Maryland Paid Clinical Trials

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify genetic causes of inherited eye conditions through whole exome or whole genome sequencing (referred to as exome sequencing and genome sequencing in the remainder of the document). This includes identifying mutations in known genes or novel genes for recognized conditions, as well as identifying mutations in novel genes for previously uncharacterized genetic conditions involving the eye. Study Population: We plan to recruit 1,685 participants, to include both participants with an eye condition under study and unaffected family members. Ideally unaffected family members will be parents of an affected participant. Design: Participants will be self-referred or referred by an outside clinician. They will preferably be evaluated at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), but the option to participate offsite will be offered. Participants evaluated onsite will be recruited through other pre-existing NIH protocols, such as the National Eye Institute (NEI) Screening protocol (08-EI-0102), the NEI Ocular Natural History protocol (16-EI-0134), the Genetics of Inherited Eye Disease protocol (15-EI-0128), and the Pathogenesis and Genetics of Microphthalmia, Anophthalmia and Uveal Coloboma (MAC) protocol (13-EI-0049). Offsite participants will be screened via phone or secure videoconference, and records will be requested for evaluation of affected participants. Both affected and unaffected eligible participants will undergo genetic counseling and will provide a blood sample and/or saliva sample for exome or genome sequencing. Biological relationships will be confirmed prior to exome or genome sequencing. Sequence data will be analyzed for primary variants and secondary findings, unless participants choose to opt-out of secondary analysis and reporting. All sequence variants deemed clinically relevant will be validated in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA)-certified laboratory and the results will be returned to the participant in-person, secure videoconference, or by telephone. Outcome Measures: This is an etiologic study that will generate molecular information about previously-recognized conditions for which participants did not have a molecular diagnosis, as well as molecular information for previously uncharacterized conditions involving the eye. Read Less

Background: - Past studies suggest that the best way to improve heart health in the Black community is through community-based programs. Researchers will partner with DC community leaders. They will collect information about the health and health needs of people in mostly Black churches in DC. They will study things that affect heart health, like diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight. They will also study how technology can keep track of activities and health. The information will show the health needs of this church-based community. Objectives: - To create an intervention for future programs to improve heart health in African-American churches in Washington, DC. Eligibility: - Adults ages 19 to 85 who attend one of the study churches. Design: * Participants will visit their church for a 4-hour health exam. They will have their blood pressure and body measurements taken. They will have a drop of blood taken from their finger with a small needle. This blood will be tested for blood sugar and cholesterol. Participants will be given the results of these tests. * Participants will answer questions about their health. * All participants will be given an activity monitor to wear for 1 month. The activity monitor is worn around the wrist. Some participants will also receive an activity monitor that is worn around the waist. Participants will be given instructions on how to wear the activity monitors and follow the results on a website. * At the end of 1 month, participants will return one device (they can keep the other). They may receive a gift card for completing the study. Read Less

Background: - Individuals with cancer of the lung, chest cavity, ovary, or bladder, as well as patients who have been treated with adoptive cell therapy unfortunately commonly succumb to their disease. Some agree to donate their bodies to cancer research that may help the medical community better understand these diseases. Studies of cancer tumor tissue obtained soon after death may be used to answer questions about the origins, progression, and treatment of cancer. Researchers want to conduct a study that involves planned collection of cancer tumor tissue shortly after death. To do so, they will arrange to provide inpatient hospice care for people with lung cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, or patients who have been treated with adoptive cell therapy. \<TAB\> Objectives: - To collect cancer tissue biopsy samples as soon as possible after death. Eligibility: - Individuals who have cancer of the lung, chest cavity, ovary, or bladder, or those who have been treated with adoptive cell therapy and are planning to receive end-of-life hospice care are eligible to participate. Design: * Participants will agree to receive inpatient hospice care at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. Full details on end-of-life care preference will be acknowledged. * An autopsy will be performed at the clinical center within 3 hours of death. Tumor tissue will be collected from the primary site of cancer and from any areas of the body to which the cancer has spread. * Participants will not receive further cancer treatments as part of this study. This is a tissue collection study only. Read Less

