Healthy Paid Clinical Trials in Maryland

Title: Collection of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) from Healthy People for the Expansion of T Cells for Adoptive Cell Therapy Background: New therapies are being developed that use a person s own immune system to fight tumors. Some of the tumors being studied include cancers caused by viruses. Researchers want to use the healthy cells of volunteers to perform research studies. To do this, they are collecting lymphocytes through leukapheresis. Objectives: To collect healthy cells from volunteers for research studies for new cancer therapies. Eligibility: Healthy people ages 18 and older Design: Participants will be screened with a standard donor questionnaire. It asks about their health and past medical problems. It also asks about risky behaviors that could increase their exposure to viruses or bacteria that could be transmitted through a transfusion. Participants will give a blood sample to make sure they are able to donate. They will have a physical exam. A finger stick test will check their hemoglobin, or red blood cell, level. They might give a urine sample. Participants will undergo apheresis. For this, a needle is placed in a vein in each of their arms. Their blood is taken from one arm. A machine separates the white cells from the red cells and plasma by a spinning process. The white cells are removed and directed into a plastic bag. The red cells and plasma are returned through the needle in the other arm. The entire procedure takes 4 6 hours. Participants may donate every 21 days in this protocol if they choose to. ... Read Less

Background: Urothelial cancer is cancer of the bladder, ureter, and urethra. Researchers want to better understand what changes in a person s cells and genes cause this cancer to form. This may help them find new ways to treat it. Objective: - To perform DNA sequencing to help researchers learn the differences between normal tissue and tumor tissue. Also, to learn how molecular changes - including gene changes - might help predict the course of disease and how people respond to therapy. Eligibility: - Adults age 18 and older who have or are suspected of having urothelial cancer or an inherited disorder that raises their risk of getting bladder cancer. Design: Participants will be screened with a physical exam. Their medical records and tissue samples will be reviewed. Eligible participants will give tissue blocks of their original tumor. The blocks will be put in a tissue bank. Participants medical records may be reviewed. Participants may have a medical history and physical exam. Participants may have blood and urine tests. They may have imaging scans. They may give urine, blood, and saliva samples. These samples may be used in future research. If participants need surgery for their cancer, researchers will keep some of the tissue (both tumor and normal tissue). The tissue may be used in future research. Participants will go back to the Clinical Center in 6 months. They may give saliva, urine, and blood samples. After 6 months, they will be seen by their local doctor for standard post-surgical visits. Participants will be called every 6 months to give health updates. Read Less

Background: - By the time diseases of the retina are detected, serious damage has often already been done. Researchers want to find better ways of viewing the retina. One way called adaptive optics may help detect problems earlier. Objectives: - To study if adaptive optics can help find better ways to diagnose, treat, and manage retinal diseases. Eligibility: People over age 12 with an eye disease. Healthy volunteers over age 12. Design: Participants will be screened with medical history and eye exams. These may include dilating pupils and taking pictures of the eyes. Participants will have 1 or more study visits. They will have: Medical and eye history. Questions about their medications. Eye exam including pupil dilation. Adaptive optics imaging. After dilation, participants sit still while looking into an adaptive optics instrument. They look at specific places and images are taken of their retina. They may also have: More images. Perimetry. Participants look into a lens and press a button when they see a light. Color vision tests. Electroretinogram. Participants will get numbing eye drops and special contact lenses. A small metal electrode will be put on their forehead. They will look at flashing lights and try not to blink. Read Less

Background: Most medications that treat depression take weeks or months to work. Researchers want to develop fast-acting treatments. One dose of ketamine has a rapid antidepressant effect. For most people, this lasts a week or less. Repeated doses of ketamine may help maintain this effect. Objective: Main Study: To study the effects of ketamine in treating depression. Ketamine Metabolites Substudy: To study how ketamine effects brain chemistry. To study how ketamine effects the brain. This is done by looking at metabolites, which are created when a drug is broken down. Eligibility: Main Study: People ages 18-65 with major depressive disorder and healthy volunteers Ketamine Metabolites Substudy: Healthy volunteers ages 18-65 Design: Main Study: Participants will be screened in another study, with: Medical and psychiatric history Psychiatric and physical exam Blood, urine, and heart tests Participants will be inpatients at NIH for 4 phases totaling 14-20 weeks. Phase I (2-7 weeks): Gradually stop current medications MRI: Participants lie and perform tasks in a machine that takes pictures of the body. Mood and thinking tests Blood and urine tests Sleep test: Monitors on the skin record brain waves, breathing, heart rate, and movement during sleep. Transcranial magnetic stimulation: A coil on the scalp gives an electrical current that affects brain activity. Stress tests: Electrodes on the skin measure reactions to loud noises or electric shocks. Phase I tests are repeated in Phases II and III and in the final visit. Phase II (4-5 weeks): 4 weekly IV infusions of ketamine or a placebo during an MRI or MEG. For the MEG, a cone over the head records brain activity. Phase III (optional): 8 infusions of ketamine over 4 weeks Phase IV (optional): Symptoms monitoring for 4 weeks Participants will have a final visit. They will be offered standard treatment at NIH for up to 2 months. Ketamine Metabolites Substudy: Participants will be screened in another study, with: Medical and psychiatric history Psychiatric and physical exam Blood, urine, and heart tests Participants will be inpatients at NIH for 4 days. Study Procedures: Mood and thinking tests Blood and urine tests 1 infusion of ketamine Spinal tap and spinal catheter: Used to get samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This is a fluid that moves around and within the brain and spinal cord. Studying CSF will help us learn how ketamine effects brain chemistry Read Less

