Background: Many cancers of the testicles and urinary tract are rare diseases; these are diseases that affect less than 200,000 people in the United States. It can be hard to study treatments for these diseases. One combination of drugs-enfortumab vedotin (EV) and pembrolizumab-has already been approved to treat some urinary cancers. Researchers want to see if they can help people with other types of testicle and urinary cancers. Objective: To test EV, with or without pembrolizumab, in patients with rarer cancers of the testicles or urinary tract. Eligibility: People aged 18 and older with rarer cancers of the testicles or urinary tract. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam with blood and urine tests. Their ability to perform normal daily activities will be tested. They will have exams of their skin and eyes. They will have imaging scans. A biopsy may be needed: A sample of tissue will be removed from the tumor. The study drugs are both given through a tube attached to a needle inserted into a vein in the arm. Some participants will receive treatments 3 times during 28-week cycles; others will receive treatments 2 times during 21-day cycles. All participants may continue to receive treatments for up to 5 years. Imaging scans and other tests will be repeated. Participants who stop taking the drugs will have follow-up visits every 3 to 4 weeks until the disease gets worse. They will have imaging scans and blood tests. After that, follow-up visits will continue by phone every 3 months for up to 5 years after study therapy is finished.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2026

open study

This observational natural history study will follow individuals with MEHMO (Mental disability, Epileptic seizure, Hypopituitarism/Hypogenitalism, Microcephaly, Obesity) syndrome or an eIF2-pathway related disorder, who have symptoms such as intellectual delay, seizures, abnormal hormone and blood sugar levels, and decreased motor skills. No current treatment for these conditions is available. A major impediment to the testing of potential therapeutic interventions is the lack of well-defined outcome measures. This protocol seeks to identify biochemical and clinical markers to monitor disease progression, and better understand the natural history of these conditions. Any person diagnosed with MEHMO syndrome or related conditions, who can travel to the NIH Clinical Center can participate in this study. The study involves: - General health assessment and evaluation - Imaging studies - Laboratory tests - Collection of blood, urine, spinal fluid, skin biopsy.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Oct 2023

open study

Background: Androgen effects in humans are usually (but not always) mediated by the androgen receptor which is coded for by the androgen receptor gene (AR gene). Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) is a rare condition in which the body cannot sense the male hormones in the blood or tissue. Both women and men can be affected by AIS. Researchers want to learn more about the health of people with AIS over time. With a natural history study in individuals with AIS, data and tests may provide information regarding health risks (including the risks and benefits of gonadectomy and best ways to monitor for tumor) and optimal management of individuals with AIS as well as elucidate the role of the androgen receptor in human health. This study does not involve any interventions and we can provide clinical care while collecting data. Objective: The objective of this natural history study is to describe and define a comprehensive phenotype (characteristic) of patients with AIS based on confirmed androgen receptor (AR) gene difference. We will evaluate hormones, bone density and markers, cardiovascular and metabolic parameters, as well as quality of life and tumor formation risk and evaluation. The purpose is to obtain a better understanding of the overall health issues that people with AIS may have through the study procedures listed. Eligibility: People ages 8-99 with AIS and their adult relatives Design: Participants will go through a series of study procedures for data and specimen collection. This will be done to understand how AIS affects individuals since the androgen receptor is found in many tissues in the body including skin, bone, muscle, and the neurologic, immune and metabolic systems. All tests will be performed by skilled and trained study professionals. Participants will be screened with: Medical history Physical exam Medical record review Lab tests. Participants will have physical exams. Their body measurements will be taken. They will have blood and urine tests. They will have electrocardiograms to check heart health. They may complete questionnaires. They may have an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. Participants may have x-rays and HRpQCT scans taken of the hand, wrist, and other bones. Participants will have body scans to measure bone thickness. Participants will have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or sonogram of the pelvis. For MRI, they may get a contrast agent via intravenous (IV) catheter. Adult participants may have the following: MR elastography. It uses MRI and low-frequency vibrations to map stiffness of body tissues. MR spectroscopy. It uses MRI to take pictures of chemicals in the liver and body fat. Cardiac computed tomography scan. It uses x-rays to make pictures of the heart. Participants may get a contrast agent via IV. Optional genital exam. Optional one-time vaginal swab. Participants will have visits every 1-2 years. Participation lasts indefinitely. Adult relatives will also be invited to participate but will have only 1 visit. It will include some of the above tests.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Apr 2021

