A Clinical Trial is a research study to answer specific questions about new therapies or new ways of using established treatments. Clinical Trials are used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Most current drug therapies were initially developed in past Clinical Trials.

Participants include men, women and children of all ages, races, religions and ethnic backgrounds, depending on the study guidelines. Protection of the rights, safety and welfare of our research participants is always our primary concern. Clinical Trial participants are seen regularly by the research staff to monitor their health and to determine the safety and effectiveness of their treatment. Each Clinical Trial is approved by the Institutional Review Board consisting of healthcare professionals as well as lay people from the community to ensure that risks are monitored and federal regulations are followed. We also have a Research Subject Advocate that can answer anyand all of your questions and listen to any concerns that you might have.

If you would like to participate, please note that each trial is listed on this site has study-specific contact information.

We look forward to having you join us in our research efforts. For any further information, please contact the Clinical Trials Manager at 404-752-1067.

Current Clinical Trials at the CRC

Association of Variants in SLC308A8 and TCF7L2 Genes with Insulin Secretion in Overweight/Obese African-Americans

Principal Investigator: Yuan-Xiang Meng, MD, PhD, MSCR, Assistant Professor

- In this study, we will compare the simple blood test for "C-Reactive Protein" and "Adiponectin" to the complex blood test called "Frequently-Sampled Intravenous Glucose Tolerance test (FSIGT)". The goal of this study is to decide if these simple blood tests can help to find Insulin Resistance earlier.

Contact Information: Kingsley Williams at 404-752-8455 or email kiwilliams@msm.edu

C-Reactive Protein and Adiponectin as Markers for Insulin Resistance (CAIR), Stage II

Principal Investigator: Yuan-Xiang Meng, MD, PhD, MSCR, Assistant Professor

- In this study, we will compare the simple blood test for "C-Reactive Protein" and "Adiponectin" to the complex blood test called "Frequently-Sampled Intravenous Glucose Tolerance test (FSIGT)". The goal of this study is to decide if these simple blood tests can help to find Insulin Resistance earlier.

Contact Information: Kingsley Williams at 404-752-8455 or email kiwilliams@msm.edu

Diuretic Optimization Strategies Evaluation in Acute Heart Failure

Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Ofili, MD

- The purpose of this study is to test different ways of giving patients Lasix. We want to see which one works best for patients in the hospital with heart failure. This study will test if a higher amount of Lasix works better than a lower amount of Lasix. We will also study if it is better to give the Lasix in 2 or 3 times a day or slowly throughout the day.

Contact Information: Brenda Lankford at 404-752-1377 or email at blankford@msm.edu

Endothelial Function in Obese African-American Women: The Potential Effect of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress on Endothelial Progenitor Cells

Principal Investigator: Priscilla Igho-Pemu, MD, MS

- This study explores the relationship of body mass (lean vs. obese) on blood vessel function and the number of cells that repair blood vessels and whether eating food according to the DASH diet (an eating plan that helps to improve blood pressure among African Americans) will improve the levels of these repair cells in the blood or the function of the blood vessels.

Contact Information: Eddie R. Stanley at 404-752-1031 or email estanley@msm.edu

Emory-Morehouse Partnership to Reduce Cardiovascular Health Disparities Community Centered Intervention to Improve Outcomes in African American with Metabolic Syndrome, Aim IIB Phase (Pilot) and III

Principal Investigator(s): Sandra B. Dunbar, RN, DSN; Priscilla Igho-Pemu, MD; Arshed Quyyumi, MD

Other Investigators: Patricia C. Clark, RN, PhD; Elizabeth Ofili, MD, MPH, FACC

- The purpose of the study is to compare ways of teaching people with metabolic syndrome (Especially African-Americans) how to practice personal life-style modifications in changing their diet and to increase their physical activity. High blood pressure, high fat in blood, high blood sugar, and overweight are common in these people that put them at a higher risk of getting heart attack and stroke.

Contact Information: Ikemba Gabriel Madu at 404-756-8810 or Barbara Mack at 404-323-6498 or 404-752-1195 office

Establishing the In Vitro Real-Time Circadian Rhythm Measurement in Human Blood Cells

Principal Investigators: Chiaki Fukuhara, PhD; Kazumi Nomura, PhD

- The purpose of this research is to develop an assay system by which circadian rhythms can be monitored using human blood samples. This assay would help the doctors know how their patient's body clocks are working.

Contact Information: Connie Maddox or email at cmaddox@msm.edu

Genetic Epidemiology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: The COPD Gene Study

Principal Investigator(s): Marilyn G. Foreman, MD, MS; Gloria Westney, MD, MS; Eric Flenaugh, MD

- The purpose of this study is to find genetic factors and markers in the blood that might predict who will get COPD. We will also study genetic factors and markers that are associated with other smoking related disorders, like cancer or heart disease. The findings in this study are considered research and are not the same as "genetic testing."

