Clinical Trials

Does your developing baby have a heart defect? Have you had a stillborn baby? This study tests a new technology to measure fetal heart activity and find possible problems early. These problems include fetal arrhythmia and conduction disorders such as Brugada syndrome. To participate in this study, you must be at least 18 years old and pregnant, and have one of five high-risk complications of pregnancy: a fetus with a major congenital heart defect, hydrops, or gastroschisis; a previous unexplained stillbirth; or twins who share a placenta. This study is located in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Have you been diagnosed with orthostatic intolerance? This study aims to find out how the body’s regulation of basic functions, such as heart rate and blood pressure, is altered in people who have orthostatic intolerance. This condition, which has an unknown cause, is characterized by a racing heartbeat, dizziness, lightheadedness, and other symptoms that occur when a person stands up. To participate in this study, you must be between 18 and 80 years old and have orthostatic intolerance. This study is located in Nashville, Tennessee.

Health organizations recommend exercise in an intensity based manner to promote cardiovascular adaptation and prevent disease. Metformin is a common anti-diabetes medication that reduces future type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, the optimal dose of exercise to be combined with metformin for vascular health remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether combining high or low intensity exercise with metformin has the potential to outperform either exercise intensity alone on blood flow across the arterial tree as well as impact insulin action in individuals with metabolic syndrome.

Do you have metabolic syndrome? This trial is testing whether low-intensity exercise or high-intensity exercise works best to lower the risk of heart and blood vessel diseases in people who have metabolic syndrome and are taking a medicine called metformin to treat high blood sugar levels. To participate in this study, you must be between 40 and 80 years old and diagnosed with metabolic syndrome but not type 2 diabetes. This study takes place in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Do you or your child have overweight or obesity? This study aims to find effective ways to prevent and treat obesity and metabolic syndrome in African American communities. The study will test the effectiveness of a family-based comprehensive health and fitness programs involving community health workers. Participants must be 12 years old or older and African American and have overweight or obesity. This study takes place in Charleston, South Carolina.

Does your child have higher triglyceride levels but normal cholesterol levels? This study is testing whether a protein supplement called carnitine can help prevent blood vessel stiffness in teenagers who have metabolic syndrome or other risk factors for heart and blood vessel diseases. Participants in this study must be between 13 and 19 years old and have moderate to high blood triglyceride levels but normal blood cholesterol levels. This study takes place in Houston, Texas.

Are you an adult who gets little exercise and sits a lot every day? If you sit for more than 8 hours a day and exercise less than 90 minutes per week, this study may interest you. Researchers want to see if walking or standing breaks during long sitting periods can make your heart healthier. To take part in this study, you must be 36 to 55 years old. You also should be able to walk four blocks and go up two flights of stairs. The study is taking place in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

The purpose of the research is to understand structural plaque abnormalities that make a carotid plaque unstable and brake off (embolize) which would help to predict and treat individuals who are likely to suffer not only classic episodic major strokes but also cognitive impairment.

The goal of this work is to develop and test a noninvasive ultrasound-based imaging technology to better identify patients at high risk of stroke so that appropriate and timely intervention may be administered to prevent it.

Are you an adult with carotid artery stenosis (CAS)? Researchers in this study want to learn more about the plaque that causes atherosclerosis in patients with carotid artery stenosis. To be in the study, you must be at least 18 years old and will undergo a carotid positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging exam so researchers can lean more on the new PET imaging approach for risk prediction in these patients. The study is taking place Saint Louis, Missouri, and in Los Angeles, California.