open study

Study Description: Heart and lung transplants can save lives, but long-term success is often limited by organ rejection that is hard to detect early. This study is testing a new, non-invasive blood test that looks for small pieces of DNA from the donor organ in the patient s blood. We believe higher levels of this donor DNA may signal early rejection before damage becomes permanent. Hypothesis: We believe that measuring donor-derived DNA in the blood can help detect early signs of rejection and improve outcomes for transplant patients. The study also collects genetic and biological samples to explore why some people are more at risk of complications after transplant. This may help guide future research and treatments. Who Can Join the Study: People receiving a heart or lung transplant (or both), age 14 and older People who are within three months of their transplant People who can understand and agree to take part in the study Participants will be asked to provide blood and other samples, and some of these will be used in lab research to explore new ideas about how and why transplant rejection happens. This research could lead to better ways to monitor and treat patients after a heart or lung transplant - and help improve long-term survival and quality of life.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jun 2015

open study

Background: - Coccidioidomycosis is caused by a fungus that grows in the southwest United States and parts of Mexico and South America. This disease is caused by breathing dust containing the fungus. It can lead to serious lung and breathing problems. Rarely, the fungus can infect other body parts. This is called disseminated coccidioidomycosis (DCM). If the fungus stays in the lungs for more than 6 months, it is called refractory coccidioidomycosis (RCM). People with DCM or RCM may have difficulty fighting off infection because of immune system problems. Researchers want to study the immune systems of people with DCM or RCM, to learn more about the disease and the best ways to treat it. They also want to learn more about the types of people that get DCM or RCM and about the fungus that causes it. Objectives: - To learn more about DCM and RCM, the fungus that causes these diseases, and the people who get them. Eligibility: - People over age 2 with DCM or RCM. Design: - Participants will be screened with a review of their medical records. - At the initial visit, participants will have: - Medical history and physical exam - Blood and urine tests. Some blood may be used for genetic testing. The samples will not include participants names. Participants will be notified only if the tests show something urgent about their DCM/RCM. Researchers think this sort of problem will be rare. - Questionnaire about their DCM/RCM - Sputum (mucus) collection. They will spit into a cup. - Participants will have 1 follow-up visit per year. They will have blood tests. They may have other procedures to treat their DCM/RCM.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Sep 2014

open study

The purpose of this protocol is to allow for the careful evaluation of healthy volunteers and individuals with risk for psychiatric disorders or neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder for specific protocols at NIH.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Feb 2006

open study

BACKGROUND: - A number of important scientific advances can be made through the study of blood, bone marrow, tumor, or other tissue samples from patients with HIV infection, infection with Kaposi s sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV), infection with other oncogenic viruses, or cancer. - This protocol provides a mechanism to affect a variety of such studies. OBJECTIVES: -Acquisition of serum, circulating cells, bone marrow, and tumor or normal tissue samples from participants with HIV infection, KSHV infection, or with cancer. ELIGIBILITY: -Eligibility criteria include age 18 years or older and at least one of the following: Exposure risk to HIV, KSHV, or HPV; HIV seropositive; KSHV seropositive; EBV seropositive; HTLV-1 seropositive; malignancy, Castleman s disease, or skin lesions with appearance of Kaposi s sarcoma; or cervical or anal intraepithelial lesion. DESIGN: - Up to 999 subjects will be enrolled in this study. - Blood samples may be collected at the initial visit, and at follow-up visits. - Other fluids/excretions may be collected (such as urine, saliva, semen, and stool). - Tumor samples may be obtained by fine needle aspirate, by removal of pleural or peritoneal fluid, by skin punch biopsy, or by excisional biopsy, providing the tumor is accessible with minimal risk to the participants. - Specific risks will be described in a separate consent to be obtained at the time of the biopsy. - Samples will be studied in the HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, CCR, NCI; laboratories in NCI-Frederick; or those of collaborating investigators.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Dec 2000

