing severe disease. But the protective effects of these vaccines appear to wane over time. Researchers want to learn why. Objective: To learn more about how the immune system responds to vaccines against infections like SARS-CoV-2. Eligibility: Healthy adults ages 18 or older who are scheduled to receive either a new vaccine or a booster shot against SARS-COV-2 or another emerging infection. Design: Participants will be screened with a medical history and blood and urine tests. Participants will have up to 8 study visits in 1 year. Each visit should last less than 2 hours. At each visit, participants will give blood samples. Some blood samples will be used for genetic testing. They will also give updates on their health. After the first study visit, participants will receive either a first vaccination or a booster shot. They must get the vaccine in their community or workplace. They will not get the vaccine at NIH. This study currently focuses on SARS-CoV-2, but it will expand to other infectious diseases as they emerge and become the target of new vaccines. ...

Type: Observational

Start Date: Oct 2021

open study

Background: Hereditary hearing loss is one of the most common sensory disabilities affecting newborns. The main options for people with hereditary hearing loss are hearing aids and cochlear implants. Both options have their limitations and do not restore biological hearing. Researchers want to learn if gene editing might be a treatment option. Objective: To understand the genes that cause non-syndromic autosomal dominant hearing loss (DFNA) in people with DFNA as well as their family members. Eligibility: People age 3 99 who have DFNA, affected family members of enrolled participants with DFNA, and unaffected family members of enrolled participants Design: Participants will be screened with a medical and hearing history. Their medical records will be reviewed. Participants will have hearing tests. They will wear headphones or earplugs. They will listen to tones, sounds, and words and may be asked to describe what they hear. Participants will have balance tests. For these, they will wear googles as they watch moving lights or as cold or warm air is blown into their ears. They will sit in a spinning chair in a quiet, dark booth. From a reclined position, they will raise their head while listening to clicking sounds. Participants will have blood drawn through a needle in the arm. Some blood will be used for gene testing. Some participants will have 2 skin biopsies. The skin will be washed, and a numbing medicine will be injected. Two small pieces of skin will be removed. Participants may have a physical exam. Participation will last for up to 20 years. Participants may give medical updates once a year.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Feb 2021

open study

Background: Lung transplants can save lives, but the procedure has risks. Some people develop donor-specific antibodies (DSA) after the procedure-that is, their bodies create proteins that treat the new lungs as foreign and mount an immune response against them. This is called rejection. But not everyone who has a transplant develops DSA, and not everyone who has DSA develops rejection. Researchers want to understand why. Objective: To collect data to try to find out why some people develop rejection after lung transplants while others do not. Eligibility: People aged 18 to 75 years who have undergone or may undergo a lung transplant. Design: Participants will have clinic visits every 3 to 6 months for up to 4 years. Some visits might require an overnight stay. Each visit will include multiple tests and procedures: Physical exam with blood and urine tests. Some blood will be used for genetic testing. Imaging scans. Participants will have 2 types of scan to get images of their lungs. For one, they will have a contrast agent given through a tube inserted into a vein. Six-minute walk test. Participants will walk back and forth in a hallway at their own pace. Researchers will check on how their body responds. Lung function test. Participants will breathe into a tube connected to a machine. Two other tests are optional: Bronchoscopy with washings (lavage). A long tube with a light will be threaded down through the participant s nose or mouth and into their lungs. Endomicroscopy. During the bronchoscopy a tiny camera may be used to take pictures inside the lungs. ...

Type: Observational

Start Date: May 2026

open study

Background: Active surveillance (AS) is a standard approach to treat low and intermediate risk prostate cancer. For AS, disease progression is monitored. AS uses biopsies, prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood tests, and other tools. Researchers want to see if multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) can help improve AS. Objective: To see if mpMRI can improve how people are monitored during AS. Eligibility: Men age 18 and older who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer within the last 2 years. Design: Participants will undergo AS. Their PSA level will be checked once a year via blood test. They will have a digital rectal exam once a year. Participants will have biopsies every 2-3 years. Needles will be put into different parts of the prostate. The needles are guided by ultrasound imaging. Participants will also have targeted biopsies with mpMRI and MRI guided fusion (MRI-US fusion). MRI-US fusion combines previous MRI images with live ultrasound images. For MRIs, participants will lie on their stomach on the scanner table. A coil may be placed in the rectum. Participants will have a physical exam and medical record review at least every 3 years. Their weight and vital signs will be checked. They will give data about their daily activities, side effects, and symptoms. Every 2-3 years, participants will fill out surveys about their prostate health and quality of life. Participants may give blood, urine, prostate secretion, and saliva samples. The samples will be used for research. Participation will last for as long as the participant does not need actual treatment for his prostate cancer.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2022

open study