Clinical Trials

The objective of the ALA-LHC is to establish a national cohort of young adults for the purpose of defining lung health and developing targets to intercept chronic lung disease at its earliest stages.

Are you an adult with congenital heart disease? This study uses whole exome sequencing and other genetic tests to identify causes of congenital heart diseases that occur in individuals and families. To participate in this study, you must be an adult with congenital heart disease with or without a family member with congenital heart disease. This study is located in Columbus, Ohio.

Are you an adult who has asthma, or are you willing to be a healthy volunteer? This study aims to test a new and less invasive way to look at the levels of a protein called GSNOR in people who have asthma. High levels of this protein can lead to inflammation (swelling) in the airways. Normally, doctors measure GSNOR levels with bronchoscopy (a tube inserted through your mouth into your airways). But this often requires you to be sedated. In the new approach being studied here, you will breathe in a chemical that your body makes, called GSNO. Researchers will look at how much of the chemical is broken down in your breath. This will tell them what your GSNOR levels are. They will compare the levels between people who have asthma and people who do not to see whether the test works. To participate in this study, you should be between 18 and 80 years old and either have been diagnosed with asthma for at least a year or not have asthma and not smoke. This study is located in Cleveland, Ohio.

Do you want to help find new treatments for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction? This study is testing whether a medicine called spironolactone can help treat heart failure with preserved ejection fraction when paired with the standard treatment. Spironolactone helps to remove excess water and sodium from the body. To participate in this study, you must be between 50 and 99 years old and diagnosed with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Do you have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF)? This study is testing the efficacy of a diuretic medicine called spironolactone that stops your body from absorbing too much salt and keeps your potassium levels from dropping too low. Participants of this study must be between 50 and 99 years old and already taking diuretic medicine. This study takes place in multiple locations across the United States and Sweden.

Do you or your child have a heart defect that requires a procedure called extracardiac conduit–total cavopulmonary connection (EC-TCPC)? This study is evaluating the effectiveness of a new type of graft called a tissue-engineered vascular graft for EC-TPC. Participants of this study will have this procedure and several follow-up assessments with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to test the performance of the graft. This study takes place in Columbus, Ohio.

Are you an adult with bipolar disorder and high blood pressure who struggles to take medicine correctly or on time? This study is exploring new ways to use interactive text messaging to help people with these two conditions remember how and when to take medicine that can lower blood pressure. To participate in this study, you must be between 21 and 80 years old and take at least one medicine for high blood pressure. This study takes place in Cleveland, Ohio.

Is your child having otolaryngologic surgery with anesthesia? Children with Down syndrome often experience dangerously low heart rates when they receive anesthesia for procedures. This study will look at children who have Down syndrome and children who do not to monitor their heart rate during this type of procedure. Participants in this study must be between 1 and 8 years old. This study is located in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Have you or your child been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, and would you like to support better diagnosis of lung infections? This study is exploring new ways to diagnose bacterial lung infections in people who have cystic fibrosis. The study will test whether analyzing a participant’s breath and sputum samples can help diagnose infections. Participants in this study must be at least 3 years old. This study is taking place in multiple locations in the United States.

Are you a healthy adult or an adult who has been diagnosed with an interstitial lung disease (ILD)? This study will test whether administering an inhaled gas called hyperpolarized 129Xe before magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) better detects changing disease activity. To participate in the study, you must be age 18 or older and have no history of smoking for the past 5 years. This study will take place in Iowa City, Iowa; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Durham, North Carolina.