open study

Bone marrow transplants (BMT) are one form of treatment for disorders of the blood, including leukemia. However, because the procedure is often associated with potentially life-threatening reactions, it is usually reserved for patients with serious illnesses under the age of 60 years old. One serious reaction complicating bone marrow transplants is referred to as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD is a potentially fatal incompatibility reaction. The reaction is caused by antigens found on the cells of the patient that are not present on the cells of the donor. The antigens are recognized by transplanted white blood cells (lymphocytes). These lymphocytes begin attacking the recipient s cells and tissues and may lead to death. In order to avoid GVHD, researchers have developed a technique using peripheral blood instead of bone marrow that allows transplantation of stem cells and removal of lymphocytes. Stem cells are the cells responsible for returning blood cell production to normal. Lymphocytes are the white blood cells that can cause GVHD. The technique requires two steps. In the first step blood cells are collected from donors who have received doses of a growth factor. The growth factor (granulocyte colony stimulating factor) is designed to increase the production of donor stem cells. In the second step white blood cell lymphocytes are removed from the collected blood, leaving only the stem cells. The main goal of this study is to develop and improve the method of processing cells that are collected after stimulation with growth factor (G-CSF), by removing the white blood cell lymphocytes which can cause graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) while keeping the stem cells necessary for healthy blood cell building. In addition, researchers are interested in studying whether giving G-CSF has an effect on lymphocyte function, which may influence the immune reactions occurring in bone marrow transplantation. ...

Type: Observational

Start Date: Mar 1996

open study

Background: Chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) is a protein that is found on the surface of certain T-cell lymphoma cells and is common in mature T-cell cancers. White blood cells can be changed with molecules called anti-CCR4 to express a chimeric antigen receptors (CAR), which is a molecule that directs a white blood cell to attack other cells. The CAR in this study attacks the CCR4 protein found on your T-cell lymphoma. This type if therapy is called gene therapy. Gene therapy involves a person s own white blood cells modified to target cancer cells. More research is needed to find out if gene therapy can treat T-cell cancers and do it safely. Objective: To test safety of giving people with certain mature T-cell lymphomas their own white blood cells modified with anti-CCR-4 CAR. Eligibility: People aged 18 and older with certain mature T-cell lymphomas that have not responded to or have come back after treatment. They must have a T-cell lymphoma that has CCR4 on the surface of the cancer cells. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have a medical history and physical exam. Tests of blood, urine, and heart and lung function will be done. Participants will have tests: Computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging scans: They will lie on a table that slides into a donut-shaped machine or a tube. Pictures of the inside of the body will be taken. Before the PET scan, they will get an injection of radioactive fluid in a vein in the arm. Before the MRI, they may get a contrast dye injected through a vein (IV) in the arm. A biopsy of the tumor may be taken. A bone marrow sample may be taken from the hip: The area will be numbed and a large needle inserted through the skin. Leukapheresis will be done to obtain T-cells that will be genetically modified to express anti-CCR4 CARs on T-cells: Blood is drawn through an IV in one arm, circulated through a machine, and then returned through an IV in the other arm. Chemotherapy drugs will be given in an IV to prepare the body to accept the modified CAR T cells. The modified cells will be given in an IV. Participants will be followed for 15 years: This will require blood tests over the first 1-2 years followed by yearly visits and possibly telehealth updates.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2025

open study

Background: Age-related macular degeneration is a common eye disease in people over 50. The "dry" form of the disease can worsen into geographic atrophy, causing blind spots. Researchers want to learn if replacing older eye cells with younger ones can help treat this disease. Objective: To test the safety of putting cells inside the eye as a possible future treatment for dry age-related macular degeneration. Eligibility: People ages 55 and older who have geographic atrophy with loss of vision. People who have had "wet" macular degeneration in study eye are NOT eligible. Design: Participants will be screened with: - Medical history - Physical exam - Blood and urine tests - Eye exam - Eye photos - Fluorescein angiography. An intravenous (IV) line is placed in an arm vein. A dye is injected. A camera takes pictures of the dye as it flows through the eyes' blood vessels. - Electroretinography. An electrode is taped to participants' forehead. They sit in the dark. After 30 minutes, numbing eye drops and contact lenses are placed in their eyes. They watch flashing lights. - Tuberculosis test - Chest X-ray - Electrocardiography. Sticky pads are placed on participants' chest to record the heart's electrical activity. Participants will have at least 14 study visits over 5 and a half years. They will repeat screening tests. Participants will have retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) transplantation surgery in one eye. For this, cells from participants' blood are turned into RPE cells. These cells are placed in their eye through a cut in their retina. They will get dilating eye drops, an IV line, and anesthesia that may make them sleep. A gas bubble will be put in their eye to help it heal. Participants will receive immunosuppressive medications to avoid transplant rejection. Participants will be contacted yearly for up to 15 years.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2020