The Metabolism, Infection and Immunity (MINI) Study is a longitudinal natural history study at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that aims to define the relationship between infection, immunity and clinical decline in individuals with mitochondrial disease. Mitochondrial diseases are a group of disorders caused by problems with the cell s ability to produce energy. Infection in individuals with mitochondrial disease can lead to worsening clinical symptoms, particularly neurologic symptoms. Goals: The main goal of our study is to understand the relationship between infection and clinical decline in patients with mitochondrial disease. Mitochondrial diseases can affect many different parts of the body, including the immune system and its ability to respond to infection. Therefore, we perform a comprehensive evaluation of participants including a detailed immunologic assessment. We are not testing any new medicine or procedure to treat or cure IEM or mitochondrial diseases. However, by understanding the relationship between infection and mitochondrial disease, we hope to develop treatments in the future. At the NIH, we are interested in research. Although we do provide advice and care for people enrolled in our study, we are not able to take over the long-term care of participants. To enroll in our study, you (your child) must already have a confirmed diagnosis of a mitochondrial disease. We are not able to provide a "first time" diagnosis or regular metabolic care. What is involved? Once you contact our team members, you will be asked to provide medical records to determine eligibility. Our team will review the records and notify you if you (your child is) eligible to join the study. -Onsite participation: You (your child) will be invited to visit the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. This first visit will typically last 3-5 days. Depending on the level of participation, additional visits may be requested. Our team members will work with you and your child to coordinate the supports needed during your stay at NIH. Study participants may be seen in the clinic, day hospital or inpatient setting. When you (your child) arrive at the NIH we will have an informed consent discussion to confirm willingness to participate, answer questions and review the risks and benefits of the study. You (your child) will meet with a physician who will ask about medical and family history and do a physical exam (like in any doctor's office). We will ask all study participants to allow us to collect urine, draw blood, swab your (your child s) nose, and perform a detailed assessment. We may suggest additional evaluations or specialty consults for some participants based on clinical manifestations, age and level of independence. We will explain these studies to you (your child). They may include items such as- imaging studies, DEXA or MRI scan, energy expenditure or metabolic testing, developmental neuropsychological logical testing, physiatry, ophthalmology, or other consults. In some cases, we may request a skin biopsy (if one has not been done). You will receive the results of your (your child's) clinical testing and notes from any clinical consultations. -Remote participation: If you (your child) are unable to travel, you (your child) may be enrolled remotely for records review, questionnaires, and telethealth exams. Blood or other samples collection may be requested in coordination with local providers or lab testing companies Read Less

Background: - Uveal coloboma is a condition where the eye does not form normally. It occurs early in the fetus s development during pregnancy. It can lead to different kinds of eye problems, including blindness. Uveal coloboma is part of a spectrum of developmental eye conditions that include anophthalmia and microphthalmia, typically referred to as "MAC". Several genes have been linked to MAC, but the cause of most causes are hard to find. Researchers want to study the genes of people who have MAC and genes from their close, unaffected relatives (such as parents and siblings). Objectives: - To study the genes associated with MAC. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 1 years of age who either have MAC or are an unaffected relative (such as a parent or sibling). Design: * Participants will have a physical exam and medical history. They will also have a full eye exam. * Participants with MAC may have other exams, such as imaging studies and hearing assessments. * All participants will also provide blood, cheek swab or saliva or DNA samples for genetic testing. Read Less

Background: - Lab studies help researchers better understand cancer biology. This information may lead to new methods for diagnosing or treating cancer. To develop these studies, researchers want to collect samples from people with cancer or precancer conditions of the lymph system. These conditions include multiple myeloma, different types of lymphoma, and adult leukemia/lymphoma. The samples collected will include blood, urine, bone marrow, and tumor and skin tissue. Objectives: - To collect tissue samples to study different types of lymph cancer. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 18 years of age who have a lymphoid cancer or precancer condition. Design: * Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. * Different samples will be collected for study. Blood samples will be collected at the initial testing. More blood samples will be collected at different treatment points. Other liquid samples include urine, bone marrow, and any abnormal fluid. Tumor tissue and skin tissue biopsies will also be collected for study. * Treatment will not be provided as part of this study. Read Less

Background: - Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is a chronic skin disorder. Patients sometimes have infections with S. aureus bacteria. Researchers want to study how eczema treatments affect the number and the type of bacteria on the skin. Objectives: - To study the effect of eczema treatments on skin bacteria. Eligibility: * Individuals between 2 and 25 years of age who have moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. * Healthy volunteers between 18 and 40 years of age with no history of eczema. Design: * Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Research samples will be collected. Skin biopsies may also be performed. * All participants will be assigned to one of several study groups. * Healthy volunteers must not have taken antibiotics in the year before the start of the study. * All participants will have regular study visits during their 1-year participation. More research samples will be collected at these visits. * Healthy volunteers may be asked to come in for a one-time follow up after the 1 year mark. Read Less

Background: - Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an approved surgery for certain movement disorders, like Parkinson's disease, that do not respond well to other treatments. DBS uses a battery-powered device called a neurostimulator (like a pacemaker) that is placed under the skin in the chest. It is used to stimulate the areas of the brain that affect movement. Stimulating these areas helps to block the nerve signals that cause abnormal movements. Researchers also want to record the brain function of people with movement disorders during the surgery. Objectives: * To study how DBS surgery affects Parkinson s disease, dystonia, and tremor. * To obtain information on brain and nerve cell function during DBS surgery. Eligibility: - People at least 18 years of age who have movement disorders, like Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. Design: * Researchers will screen patients with physical and neurological exams to decide whether they can have the surgery. Patients will also have a medical history, blood tests, imaging studies, and other tests. Before the surgery, participants will practice movement and memory tests. * During surgery, the stimulator will be placed to provide the right amount of stimulation for the brain. Patients will perform the movement and memory tests that they practiced earlier. * After surgery, participants will recover in the hospital. They will have a followup visit within 4 weeks to turn on and adjust the stimulator. The stimulator has to be programmed and adjusted over weeks to months to find the best settings. * Participants will return for followup visits at 1, 2, and 3 months after surgery. Researchers will test their movement, memory, and general quality of life. Each visit will last about 2 hours. Read Less