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a lung disease. It is caused by inhaling a type of airborne bacterium. Tuberculin Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) is used to test for TB exposure. It is usually injected under a person s skin. In this study, it will be applied in the lung. Objective: To learn how the cells within the lung react (immune response) when exposed to PPD. Eligibility: Adults ages 18-64 who (1) have been exposed to TB but do not have active disease or symptoms or (2) have never been exposed to TB. Design: Participants will be screened with a medical history, physical exam, and blood tests. They will have a TB skin test. They will also have an electrocardiogram to examine heart rhythm. For this, sticky patches will be placed on their chest. Some screening tests will be repeated at study visits. Participants will have 3 FDG PET-CT scans. They will lie in a machine that creates pictures of the inside of their body. They will get a radioactive substance injected into their arm called 18FDG. It helps make the pictures. Participants will have 3 bronchoscopies. Their mouth and nasal airways will be numbed. They will get drugs to relax. A tube will be inserted through their nose or mouth into a lung. Fluid will be delivered into the lung and suctioned back out to collect cells. They will get PPD during the first bronchoscopy. Participation will last for about 30 days. Participants will visit the clinic up to 8 times. They will go home after each procedure. No hospital stays are needed.... Read Less

This study will examine tissue from the tonsils, lymph nodes and large bowel of HIV-infected patients to investigate changes in viral load and certain white blood cells during treatment. Normal volunteers and HIV-infected patients 18 years of age or older may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history, physical examination, blood and urine tests and possibly an electrocardiogram (EKG). Blood tests may include HLA typing, a genetic test of immune system markers. Participants may undergo the following procedures: Blood tests (patients and volunteers) Biopsies The frequency of biopsies for given patients may vary, depending on their specific therapy. Typically, biopsies are done at a single time, or for patients starting a new therapy, biopsies could be performed before starting therapy, during therapy and possibly after completion of therapy. Tonsil biopsies (patients and volunteers) Volunteers will have one tonsil biopsy. Patients will have no more than six tonsil biopsies, with no more than three in a 10-day period. The biopsy is done by an ear, nose and throat specialist as an outpatient procedure. The tonsils are numbed with a local anesthetic, and one to four pieces of tissue are extracted. Lymph node biopsies (patients only) Patients will have no more than four lymph node biopsies, performed no more frequently than once a month. The biopsy is done by a surgeon and may require a 2- to 3-day hospital stay. The skin above the lymph nodes is numbed with a local anesthetic, an incision is made and the tissue is removed. Alternatively, a needle biopsy may be done, in which a small amount of lymph tissue is withdrawn through a special needle injected into the site. Intestinal biopsies (patients and volunteers) Volunteers will have one intestinal biopsy procedure. Patients may have up to six intestinal biopsy procedures, each separated by at least 10 days. This is done by a gastroenterologist as an outpatient procedure. A flexible tube (sigmoidoscope or colonoscope) with a light and special lens at the tip is inserted into the rectum and large bowel. Wire instruments passed through the tube are used to extract small tissue samples. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL; patients and volunteers) Volunteers and patients will undergo bronchoscopy in which a flexible tube (bronchoscope) with a light and special lens at the tip is inserted through the nose or mouth into the lungs, and the lining of the lung is sampled by washing the airways with small amounts of saline. The procedure is performed by a pulmonologist or critical care specialist, usually as an outpatient. Read Less

Background: People can feel different levels of pain. This may depend on social, cultural, and biological factors. These factors can also influence how people respond to each other, and how they judge other people s experiences. Researchers want to learn more about these relationships. Objective: To study if social and cultural factors lead to differences in pain experience and how pain is interpreted by other individuals. Eligibility: Healthy adults ages 18-60 Design: Participants will have 1 or 2 visits. Participants will be screened with a medical history and nursing assessment. Participants may have the following: Electric shock through small sticky pads on the arm, leg, or foot. Thermal stimulation. A device called a thermode will be placed on the arm, leg, or foot. A computer controls the thermode temperature. Lowering their hand into very cold water. Videos or pictures of the face will recorded while participants get painful stimulation. A test to record heart electrical activity. Small metal disc or sticky pad electrodes will be placed on the chest. Pulse rate and breathing measured. Sweating will be measured with two small sensors stuck on the hand. A test to measure the electrical activity of facial muscles. Small metal disk or sticky pad electrodes will be attached to the skin. Viewing pictures and/or videos of other people who get painful and nonpainful stimulation. Participants will make decisions about the images. They will respond by keyboard, mouse, or button. Eye tracking. A camera will measure participants pupil size and follow their eye movements. ... Read Less