open study

Background: Researchers are testing version of a system known as a magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) scanner that uses strong magnetic fields, radio waves and the like to create images of the organs in the body. It uses lower energy levels than other MRI scanners. This may help scan people with metal devices in their body, or in invasive heart procedures using metal tools. Objective: To test a new MRI scanner and software changes to create better pictures. Eligibility: People with disease and healthy volunteers, ages 18 and older. Design: Participants will be screened with blood tests. Participants may have both the new MRI and a conventional MRI or only the new one. If 2 are done, they must be within 60 days. For both MRI versions, participants lie on a table that slides into a large tube. During scans, they will hold their breath for up to 20 seconds at a time. Heart activity will be measured by wires connected to pads on the skin. A flexible belt may be used to monitor their breathing. They will be in the scanner up to 2 hours. Participants can agree to have a dye called gadolinium injected into their arm during the scan. This brightens the pictures. Participants can agree to take a drug called a vasodilator. This helps detect areas of the heart with abnormal blood supply. Scans of the heart are taken before, during, and after they get the medicine. The drug may cause temporary chest pain or shortness of breath. They may get other drugs to relieve these symptoms. Sponsoring Institution: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2018

open study

Background: High-risk blood cancers (leukemias and lymphomas) often come back after treatment, and many cannot be cured with chemotherapy alone. These cancers may be treated and potentially cured in 2 ways: (1) Bone marrow transplant (allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, or alloHCT) gives immune and blood stem cells from a donor. These new cells can attack the cancer and also grow into healthy blood. (2) Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy takes immune cells and changes them in a lab to better recognize and target certain cancers. But these 2 treatments are not usually given at the same time. Objective: To test alloHCT and CAR-T cell therapy, used together, in people with high-risk blood cancers. Eligibility: People aged 18 to 75 years with an aggressive blood cancer that has a protein on the surface called CD19. A healthy related donor aged 12 years or older is also needed; this donor may be a parent or child or may be some siblings or even extended family members, but has to be half-matched at something called the HLA (human leukocyte antigen). Design: Participants will be screened. They will have imaging scans, blood tests, and tests of their heart and lung function. They will have eye and dental exams. They may have fluid drawn from around their spinal cord (spinal tap) and tissue taken from inside a bone (bone marrow biopsy). Healthy donors will provide bone marrow, immune cells, and about 9 tablespoons of blood for both the recipient s treatment and for research. They will also provide stool, saliva, and oral swabs just for research. Recipient participants will stay in the hospital for 4 to 6 weeks. They will be given drugs over 6 days to prepare for the cell therapies. Both the donor bone marrow cells and CAR-T-cells will be given through a tube inserted into a vein. They will receive drugs to reduce complications after the treatments. Participants will remain within a 1-hour drive of the hospital for 2 to 3 months after they leave the hospital. They will have frequent visits during that time. They will continue to have periodic follow-up visits for 5 years. ...

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2025

open study

Background: Identifying medium- and high-risk prostate cancer early may allow for treatments to work. But identification can be hard. Researchers want to see if a radiotracer used during PET scans can help. Objective: To test how an imaging agent called 18F-DCFPyL detects response to standard prostate cancer treatment. Eligibility: People ages 18 and older with newly diagnosed prostate cancer who have no evidence of distant metastatic disease and plan to get stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with or without androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Design: Participants will be screened with: Medical history Physical exam Blood tests MRI Participants will have baseline MRI and PET/CT scans. For the MRI, they may get a contrast agent by IV injection. For the PET/CT scan, they will get an IV injection of 18FDCFPyL. About 1 to 2 hours later, they will get the PET/CT scan. During the scans, participants will lie on their back and remain still for 45 minutes to 1 hour. These scans will be repeated at different points during the study. Participants will get SBRT with or without ADT. Participants will complete questionnaires about their quality of life. Participants will be asked about any symptoms they are having. They will also be asked about medications they are using. They may have a physical exam. Participants will give blood and urine samples. They will give a tumor sample from a biopsy they have had in the past. After treatment, participants will have follow-up visits. These will occur 1 month after treatment, then every 3 months for a year, and then every 6 months for 1 more year.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2022

