Cyrus Desouza, MBBS, chief, Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (DEM), is the site director for two NIH multicenter trials. One is titled “Glycemic Reduction Approaches for Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness Study” (GRADE), focused on identifying the best second drug after metformin for treatment of type 2 diabetes. The other titled “Vitamin D to prevent type 2 diabetes” (D2d), is evaluating whether vitamin D treatment can prevent or delay the conversion of prediabetes to diabetes.
The UNMC site, which includes the Omaha VA, is now ranked number two out of the 43 sites for the GRADE trial and number three out of 22 sites for the D2d trial. Recruitment for the D2d is completed but the GRADE trial is still going.
“Currently we have 175 subjects in D2d and 173 in GRADE. We think we will hit 200 in GRADE,” Dr. Desouza said.
“This really is big news, and in light of the fact that recruitment for clinical trials is a key outcome measure for UNMC & Nebraska Medicine, it is particularly relevant,” said Christopher Kratochvil, MD, UNMC, associate vice chancellor for clinical research and Nebraska Medicine, vice president for research.