This study will collect biological samples for use in research experiments aimed at better understanding the clinical features of certain diseases. The specimens may be used to evaluate the effectiveness of known therapies, refine treatment approaches, identify potential new therapies, and explore opportunities for disease prevention. The following individuals 2 years of age or older may be eligible for this study: Patients with a cancerous solid tumor or a cancerous or non-cancerous blood disorder who are being screened for or who are enrolled in a treatment study at the NIH Clinical Center HLA-compatible donor family members (18 years of age or older) of the above patients who are being evaluated for or are enrolled in an NIH study as a stem cell transplant donor Patients with a cancerous solid tumor or a cancerous or non-cancerous blood disorder or a bone marrow failure condition who cannot participate in an NIH treatment protocol or travel to the NIH Clinical Center and who are referred for participation through their home health care provider. Research samples will be collected from participants when blood is drawn or bone marrow, urine, or stool is collected, or tumor or other tissue is biopsied as part of their general medical care. Investigators may periodically request an additional sample of blood, stool, or urine. Participants who are 18 years of age or older may donate a large number of white blood cells through a procedure called leukapheresis. This procedure is not part of general medical care and would be done for research purposes only. For apheresis, a catheter (plastic tube) is placed in a vein in the subject's arm. Blood flows from the vein into a cell separator machine, where the white cells are separated from the red cells, platelets, and plasma by a spinning process. The white cells are removed and collected, and the rest of the blood is returned to the subject through a second tube placed in the other arm. Read Less

Background: The Laboratory of Immune System Biology (LISB) works with other labs at the National Institutes of Health. They study how parts of living things come together to make a whole. LISB designs and improves research tests on human samples like blood and cells. In order to do its work, LISB needs to have a lot of these samples available. Objective: To collect biological specimens to use for designing and improving research tests. Specimens include blood, stool, saliva, and skin/mucosal swabs. Eligibility: Healthy people ages 18-80 Design: Participants will be screened with an interview about their general health and their medical history. They will have a physical exam and blood tests. If the results of the screening are normal, participants will be asked to give one or more of these samples: Blood will be drawn from an arm vein with a needle and syringe. Mucus and skin will be collected by rubbing the area with a cotton swab. The areas may include the top of the tongue, inside the cheek, nostrils, behind the ear, elbow pit, or vagina. Participants will spit into a tube to collect saliva. Participants will pass stool into a plastic container that fits in the toilet under the seat. They will get sampling kits and instructions. Over the next 5 years, if more samples are needed, participants will be contacted to set up another visit to the NIH. These visits will each take about 1 hour. About every 2 years, when participants come to NIH for a visit, extra blood will be collected. It will be tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C. Read Less

Background: - Painful stimuli cause changes in a network of brain regions called the "Pain Matrix." But most of these regions respond to many other stimuli, not just pain. Researchers want to understand how different factors influence pain. They want to test what happens when people expect different levels of pain and receive treatments that can modify pain. They want to see if these factors influence decisions about pain and how the body responds to it. They also want to compare pain with responses like taste and vision. Objectives: - To better understand how pain and emotions are processed and influenced by psychological factors. Eligibility: - Healthy volunteers ages 18-50. Design: This study requires 1 to 2 clinic visits that last 1 to 3 hours. Participants will be screened with medical history and physical exam. Some participants will have one or more magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of their brain. For MRI, participants will lie on a table that slides in and out of a cylinder. The scanner makes loud knocking noises. They will get earplugs. Participants heart activity will be recorded with electrocardiogram. Their pulse, sweating, and breathing will be monitored. Some participants will take a taste test. Others may perform simple tasks. Others may receive pain in their arm, leg, or hand. The pain will come from heat or electric shocks. Others may judge pain using a topical pain-relieving cream. Some of these tests may be given during MRI. Participants will fill out questionnaires. The study will last 3 years. Read Less

The goal of this controlled feeding trial is to learn about the metabolism of polyphenols, a common class of compounds found in plant-based foods, by the gut microbiome. It will evaluate how differences in gut bacteria across individuals influence metabolism of polyphenols from foods, which may influence health benefits that people receive from different foods. Read Less

Working with independently owned restaurants, a common source of calorie-rich, nutrient-poor foods in predominantly minority, low-income urban neighborhoods, has the potential to improve dietary quality, and contribute to cancer prevention. This study uses systems science approaches to improve access to healthier foods in independently owned restaurants by: 1) testing the effects of a novel intervention called FRESH (Focus on Restaurant Engagement to Strengthen Health) on dietary quality, health indicators and other outcomes in African American and Latin communities, and 2) developing a system dynamics model to allow stakeholders to virtually test FRESH strategies in their own communities. The resulting restaurant intervention simulation model offers potential cost savings from avoided trial-and-error testing, and will support community-based cancer prevention. Read Less