Champaign

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of pemigatinib in adults with advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer that has spread to nearby tissues, lymph nodes, or distant body parts, and that have specific genetic changes in the FGFR gene. The study focuses on patients whose cancer has FGFR2 gene fusions or other FGFR alterations, aiming to see if pemigatinib can block these abnormal gene functions to stop tumor growth and possibly improve quality of life. This is a phase II trial conducted nationwide using a fully decentralized telemedicine approach to reach participants. Participants receive pemigatinib as an oral medication once daily for 14 days within each 21-day cycle. Treatment continues unless the disease progresses or unacceptable side effects occur. Alongside the drug treatment, patients undergo various imaging tests including CT scans, MRI, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and when needed, whole body bone scans and dilated eye exams (ophthalmoscopy). After finishing treatment, patients are followed up at 30 days and then every four months for one year to monitor their condition. Throughout the study, patients provide blood samples and undergo scans to evaluate treatment response and detect resistance mutations. Researchers track the overall response rate for up to 24 months and assess safety and tolerability. Patients must comply with scheduled visits, tests, and oral medication intake. The total study participation includes treatment cycles and a follow-up period lasting up to approximately 16 months after treatment completion.

Researchers are evaluating the effect of baxdrostat combined with dapagliflozin compared to baxdrostat with placebo on reducing albuminuria in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and high blood pressure. This Phase IIb, randomized, multicenter, double-blind study includes adults aged 18 years and older, with or without type 2 diabetes and regardless of current SGLT2 inhibitor treatment. The study aims to assess both the impact on albuminuria and the safety of these treatments. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either baxdrostat with dapagliflozin or baxdrostat with a matching placebo. The study includes an optional pre-screening period to assess kidney function and other health markers, and those on SGLT2 inhibitors will undergo a washout before starting treatment. Randomization will consider diabetes status to ensure balanced groups. During the study, participants will be monitored up to 12 weeks to measure changes in albuminuria, specifically urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). Safety and other health parameters will also be assessed through blood tests and blood pressure measurements. The study ends when the last participant completes their final visit and procedures, ensuring thorough data collection on treatment effects and safety.

Researchers are investigating the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of combining baxdrostat with dapagliflozin compared to dapagliflozin alone in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and high blood pressure. This Phase III, international, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study aims to see if this combination reduces risks such as significant kidney function decline, kidney failure, heart failure events, or cardiovascular death. The study includes a 4-week run-in period where participants not previously treated with SGLT2 inhibitors receive dapagliflozin alone. After this, participants are randomly assigned to receive either baxdrostat plus dapagliflozin or placebo plus dapagliflozin in a double-blinded manner. Study visits occur frequently initially (at 2, 4, 8, 16, 34, and 52 weeks after randomization) and then approximately every 4 months. If participants stop the blinded treatment early, they continue dapagliflozin alone unless specific criteria require its discontinuation. Participants will undergo regular assessments including blood pressure monitoring and laboratory tests related to kidney function and cardiovascular health. The primary outcome measures the reduction in risk of major kidney and heart events over up to 37 months. Even if participants stop the study treatment, they will continue follow-up visits and data collection to ensure comprehensive safety and efficacy evaluation throughout the study duration.

Researchers are evaluating the efficacy and safety of verekitug (UPB-101) in adults with moderate-to-severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a long-term inflammatory lung condition. This global, multicenter Phase 2b study aims to understand how well verekitug works compared to a placebo, alongside participants' usual COPD medications. Participants must have a confirmed COPD diagnosis and meet specific lung function and symptom criteria to join the study. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive one of two doses of verekitug or a matching placebo, in addition to their regular COPD background treatments. The study includes a screening period of about 4 weeks, followed by treatment lasting between 60 and 108 weeks. After treatment, there is a 16-week follow-up period to monitor participants after their last dose. Throughout the study, participants will undergo various assessments including lung function tests and symptom evaluations. Researchers will track the annual rate of moderate or severe COPD flare-ups from the start of treatment through week 108. Safety and tolerability will be closely monitored during the treatment and follow-up periods to ensure participants' well-being over the course of the trial.

Researchers are evaluating the safety and effects of a study medicine called PF-07275315 for treating adults with moderate-to-severe asthma that is not well controlled. This condition makes breathing difficult and affects quality of life. The study is a Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial aiming to determine if PF-07275315 is safe and effective for this group. Participants will receive either PF-07275315 or a placebo through multiple subcutaneous injections administered in the clinic over 12 weeks. The study compares these two groups to assess treatment responses. The trial includes a total of 9 clinic visits and lasts about 7.5 months for each participant. During the study, participants will undergo various assessments including lung function tests to measure forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), safety monitoring through adverse event tracking, laboratory tests, vital sign checks, and electrocardiograms. These evaluations occur from baseline through 24 weeks to observe changes and treatment tolerability.