Contact Information: Jolita Dorsett-Wainwright at 404-752-1877 or COPD Gene Study Coordinator at 404-616-3200

Hearts of Humanity Project: A Culturally Based Program Aimed to Reduce Risk for Heart Disease in African-Americans (Phase II: A Practice-Based Approach to Peripheral Artery Disease: The Hearts of Humanity One Stop Shop Physicians Academy

Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Ofili, MD

- The Hearts of Humanity Project is a culturally based education program aimed at reducing the risk of heart disease in blacks.

Contact Information: Kayellen Umeakunne at 404-752-1010 or email at kumeakunne@msm.edu

Macrophage Function in Obese African-American Women with Metabolic Syndrome

Principal Investigator: Margaret Colden-Stanfield, PhD

- The Purpose of this research is to find out the following things:

1) Whether macrophage (a large white blood cell responsible for fighting infection and disease) function is enhanced in macrophages isolated from obese African-American (AA) women compared to macrophages isolated from lean AA women.

2) We also want to characterize the potassium channel species in potassium currents in macrophages from lean or obese AA women with metabolic syndrome and their impact on cellular activity.

Contact Information: Allyson Belton at 404-752-1613 or email abelton@msm.edu

Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibition to Improve Quality of Life and Exercise Capacity in Diastolic Heart Failure

Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Ofili, MD, MPH, FACC

- The purpose of this study is to test the drug Sildenafil. We want to see if it helps you to exercise and improve the quality of life in persons with diastolic heart failure.

Contact Information: Brenda Lankford at 404-752-1377 or email at blankford@msm.edu

Psychosocial and Cultural Determinants of the Metabolic Syndrome (META-HEALTH Study)

Principal Investigators: Arshed A. Quyyumi, MD, Professor of Medicine, Emory University; Rebecca Din, MD, MPH, PhD Clinicial Associate Professor, Morehouse School of Medicine

- The purpose of this research is to look at how stress is related to health behavior, excess weight, high blood pressure, and how the blood vessels work. We also want to see if you have the metabolic syndrome, a health problem which is found in persons who are overweight, have high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high fat in the blood.

Contact Information: Dr. Arshed Quyumi@ 404-727-3655 or Dr. Rebecca Din at 404-752-1068

Surgery versus Medical Treatment Alone for Patients with Significant Mitral Regurgitation and Non-Ischemic Congestive Heart Failure

Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Ofili, MD, MPH, FACC Chief of Staff for Section of Cardiology

- We want to find out if surgery in addition to optimal medical treatment is better than optimal medical treatment alone… Surgery can fix the leaky heart, (1) improve how well the heart work (2) help you feel better, and (3) is safe. Mitral valve repair is not a new procedure. We are trying to see if this ring procedure to fix the leaky mitral valve in addition to optimal medical therapy will make people feel better and live longer.

Contact Information: Brenda Lankford at 404-752-1377 or email at blankford@msm.edu

The Effect of Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) on Vascular Function and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Principal Investigators: Gary H. Gibbons, MD; Yuan-Xiang Meng, MD, PhD

- The purpose of this research is to examine the role of Vitamin D treatment in high risk subjects on the way blood vessels behave. The purpose of this research is to find out how changes in blood vessels can cause a stroke or a heart attack.

Contact Information: Kingsley Williams at 404-752-8455 or email Dr. Fisayo Adebiyi at fadebiyi@msm.edu

The Role of Endothelin 1 and Nitric Oxide Synthase in HIV-1 Associated Nephropathy (HIVAN)

Principal Investigator: Gale W. Newman, PhD, Associate Professor, Micro, Biochem, Immuno

- We will be looking at blood and urine to see whether products in blood may help the HIV virus hurt the kidneys. We will also be looking to see if there are substances that the kidneys need to work properly. DNA will be examined to see if there are changes in DNA that may either cause kidney disease or help the body to prevent problems with the kidneys.

Contact Information: Claudette Mitchell at 404-752-5049 or email at cmitchell@msm.edu

Warfarin versus Aspirin in Reduced Cardiac Ejection Fraction (WARCEF)

Principal Investigators: Elizabeth Ofili, MD, MPH, FACC Chief of Staff for Section of Cardiology; Adefisayo Odulwole, MD; Priscilla Igho-Pemu, MD; Anekwe Onwuanyi, MD, FACC

- The purpose of this research is to compare the effect of Warfarin (Coumadin) and aspirin therapy in heart failure patients (patients whose heart pumps out at low amount of blood). This research study is looking to find out which of two commonly used treatments for this condition is the better one. One of the drugs in this research study is called Warfarin. The other drug to be compared in this research is aspirin.

Contact Information: Patricia Jackson-Callahan at 404-752-1067 or email pjackson@msm.edu

For each study there is compensation for time and travel.

Please contact the study coordinator for more information

 Directions: The CRC is located on the Morehouse School of Medicine Campus in the Multidisciplinary Research Center Building. Easily accessible by Interstate Highways or Marta, the school is part of the Atlanta University Center's consortium of Historically Black Colleges in the West End District of Atlanta.