open study

Objective The current proposal investigates behavioral, psychophysiological, and social processes that may help explain biases and disparate outcomes in pain. Health disparities, or health outcomes that adversely affect disadvantaged populations, are pervasive and apparent in many diseases and symptoms, including pain. Pain is the number one reason individuals seek medical treatment. Health disparities in pain encompass both differences in pain experience and treatment for pain. For instance, research indicates that Black individuals report increased pain and have reduced pain tolerance relative to White individuals, yet doctors are less likely to treat minority patients pain and underestimate their pain experience. This project aims to address this systemic discrepancy by focusing on interpersonal processes that may contribute to these disparities, including socially-relevant responses to pain (i.e. pain expression) and pain assessment (e.g. visual attention). The proposed research aims to determine whether the study of pain expressions and their assessment can yield insights on how social factors shape pain and its treatment. Further, we test the efficacy of potential interventions designed to improve accuracy and reduce biases in pain assessment. If successful, this work will form the foundation of a new research program that will link the field of pain research with the field of social neuroscience, and forge new insights on the critical problem of health disparities in pain. Study population We will accrue up to 700 total healthy volunteers to target 240 completers Design Our overall aim is to understand how social factors influence the assessment and management of pain, and to gain insight into psychosocial processes that may underlie health disparities in pain. We propose a series of studies designed to test these links. First, we will measure pain perception and physiological responses to painful stimuli in a diverse group of individuals to test for sociocultural and biological influences on pain and pain-related responses. In subsequent studies, new participants ("perceivers") will view images of these initial participants ("targets") and will provide estimates of 'targets' pain experience. We will measure a) whether perceivers can accurately estimate 'targets' pain experience; b) whether accuracy differs as a function of similarity between target and perceiver (ingroup vs outgroup); and c) whether individuals can improve accuracy through feedback. Outcome measures Primary outcome measures for all experiments will be decisions about pain (experienced by self or other) measured with visual analogue scales, reaction time, and/or categorical judgments (pain/no pain). We will also measure physiological responses (e.g., facial muscle response, skin conductance, pupil dilation) and brain responses using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as secondary outcome measures. We will test whether pain and pain-related responses varies as a function of sociocultural/demographic factors (e.g. race, ethnicity, sex) and whether accuracy in assessing others' pain is influenced by group similarity (i.e. ingroup vs. outgroup) and training (e.g. performance-related feedback)....

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2018

open study

Objectives: The overall study objective is to compare the sensitivities and specificities of morphometric analysis techniques using structural MRI images based on pre- and postsurgical localization of epileptic foci in patients undergoing presurgical evaluation for medically refractory epilepsy. To carry out these analyses, we aim to establish an age-stratified normative imaging database using healthy volunteers. Additional objectives are to identify abnormal networks in these patients using resting state fMRI/EEG and MEG/EEG, and to use language and memory fMRI tasks to examine the effects of epileptogenic zones and surgery on cognitive function and the networks associated with these functions. Study population: 300 adults and children (age 8 and older) with uncontrolled focal epilepsy, and 200 age-stratified healthy volunteers. Design: A retrospective and prospective natural history study. Research procedures for patients in this study include neuropsychological testing and 1-4 MRI sessions during presurgical evaluation and an additional 1-3 MRI sessions and neuropsychological testing approximately 12 months post-operatively. Research testing (such as research neuropsychological tests or MRI scanning sequences) will be done during a visit for clinical testing whenever possible, likely reducing the number of required visits. Patients will also have optional MEG and 7T structural imaging. Data will also be obtained from patients who have already undergone epilepsy surgery if they had procedures as outlined in the protocol and are willing to share the data. Healthy volunteers will receive a subset of the pre-operative procedures for patients, requiring at least 3 visits. In order to ensure adequate data acquisition, subjects may be re-scanned up to three times for the portions of the study in which they participated, possibly requiring additional visits. Outcome measures: The main outcomes will be establishment of normative values for morphometric analysis methods in age-stratified normal controls, and comparison of the sensitivity and specificity of these measures to pre- and postsurgical localization of the epileptogenic zone. Secondary outcome measures will include determination of the sensitivity and specificity of source localization using MEG/EEG and resting state fMRI/EEG, and to evaluate changes in activation during rest, as well as language and memory fMRI tasks in patients pre- and postsurgically, to examine the effects of epileptogenic zones and surgery on cognitive function and the networks underlying these functions.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Mar 2014

