Healthy Clinical Trials

The Ezra Faster Scan study uses non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology that can "visually" detect early and late-stage cancer, and other pathologies. MRIs use a magnetic field and radio waves to create a 3-dimensional (3D) image of an individual's body without using ionizing radiation. The purpose of this research is to decrease the amount of time required by an individual to complete an early cancer screening comprehensive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, such as the Ezra Full Body MRI imaging scan. If the time required to conduct a comprehensive scan is reduced, the cost of the scan may also decrease. By decreasing consumer costs and time, more individuals may be able to afford MRI-based early cancer screening technology. Participants in this study will undergo a minimum 30-minute MRI session. These sessions will be used to evaluate new MRI "instructions" that allow for a faster MRI scan time. The images will also be used to develop mathematical models or machine learning tools that allow images to be enhanced. By enhancing images using machine learning, they may be restored to a quality typically observed in MRI sessions with longer scan (acquisition) times. To read more about the study, potential participants may review the informed consent form located below in the References section. Potential participants may email research.fasterscan@ezra.com, or call 516.340.1221. See study Eligibility Criteria below. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to longitudinally characterize and evaluate changes in synaptic density in the brain using novel positron-emission tomography (PET) scans; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and clinical laboratory markers associated with HIV-related injury in the central nervous system. This study will test hypotheses relating to the presence and mechanisms of aberrant brain structure at the synaptic level in living humans with virologically controlled HIV on antiretroviral therapy. To evaluate associations between PET imaging radiotracers [11C]UCB-J, a ligand for presynaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A), a vesicle membrane protein expressed in synapses, and PET [11C]PBR28 a measure of microglia function in the brain, the Yale PET center has developed an advanced approach of combining multiple distinct ligands in coordinated same-day PET imaging. Additionally, the study will evaluate the associations of this novel synaptic density marker with well-established clinical measures of neurocognitive performance and laboratory measures of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Read Less

This study will investigate the impact of impaired hepatic function (IHF) on the plasma pharmacokinetics of ALXN2050 in order to provide dosing recommendations for future indications in individuals with varying degrees of IHF. Read Less

The increased interest in personalized nutrition has arisen because scientists are beginning to understand subgroup differences in response to the environment including diet. Some suggest that dietary guidance which promotes milk is racially and ethnically insensitive because of higher prevalence of lactose intolerance/maldigestion in non-white groups. Preliminary evidence in Black and White adolescent girls shows that Blacks retain more calcium and excrete more sodium than white girls on a high sodium diet making Whites more vulnerable to osteoporosis and Blacks more vulnerable to hypertension on high salt diets. Adequate dietary calcium is protective for both groups. This project will compare calcium absorption and calcium and sodium excretion from lactose-free milk as part of a controlled diet on higher (usual Western diet) and lower (recommended) salt intakes in Black, White, Hispanic, and Asian adults. Read Less

This study will perform magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements of hemodynamics and cerebrospinal fluid flow across breathing tasks and during breath-locked neuromodulation. Read Less

Physical activity and Alzheimer's disease (PAAD-2) is a randomized control trial that will assess the effects of exercise on middle-aged (40-65 years) cognitively normal adults who have a heightened risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to family history (FH+). The investigators will also assess the extent to which this effect is moderated by apolipoprotein epsilon-4 (APOE4) carrier status, and will gather critical new experimental evidence on the use of physical activity to improve cognitive performance by persons at the greatest risk of Alzheimer's disease. Read Less

The purpose of this research is to determine the effects of low-load blood flow restriction (BFR) training compared to conventional strengthening using dynamic force plate and isometric force frame analyses in healthy subjects. Read Less

