The following 12 grant awards to UNMC College of Medicine faculty during November brought in more than $700,000 in new funding. Here’s more information on clinical trials enrolling patients at UNMC.
Uriel Sandkovsky, M.D., internal medicine – infectious diseases, for a study comparing the safety and effectiveness of a new antiviral single dose combination given once daily with conventional antiviral combination therapies in HIV-1, ART naïve women. Dr. Sandkovsky will lead the sole Nebraska site for this study which is currently recruiting participants.
Samuel Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., pathology/microbiology, is assessing the bioavailability of PHMB, a widely used polymer disinfectant in various bodily tissues and fluids.
John Colombo, M.D., internal medicine – pediatrics pulmonology, has received a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation accreditation grant for a Cystic Fibrosis Care, Teaching and Research Center. Located at teaching and community hospitals across the country, these care centers offer comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, care and counseling for those with CF. Dr. Colombo has served as the principal investigator for UNMC’s continuously funded CF Care Center since 1989.
Apar Ganti, M.D., internal medicine – oncology/hematology, is doing a clinical trial to stimulate the immune system to recognize the abnormal components found in lung cancer cells and to stimulate an immune response that will destroy or block the growth of the cancer. Dr. Ganti will lead the sole Nebraska site for this study which is currently recruiting participants.
Apar Ganti, M.D., internal medicine – oncology/hematology, is working on a National Cancer Institute-sponsored Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. The alliance develops and conducts clinical trials with promising new cancer therapies, and utilizes the best science to develop optimal treatment and prevention strategies for cancer, as well as research methods to alleviate side effects of cancer and cancer treatments.
Julie Vose, M.D., internal medicine – oncology/hematology, is comparing the effectiveness of a fully human monoclonal antibody with a conventional bisphosphonate drug in the treatment of bone disease from multiple myeloma. This study is currently recruiting participants.
Paul Fey, Ph.D., pathology/microbiology, is assessing the effectiveness of a molecular diagnostics device for the rapid detection of gastrointestinal pathogens in human stool specimens.
John Scherschel, M.D., internal medicine – cardiology, is working on a global registry, GLORIA-AF. The registry will enroll atrial fibrillation patients on long-term oral antithrombotic treatment at risk of stroke to monitor outcome events. This trial is currently recruiting participants.
Kari Simonsen, M.D., pediatrics – infectious diseases, is comparing the effectiveness of daptomycin in the treatment of pediatric patients with hematogenous osteomyelitis compared to conventional antibiotics. Dr. Simonsen will lead the sole Nebraska site for this study which is not yet recruiting participants.
Diana Florescu, M.D., internal medicine – infectious disease, is assessing the impact of immunoglobulin therapy on hypogammaglobinemia in solid organ transplant recipients.
Deepak Madhavan, M.D., neurological sciences, is comparing the safety and effectiveness of a new anticonvulsive drug when paired with current antiepileptic drugs in patients with not fully controlled partial onset seizures.
Shailender Singh, M.B.B.S., internal medicine – gastroenterology, is working with a National Institutes of Health-sponsored Biomarker Repository managed by the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Singh will lend his expertise in pancreatitis to the creation of a Pancreatic Cystic Reference Set to be used by future researchers and clinicians.