open study

Background: - Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a genetic condition that increases the risk for some types of cancer. LFS may lead to cancer of the bone or connective tissue, breast, and brain. It may also increase the risk for certain types of leukemia and other cancers. The only known cause of LFS is a change (called a mutation ) in a gene known as TP53. However, not all people with LFS have a TP53 mutation. Researchers want to study other possible genetic causes of LFS, and factors that may increase or decrease cancer risk in people with the syndrome. Objectives: - To learn more about the types of cancers that occur in individuals with LFS. - To study the role of the TP53 gene in the development of cancer. - To look for other possible genes that cause LFS - To study the effect of LFS diagnosis on families. - To determine if environmental factors or other genes can change a person s cancer risk associated with LFS. Eligibility: - Individuals with a family or personal medical history of cancers consistent with LFS. - Individuals with a family or personal medical history of cancers that does not meet the diagnosis of LFS, but the history is suggestive for LFS (meets the diagnosis for the so-called Li-Fraumeni like syndrome) - Individuals with certain rare cancers - Individuals with a family or personal history of a TP53 gene mutation, with or without related cancer(s). Design: - Participants will fill out a medical history questionnaire and a family history questionnaire. - Blood samples will be collected for DNA and for storage. Cheek cell samples may be collected if blood cannot be obtained for DNA. Participants can choose to have or not have cancer screening with blood tests, imaging studies, and other exams. - Participants will complete questionnaires about their worries about cancer, stress levels, and coping strategies. Diet and physical activity questionnaires will also be given. Other psychological tests may be given as needed. - Participants will be monitored for several years, with regular followup visits to the National Institutes of Health, if indicated. Any changes in health or cancer status will be recorded.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jan 2012

open study

This study will investigate what causes hereditary leiomyomatosis renal (kidney) cell cancer, or HLRCC, and how the disease is related to the development of kidney tumors. Leiomyomas are benign (non-cancerous) tumors arising from smooth muscle. HLRCC can cause various health problems. Some people develop red bumps on their skin that can be painful at times. Some women with HLRCC can develop leiomyomas of the uterus. In some families, people with HLRCC develop kidney tumors. This study will try to determine: - What gene changes (mutations) cause HLRCC - What kind of kidney tumors develop in HLRCC and how they grow - What the chance is that a person with HLRCC will develop a kidney tumor People with known or suspected HLRCC (and their family members of any age) may be eligible for this study. This includes people in families in which one or more members has skin leiomyoma and kidney cancer; skin leiomyoma and uterine leiomyoma; multiple skin leiomyomas; kidney cancer and uterine leiomyomas, or kidney cancer consistent with HLRCC, including, but not limited to, collecting duct or papillary, type II. Candidates will be screened with a physical examination, family history, and, for affected family members, a review of medical records, including pathology slides and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Participants will undergo tests and procedures that may include the following: - Review of medical records, x-rays, and tissue slides - Physical examination and family history - Skin examination - Gynecological examination for women - Interviews with a cancer doctor, cancer nurses, kidney surgeon, and genetic counselor - Blood tests for: 1. Genetic research to identify the gene responsible for HLRCC 2. Evaluation of liver, kidney, heart, pancreas, and thyroid function 3. Complete blood count and clotting profile 4. Pregnancy test for pre-menopausal women 5. PSA test for prostate cancer in men over age 40 - CT or MRI scans (for participants 15 years of age and older only) - Skin biopsy (surgical removal of a small sample of skin tissue) - Cheek swab or mouth rinse to collect cells for genetic analysis - Medical photographs of lesions - Questionnaire When the tests are completed, participants will discuss the results with a doctor and possibly a genetic nurse or genetic counselor. The genetic findings will not be revealed to participants because their meaning and implications may not yet be understood. Participants may be asked to return to NIH from every 3 months to every 3 years, depending on their condition, for follow-up examinations and tests.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Feb 2003

open study

People with cerebral palsy (CP), muscular dystrophy (MD), spina bifida, or spinal cord injury often have muscle weakness, and problems moving their arms and legs. The NIH designed a new brace device, called an exoskeleton, that is worn on the legs and helps people walk. This study is investigating new ways the exoskeleton can be used in multiple settings while performing different walking or movement tasks, which we call ubiquitous use. For example, we will ask you to walk on a treadmill at different speeds, walk up and down a ramp, or walk through an obstacle course. Optionally, the exoskeletons may also use functional electrical stimulation (FES), a system that sends electrical pulses to the muscle to help it move the limb.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jul 2026