Background: - The way that the body burns calories is known as energy expenditure. Some studies show that when we are cold, we burn more calories to keep our bodies warm. Brown fat is a special kind of fat that can use energy to keep the body warm. Small animals and infants have been known to have brown fat for many years. Recently, it has been suggested that adult humans also have brown fat. If brown fat becomes active (burns calories) in adult humans when exposed to cold, then these people would tend to burn off more calories and might not gain weight easily. Learning more about the relationship between energy expenditure, brown fat, environmental temperature, and body temperature may help explain why some people become obese and other people do not. Objectives: * To better understand how the body burns calories when exposed to different temperatures. * To study brown fat and how it burns calories in cold temperatures. Eligibility: * Healthy men between 18 and 35 or 55 and 75 years of age. * Healthy women between 18 and 35 years of age. * To control for ethnicity, participants must be non-Hispanic whites or African Americans. Design: * Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Blood and urine samples will be collected. * Participants will stay in the Metabolic Unit of the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center as inpatients for no more than 14 days. The length of the hospital stay will depend on how participants respond to the different study temperatures. * Every afternoon, participants will walk for 30 minutes on a treadmill. All meals will be provided. * Participants will stay up to 5 hours per day in a specialized room with different temperature settings. Temperatures will range from about 61 degrees to 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Body temperature, activity, calorie burning, and cold/hot sensations will be monitored. On the study day of the coldest temperature, participants will have an imaging study to look for brown fat activity. * Participants will be compensated for their time and participation at the end of the study. Read Less

Background: - To understand diseases of the retina and the eye, information is needed about people with and without such diseases. Researchers want to study these people and follow them over time. They also want to study body tissues and blood to understand the nature of eye disease. Studying genes, cells, and tissues may help them understand why some people get eye problems and others do not, or why some people respond to treatment while others do not. Researchers want to collect physical samples and personal data to develop a National Eye Institute database. Objectives: - To collect health information and blood and tissue samples from people with and without eye diseases, to be used in research studies. Eligibility: * Individuals at least 2 years of age with different types of eye disease. * Healthy volunteers with no history of eye disease. Design: * Participants may be recruited from National Eye Institute studies or may be referred from other sources. * Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. They will also have a full eye exam. Questions will be asked about family medical history, especially about eye disease. * Blood samples will be collected. Other samples, such as saliva, tears, hair, stool, and urine, may be collected as needed. Adult participants may also provide a skin sample. * Tissue or fluid from eye collected as part of eye care or treatment may also be added to the database. * No treatment will be provided as part of this study. Read Less

Background: - Best Vitelliform Dystrophy (Best disease), Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration (L-ORD), and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) all affect the retina, the light sensing area at the back of the eye. Doctors cannot safely obtain retinal cells to study these diseases. However, cells collected from hair follicles, skin, and blood can be used for research. Researchers want to collect cells from people with Best disease, L-ORD, and AMD, and compare their cells with those of healthy volunteers. Objectives: - To collect hair, skin, and blood samples to study three eye diseases that affect the retina: Best disease, L-ORD, and AMD. Eligibility: * Individuals affected with ocular condition is one year of age or older. * Individuals affected with Best disease, L-ORD, or AMD is 18 years of age or older. * Unaffected individuals are seven years of age or older. Design: * The study requires one visit to the National Eye Institute. * Participants will be screened with a medical and eye disease history. They will also have an eye exam. * Participants will provide a hair sample, a blood sample, and a skin biopsy. The hair will be collected from the back of the head, and the skin will be collected from the inside of the upper arm. Read Less

Background: - Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of bone and joint disorders that may cause back and joint pain and stiffness. In some cases, SpA can lead to abnormal bone growth affecting the joints and spine. Some patients have SpA without ever developing these growths, while others develop them after only a few years. Researchers are interested in studying people with SpA and their relatives to determine which people are more likely to develop more severe conditions. Objectives: - To identify symptoms and medical tests that can help determine whether a person with SpA is at risk for developing more severe forms of the disease. Eligibility: * Individuals of any age who have been diagnosed with SpA. * Healthy volunteer relatives (at least 6 years of age) of the individuals with SpA. Design: * Participants will be screened with medical records and family medical histories, and will be invited to the clinical center for the study. * Participants with SpA will have a physical exam and medical history, including a study of joint movement, blood and urine tests, and questionnaires about pain and quality of life. * Participants with SpA will have imaging studies, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Other samples such as skin tissue and bone marrow may also be collected for study. * Healthy volunteers will provide a blood sample and cheek cell samples. * No treatment will be provided, although treatment options will be discussed. Read Less