Baltimore, MD Paid Clinical Trials

In this study the investigators will study the effects of neoadjuvant radiation therapy (RT), in the form of either proton therapy or stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), on the Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), radiographic changes and radiomics, and the validity of these findings will be compared using the current gold standard- pathologic findings. The purpose of this work is to explore whether the biomarkers may be used diagnostically to better understand radiographic changes following RT. The investigators hypothesize that ctDNA levels in combination with imaging biomarkers identified through radiomics will be a sensitive and specific tool for predicting histopathologic response to RT. Read Less

The Bidirectional Cortical Neuroprosthetic System (BiCNS) consists of NeuroPort Microelectrode Array Systems and NeuroPort Electrodes (Sputtered Iridium Oxide Film), Patient Pedestals, the NeuroPort BioPotential Signal Processing System, and the CereStim C96 Programmable Stimulator. The goals of this early feasibility study consist of safety and efficacy evaluations of this device. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety of peri-operative gemcitabine, cisplatin, and pembrolizumab in patients with BTC, as well as whether the combination of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and pembrolizumab (gem/cis/pembro) is feasible and lead to pathologic responses. Read Less

Through the proposed Substance Checking Outreach and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Engagement (SCOPE) study, the investigators will design and evaluate an overdose prevention and HIV prevention study among people who use drugs (PWUD). Specifically, SCOPE will provide access to drug-checking services for PWUD to better understand the contents of the drug supply, in combination with PrEP for those who are HIV-, to both reduce overdose and HIV among PWUD in Baltimore City. Read Less

This is a single-arm, longitudinal, observational study on the use of wearable sensors and digital health technology to measure fall frequency and motor, speech, and cognitive function in patients with PSP over the course of approximately one year. Participants will perform supervised remote assessments monthly and in-person assessments approximately every 6 months. Read Less

This is a proposal to develop a Balanced Reach Training Protocol (BRTP) to evaluate and train dynamic standing balance. The BRTP is based upon the Balanced Reach Test (BRT) that the investigators previously developed and validated. In the BRT subjects stand and point to a target disk moving unpredictably across a large projection screen in front of them without stepping. Body movements undertaken to track the disk are integral to many daily activities and represent an important class of "expected" balance disturbances that can precipitate falls. The BRTP employs engineering and psychophysical methods, and exploits advances in real time computing in a novel and innovative way to more effectively evaluate and train balance function. The BRTP presents a challenging reaching/tracking task that subjects perform at their limit of balance. The BRTP is an objective, quantitative test that can evaluate balance function without floor or ceiling effects, and train balance across the spectrum of aging, disease, and injury. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to examine the safety and feasibility of performing hyperpolarized metabolic MRI in the diagnosis of brain tumor. This study will also assess the accuracy of hyperpolarized metabolic MRI to diagnose intermediate to patients with infiltrating gliomas and examine the added utility of metabolic MRI over standard MRI imaging The FDA is allowing the use of hyperpolarized \[1-13C\] pyruvate (HP 13C-pyruvate) in this study. Up to 5 patients may take part in this study at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). Read Less

This is a two-tiered pilot study in which there will be no randomization and no placebo treatment. This study will be to perform metabolic magnetic resonance imaging on men suspected to have a prostate cancer to understand if metabolic MRI can be safely performed on this population Read Less

The goal of this clinical trial is to examine the effectiveness of the Stress Management and Resilience Training (SMART) in increasing resilience in a population of U.S. Air Force personnel at Joint Base Andrews, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Nellis Air Force Base, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. When delivered in real-world conditions, to what extent does SMART increase levels of resiliency and decrease levels of stress in a sample of active component U.S. Air Force personnel? 2. Does SMART have a sustained effectiveness from baseline to 12, 24 and 36-weeks after training completion in a sample of active component U.S. Air Force personnel? 3. Does SMART provided via an in-person/video-teleconference (VTC) or Computer-Based Training (CBT) modality demonstrate equivalent effectiveness in increasing resilience and decreasing stress in active component Air Force personnel? Participants will be asked to complete a pre-intervention survey, complete the assigned modality of SMART ( in-person/VTC or CBT), and complete follow-up measurements at 12-, 24-, and 36-weeks post-intervention completion. Researchers will compare in-person/VTC and CBT groups' measurements to see if a difference in self-reported resilience, stress, anxiety, or quality of life is present pre-intervention. Researchers will compare in-person/VTC and CBT groups' measurements to see if a difference in self-reported resilience, stress, anxiety, or quality of life is present post-intervention. Read Less

CORT-X will examine if mitigation of stress-mediated pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a feasible target for intervention in individuals at risk for this disease. This single-site (Baltimore, Maryland) phase II clinical trial is a 2-week, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study of the effects of the selective glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, CORT108297, on cognitive test performance in 26 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD and in 26 cognitively normal individuals with an increased risk for AD due to family history, genetics, and/or subjective memory complaints. All subjects will participate in a brief stressor (public speaking and mental arithmetic) and provide saliva samples so investigators can measure stress hormone response. Then, following 2 weeks of treatment with placebo or CORT108297, in counterbalanced order, participants will complete cognitive tests assessing memory and executive function. All study participants will receive CORT108297 and placebo over the course of this 10-week trial that requires 6 in-person study visits. The primary aims will compare the effects of CORT108297 to placebo on cognitive test performance in individuals with MCI due to AD and in individuals at risk for AD, and describe the side effects of CORT108297 in study participants. Secondary aims will identify subject characteristics that predict positive response to study drug. Read Less

This study will examine the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-infused chocolates, gummies, and drinks. Healthy adults (N=40) will complete 9 drug administration sessions, including an overnight stay prior to each session. Participants will consume THC containing products in a fasted state; following drug administration, the participants will complete cognitive and psychomotor tasks, subjective assessments, have blood collected, and vital signs monitored. Read Less

The NFPTR was established in 1994 to find the causes of pancreatic cancer. In brief, the investigators are interested in both the genetic and non-genetic causes of pancreatic cancer. The investigators are particularly interested in finding the genes that cause pancreatic cancer to cluster in some families. Up to 10% of pancreatic cancer patients have another close relative who has also developed pancreatic cancer. This clustering of pancreatic cancers in families has yet to be explained; however, the investigators continue to identify new familial pancreatic cancer genes that explain this clustering in subsets of families. For example, in 2009 and 2012 the investigators discovered that mutations in the PALB2 and ATM genes jointly account up to 5% of the clustering of pancreatic cancer in families. Read Less