open study

Background: People with intellectual disability (ID) often have physical disabilities as well. These physical problems can affect their bones, muscles, nerves, and gastrointestinal tracts. All of these issues can also cause pain. Yet little research has been done on pain in people with ID. Objective: To compare brain responses to unpleasant stimuli in people with and without ID. Eligibility: People aged 8 to 30 years diagnosed with an ID. Healthy volunteers without an ID are also needed. Design: The study requires only 1 visit of up to 4 hours. Participants with ID may come for up to 5 shorter visits instead. Participants will take a test to measure their level of ID. They will have a physical exam. Both groups will answer questions about pain and how their bodies react to it. They will answer questions about how they respond to things they see, feel, hear, smell, and taste. They will answer questions about their social behaviors. Caregivers may answer questions if the participant cannot. Both groups will have a test to measure their brain activity. Participants will wear a special cap, like a swim cap, with sensors and wires. Sensors to examine the heart will be placed on the skin of their chest with stickers. An elastic band will be placed around the middle of their body to measure how fast they are breathing. Sensors to measure sweat will be placed on two fingers. Participants will have heat, cold, brushing, and mild electrical stimuli to different parts of their body. Participants will rank how each stimulus feels using a scale with numbers or a scale with faces.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2026

open study

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infects CD4 T cells. There is no cure for HIV. People with HIV need to take daily medications called antiretroviral therapy (ART) to control their infection. ART stops HIV from infecting cells, but HIV does not go away. Some infected cells remain. If ART is stopped, then HIV levels will rise and infect more cells. Objective: To compare changes in the amount of virus in blood and lymph nodes after a short treatment interruption. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 years or older who are undergoing ART for HIV infection. Design: Participants will be screened with a physical exam, including blood tests. They will be assigned to 1 of 2 groups: One group will stay on ART. They will have 2 study visits: the first 45 days after screening, and the second 12 to 16 weeks later. They will have a PET/CT scan at each visit. A substance called a tracer will be injected into their arm. They will lie still on a table that moves through a doughnut-shaped machine. This process takes up to 2 hours. The other group will stop ART for no more than 90 days. This group will have 3 PET/CT scans over 8 months. Once they stop ART, they will visit the clinic weekly for blood tests. After restarting ART, they will continue to visit the clinic weekly until their HIV level is safe. All participants will have small samples of tissue taken from lymph nodes. They may also opt to provide semen samples or vaginal fluid. They may have samples taken of bone marrow or the fluid inside their spinal column.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2023

open study

Background: Genes are the instructions a person s body uses to function. Genome sequencing reads through all of a person s genes. Everyone has many gene variants, and most do not cause disease. Some gene variants called secondary findings may be important for a person s health even if they are not related to the reason why a person had genome sequencing done. Researchers want to learn more about what it means to have a secondary finding. Objectives: To learn about how gene variants may affect a person s health. To learn about how people understand their genetic test results. Eligibility: People with secondary findings from genetic testing done as part of a research study, clinical care, or other methods. Design: Participants may be asked to do an online survey and phone interview to ask what they think about their results, their healthcare, and if they talk with their family about the result. Eligible participants may be offered a visit to the NIH Clinical Center where they will be evaluated for health problems related to the secondary finding. DNA samples that were already collected may be studied. Participants may be asked to send in a second DNA sample (blood or saliva). These will be used to verify any findings. Participants who have a secondary finding can get genetic counseling.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Sep 2014

open study

Background: People with alcohol use disorder (AUD) also often have bouts of depression called major depressive episodes (MDEs). People having MDEs have been found to have low levels of a protein called PDE4B in the brain. Researchers want to find out if people with AUD also have low levels of PDE4B. This research may help lead to better treatments for AUD. Objective: To find out (1) if PDE4B levels are lower in people who are withdrawing from AUD and (2) if their PDE4B levels go up after they abstain from alcohol for 3 to 4 weeks. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 to 70 years with AUD. They must be enrolled in protocol 14-AA-0181. Design: Participants enrolled in protocol 14-AA-0181 will stay in the clinic for 3 to 4 weeks for alcohol withdrawal. During this stay, they will have some added procedures for the current study. Within the first week, participants will have a positron emission tomography (PET) scan of the brain. A needle will be used to guide a thin plastic tube (catheter) into a vein in one arm. An experimental substance called a radioactive tracer will be injected through the catheter. This tracer binds to PDE4B and makes it easier to see the protein in the brain. For the scan, participants will lie on a table that slides into a doughnut-shaped machine. Participants will have a second PET scan toward the end of their stay in the clinic. Participants may also have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain. They will lie on a bed that slides into a tube....

