Clinical Trials
The Clinical Research Center of Morehouse School of Medicine conducts clinical trials, which are research studies designed 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 are initially developed in 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. Research staff regularly monitors the health of clinical trial participants 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 any 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, Patricia Callahan, RN, at (404) 752-1067 or pjackson@msm.edu.
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: N/A
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: N/A
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: N/A
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 versus 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 - 404-752-1031 or 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 - (404)756-8810 or Barbara Mack – (404) 323-6498 or (404) 752-1195
Establishing the In Vitro Real-Time Circadian Rhythm Measurement in Human Blood Cells
Principal Investigators: 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: coming soon
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 - (404) 752-1877 or COPD Gene Study Coordinator at (404) 616-3200
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 – (404) 752-1613 or 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: N/A
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: N/A
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: Dr. Fisayo Adebiyi - 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 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 pjackson@msm.edu