Researchers are exploring how alcohol affects social and individual behaviors by studying participants aged 21 to 30 in a controlled laboratory setting. The study uses a within-subject design where each participant attends two sessions about one week apart, interacting in pairs. In one session, participants consume an alcoholic beverage, and in the other, a non-alcoholic control drink. This approach allows direct comparison of behavior and brain activity between intoxicated and sober states, focusing on social bonding, emotional regulation, and neural synchrony. Participants receive either a vodka-based alcoholic drink or a matched non-alcoholic beverage during two separate sessions. The alcoholic drink is given to achieve a blood alcohol concentration near 0.08%, consumed over 36 minutes in three equal parts. During each session, EEG hyperscanning records brain activity from both members of the pair simultaneously. Participants engage in structured tasks like music perception and cognitive tests, as well as natural social interactions, with the order of alcohol and control sessions randomized to prevent carryover effects. Throughout the study, researchers assess brain synchronization within individuals and between paired participants using EEG data, including event-related potentials measuring neural responses. Behavioral and psychological outcomes such as mood and social closeness are collected through validated questionnaires and coding of nonverbal behavior. Drinking habits are tracked for up to 24 months after the sessions. The study involves about 200 regular social drinkers and aims to deepen understanding of alcohol’s social effects and inform prevention and treatment strategies for alcohol use disorder.

Researchers are evaluating a new individualized-health e-library app called SavvyHealth designed for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study aims to assess how effective this app is in helping users manage their MS and to test the feasibility of this brief educational intervention. Participants will use the SavvyHealth app for 21 days. Before and after using the app, they will complete surveys to measure their experience and self-management abilities. The intervention focuses on delivering personalized health information through the app. During the study, participants will complete a survey before starting the app and another survey after 21 days of use. Researchers will monitor self-management using the MS Self-management Scale throughout the study period. Participants are expected to be involved for the 21-day app usage and survey completion timeframe.

Researchers are evaluating a smartphone technology designed to improve medication adherence for high blood pressure in older adults who have mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This 16-week randomized controlled trial will include 100 participants aged 60 and older. The study aims to test the effectiveness of the technology in supporting participants to take their antihypertensive medications more reliably and includes two treatment groups for comparison. Participants will be randomly assigned after a 4-week medication adherence monitoring period to one of two groups: bpMedManage-S or bpMedManage-P. The bpMedManage-S group will use a smartphone app that provides medication reminders along with access to education about hypertension and medications. The bpMedManage-P group will use a smartphone to access the same educational content without medication reminders. Both groups will have baseline assessments before monitoring, and outcomes will be measured at 4 and 12 weeks after starting the intervention. During the study, participants will be closely followed and assessed using electronic monitoring of medication adherence and self-reported adherence scales. The main outcomes include changes in medication-taking behavior at both 4 and 12 weeks. Participants must be able to self-manage at least one blood pressure medication, use a smartphone, and be willing to participate for at least four months. Safety and cognitive assessments will guide the inclusion of participants throughout the study.

Researchers are evaluating the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of lunsekimig compared with a placebo in adults aged 40 to 80 years who have inadequately controlled Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) characterized by an eosinophilic phenotype. This Phase 2b/Phase 3 study focuses on patients with COPD who have specific lung function criteria, prior exacerbations, and blood eosinophil counts, aiming to better manage their condition using a new subcutaneous treatment. Eligible participants will receive subcutaneous injections of either lunsekimig or a matching placebo during a randomized intervention period lasting approximately 48 weeks. The study includes a screening period of up to 4 weeks before treatment and a follow-up period of about 8 weeks after treatment, making the total study duration up to 60 weeks. Participants remain in one of three study arms throughout this timeline. During the study, participants will be monitored regularly to measure the annualized rate of moderate-to-severe COPD exacerbations from baseline up to 48 weeks. Researchers will assess safety, tolerability, lung function, and other health outcomes. The study collects data on participants' lung function, exacerbation frequency, and blood markers, along with adherence to treatment and safety follow-up over the entire study period.

Researchers are studying how reducing the clarity of high-frequency sounds affects understanding speech. The study focuses on the effects of low-pass filtering speech, which limits the higher sound frequencies, on how well people can perceive spoken words. Participants will undergo a diagnostic test where their ability to hear extended high-frequency sounds is intentionally reduced using low-pass filtering. This method helps assess how changes in sound frequency affect speech perception. During the study, participants' speech recognition or localization abilities will be measured on the first day. The main outcome is the speech recognition or localization score, which helps researchers understand how well participants can perceive speech with altered sound frequencies.