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2025

open study

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a leading cause of disease and death worldwide. New treatments for AUD are needed. Dopamine, a chemical that carries signals between brain cells, is thought to play a role in alcohol addiction. Researchers want to learn how Suvorexant, a drug used to treat sleep disorders, affects dopamine receptors in the brain. Objective: To see how Suvorexant affects dopamine receptors in people with AUD and in healthy people. Eligibility: People aged 18 to 75 years seeking treatment for AUD. Healthy volunteers are also needed. Design: Participants with AUD will stay in the clinic for at least 10-28 days for alcohol detoxification. They will receive normal treatment for AUD. Suvorexant is a medicine used to treat sleep problem that is taken taken by mouth, once a day. Some participants will take the study drug. Others will take a placebo. The placebo looks like the study drug but does not contain any medicine. Participants will not know which they are taking. Participants will wear a device that looks like a wristwatch to track their movements during their clinic stay. Participants will have blood tests and 3 brain imaging scans before starting on the study drug: 2 positron emission tomography (PET) and 1 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. They will be injected with a radioactive tracer during each PET scan. Participants will have tests to assess their thinking, memory, and attention. They will have sleep studies. Imaging scans and other tests will be repeated at the end of the study. Healthy volunteers will have 1 MRI and 2 PET scans. They will have tests to assess of their thinking, memory, and attention. They will wear a wristwatch like movement monitor for 1 week. ...

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2024

open study

Background: Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a rare cancer. It grows from tissue in the upper part of the nose cavity, related to the sense of smell and can affect a person s sense of smell. Researchers want to better understand the health problems of people with ONB. This may help them design better treatment and supportive care studies. Objective: To better understand ONB-the course of the disease, tumor characteristics, response to treatments, and management of the treatment. Eligibility: People ages 3 years and older who have ONB. They must enroll in NIH studies #19-C-0016 and #18-DC-0051. Design: Participants will be screened with a medical history and medical record review. Participants do not have to visit NIH. Participants will give a blood sample. They will complete surveys to assess their emotional and physical wellbeing and needs. Leftover tissue from biopsies and surgeries will be collected. Participants will take smell tests. They will smell items and answer questions about them. Participants may take taste tests. They will get plastic taste strips that they will move around their mouth to determine the taste. Participants may have a physical exam. Their performance status may be assessed. Participants may give blood, saliva, urine, and nasal secretion samples. Participants may have computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging scans. Participants may have one or more tumor biopsies. Participants will talk to the research team about the results of their medical record/tests evaluation. The team will recommend how to best manage and treat their disease. Participants may give samples and complete surveys every 12 months. Their medical records will be reviewed every year. They will be monitored for the rest of their life. ...

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jun 2022

open study

Background: Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are bone marrow diseases. People with these diseases usually need a bone marrow transplant. Researchers are testing ways to make stem cell transplant safer and more effective. Objective: To test if treating people with SAA or MDS with a co-infusion of blood stem cells from a family member and cord blood stem cells from an unrelated donor is safe and effective. Eligibility: Recipients ages 4-60 with SAA or MDS Donors ages 4-75 Design: Recipients will be screened with: - Blood, lung, and heart tests - Bone marrow biopsy - CT scan Recipients will have an IV line placed into a vein in the neck. Starting 11 days before the transplant they will have several chemotherapy infusions and 1 30-minute radiation dose. Recipients will get the donor cells through the IV line. They will stay in the hospital 3-4 weeks. After discharge, they will have visits: - First 3-4 months: 1-2 times weekly - Then every 6 months for 5 years Donors will be screened with: - Physical exam - Medical history - Blood tests Donors veins will be checked for suitability for stem cell collection. They may need an IV line to be placed in a thigh vein. Donors will get Filgrastim or biosimilar (G-CSF) injections daily for 5-7 days. On the last day, they will have apheresis: Blood drawn from one arm or leg runs through a machine and into the other arm or leg. This may be repeated 2 days or 2-4 weeks later.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2017

open study