This is a mechanistic, controlled, open-label, single-site study to evaluate the effects of RG-RV16 inoculation on airway mucosal gene expression and airway remodeling in 25 healthy controls (HC), in 25 allergic rhinitis subjects (AR) with cat dander allergy, and in 25 allergic asthmatic subjects (AA) with cat dander allergy. Three groups (HC, AR, and AA) will undergo screening to establish clinical history, will undergo pulmonary function testing (spirometry), and will have blood drawn for clinical characterization (IgE, , ImmunoCAP, CBC and differential), and for assessing the presence of existing neutralizing antibody against RV16. Only those who meet criteria will be permitted to continue into the interventional and run-out phases of the study. Read Less

The objective of this study is collect urine samples from healthy adult subjects and subjects with stable chronic morbidities for future testing to serve as controls and establish reference ranges in the development of new invitro diagnostic devices. Read Less

The goal of this exploratory study is understand the mechanisms of response to immunotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer patients. The investigators are going to search for correlation between specific biological features and response to immunotherapy, and to use those associations for developing an algorithm enabling to identify patients that could benefit from the immune check inhibitor based anti cancer treatment. Patients will provide biological samples before and during their treatment, and clinical data will be collected. Read Less

Inflammation occurs in many brain diseases including Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's disease, amyloid starts accumulating decades before the start of forgetfulness. Basic scientists have reported that inflammation but not amyloid is linked to forgetfulness. When people pinch a finger, it gets swollen. Similar changes occur in brain from various causes. New medications are under development to help healing and prevent permanent damages in the brain. When people pinch a finger, they can check if the injury is healing or getting worse by watching. Investigators can watch inside of the brain using a special camera called positron emission tomography (PET). It is currently possible to watch inflammation in the brain by taking pictures of a molecule called translocator protein (TSPO). But the problem is that by imaging TSPO, investigators can catch changes in more than one kind of cells. The information is not specific to each cell type. Such vague information is not useful to monitor the effect of new medications for inflammation. This proposal attempts to develop a novel method to capture changes in each of two major players in inflammation, microglia and astrocytes. To do so, investigators will take selective pictures of one cell type by using a novel imaging agent for PET. Investigators will also take PET pictures of TSPO. Investigators will process these two kinds of PET pictures using advanced mathematical methods and extract specific information on microglia and astrocytes. Our novel method will be useful to monitor new therapies to treat inflammation in brain. Read Less

In this study, we investigate the impact of insulin resistance on the acceleration of brain aging, and test whether increased neuron insulin resistance can be counteracted by utilization of alternate metabolic pathways (e.g., ketones rather than glucose). This study has three Arms, which together provide synergistic data. For all three Arms, subjects are tested in a within-subjects design that consists of 2-3 testing sessions, 1-14 days apart, and counter-balanced for order. During each session we measure the impact of fuel (glucose in one session, ketones in the other) on brain metabolism and associated functioning. For Arms 1-2, our primary experimental measure is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which we will use to trace the self-organization of functional networks following changes in energy supply and demand. Arm 1 tests the impact of endogenous ketones produced by switching to a low carbohydrate diet, while Arm 2 tests the impact of exogenous ketones consumed as a nutritional supplement. For Arm 3, we use simultaneous magnetic resonance spectroscopy/positron-emission tomography (MR/PET) to quantify the impact of exogenous ketones on production of glutamate and GABA, key neurotransmitters. Subjects will be given the option to participate in more than one of the Arms, but doing so is not expected nor required. Prior to scans, subjects will receive a clinician-administered History and Physical (H&P), which includes vital signs, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and the comprehensive metabolic blood panel. These will be used to assess diabetes, kidney disease, and electrolytes. If subjects pass screening, they will be provided the option to participate in one or more Arms, which include neuroimaging. To provide a quantitative measure of time-varying metabolic activity throughout the scan, based upon quantitative models of glucose and ketone regulation, as well as to be able to implement safety stopping rules (see below), we will obtain pin-prick blood samples three times: prior to the scan, following consumption of the glucose or ketone drink, and following completion of the scan. To assess effects of increased metabolic demand, we measure brain response to cognitive load, transitioning from resting-state to spatial reasoning through a Tetris task. To assess effects of increased metabolic supply, we measure brain response to glucose or ketone bolus. Read Less