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Consuelo Wilkins, MD, MSCI, Senior Vice President for Health Equity and Inclusive Excellence for Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and Senior Associate Dean for Health Equity and Inclusive Excellence for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, always knew she wanted to be a physician. "Health equity was built into everything I did, even if I didn’t know it or recognize it at the time," Wilkins said. "I have always learned and believed that people are the same — everyone deserves to be healthy, and everyone should have the best opportunities to take care of themselves and their families." Click below to learn more about health equity initiatives.

https://momentum.vicc.org/2021/09/everyone-deserves-to-be-healthy/
Vanderbilt was the lead site for an NIH-funded, phase 2, multicenter influenza vaccine study in pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) recipients that may lead to a change in the current flu vaccine recommendations in this vulnerable population. Natasha Halasa, MD, MPH and colleagues recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, that two doses of high-dose trivalent flu vaccine resulted in higher amounts of influenza-specific antibodies than two doses of standard dose quadrivalent vaccine.

https://news.vumc.org/2023/03/02/high-dose-flu-vaccine-beneficial-for-pediatric-stem-cell-transplant-patients/

Displaying 11 - 20 of 174

Nivolumab in Combination with Chemo-Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma

Multiple Cancer Types

This phase III trial compares the effects of nivolumab with chemo-immunotherapy versus chemo-immunotherapy alone in treating patients with newly diagnosed primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Treatment for PMBCL involves chemotherapy combined with an immunotherapy called rituximab. Chemotherapy drugs work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody. It binds to a protein called CD20, which is found on B cells (a type of white blood cell) and some types of cancer cells. This may help the immune system kill cancer cells. Giving nivolumab with chemo-immunotherapy may help treat patients with PMBCL.
Lymphoma, Pediatric Lymphoma, Pediatrics
III
Smith, Christine
NCT04759586
COGANHL1931

Comparison of Chemotherapy before and after Surgery versus after Surgery Alone for the Treatment of Gallbladder Cancer, OPT-IN Trial

Gastrointestinal

This phase II/III trial compares the effect of adding chemotherapy before and after surgery versus after surgery alone (usual treatment) in treating patients with stage II-III gallbladder cancer. Chemotherapy drugs, such as gemcitabine and cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving chemotherapy before surgery may make the tumor smaller; therefore, may reduce the extent of surgery. Additionally, it may make it easier for the surgeon to distinguish between normal and cancerous tissue. Giving chemotherapy after surgery may kill any remaining tumor cells. This study will determine whether giving chemotherapy before surgery increases the length of time before the cancer may return and whether it will increase a patients life span compared to the usual approach.
Gastrointestinal
II/III
Goff, Laura
NCT04559139
ECOGGIEA2197

Testing the Addition of Pembrolizumab, an Immunotherapy Cancer Drug to Olaparib Alone as Therapy for Patients with Pancreatic Cancer That Has Spread with Inherited BRCA Mutations

Pancreatic

This phase II trial studies whether adding pembrolizumab to olaparib (standard of care) works better than olaparib alone in treating patients with pancreatic cancer with germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic). BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes that produce tumor suppressor proteins. These proteins help repair damaged deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and, therefore, play a role in ensuring the stability of each cells genetic material. When either of these genes is mutated, or altered, such that its protein product is not made or does not function correctly, DNA damage may not be repaired properly. As a result, cells are more likely to develop additional genetic alterations that can lead to some types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Olaparib is an inhibitor of PARP, a protein that helps repair damaged DNA. Blocking PARP may help keep tumor cells from repairing their damaged DNA, causing them to die. PARP inhibitors are a type of targeted therapy. The addition of pembrolizumab to the usual treatment of olaparib may help to shrink tumors in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.
Pancreatic
II
Cardin, Dana
NCT04548752
SWOGGIS2001

An Imaging Agent (89Zr Panitumumab) with PET/CT for Diagnosing Primary Lesions and/or Metastases in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Head/Neck

This phase I trial evaluates the usefulness of an imaging agent (zirconium Zr 89 panitumumab [89Zr panitumumab]) with positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) for diagnosing primary tumors and/or the spread of disease from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastasis) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. 89Zr panitumumab is an investigational imaging agent that contains a small amount of radiation, which makes it visible on PET scans. PET is an established imaging technique that utilizes small amounts of radioactivity attached to very minimal amounts of tracer, in the case of this research, 89Zr panitumumab, to allow imaging of the function of different cells and organs in the body. CT utilizes x-rays that traverse the body from the outside. CT images provide an exact outline of organs and potential disease tissue where it occurs in patients body. The combined PET/CT scanner is a special type of scanner that allows imaging of both structure (CT) and function (PET) following the injection of 89Zr panitumumab. This 89Zr panitumumab PET/CT may be useful in diagnosis of primary tumors and/or metastasis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Head/Neck
I
Topf, Michael
NCT05747625
VICCHN2279

Product Surveillance Registry

The purpose of the Registry is to provide continuing evaluation and periodic reporting of
safety and effectiveness of Medtronic market-released products. The Registry data is intended
to benefit and support interests of patients, hospitals, clinicians, regulatory bodies,
payers, and industry by streamlining the clinical surveillance process and facilitating
leading edge performance assessment via the least burdensome approach.
Not Available
Shen, Sharon
NCT01524276
CRE-ARR0001

Virtual Patient-Specific 3D Specimen Maps for Adjuvant Head & Neck Radiotherapy Planning

Head/Neck

This study measures the impact of patient-specific 3D specimen maps on adjuvant radiation treatment volumes and doses to critical organs.
Head/Neck
N/A
Topf, Michael
NCT05743569
VICCHN22102

Intraoperative Identification and Stimulation of the Glossopharyngeal Nerve

Head/Neck

This clinical trial evaluates different nerve patterns to the throat muscles (stylopharyngeus and pharyngeal constrictor) and what they look like in different patients by measuring and photographing them in the neck during surgery when the nerves are dissected (separated into pieces) as part of regular surgical care. Researchers think that some of the muscles in the neck might be useful for treating a condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This happens when muscles of the throat relax at night and the airway becomes blocked. Blockage of airflow leads to drops in oxygen levels and can disturb sleep by forcing a persons brain to wake to restore airway muscles so they can breathe. This trial may help researchers provide a new way to treat OSA that may be better than the current standard ones.
Head/Neck
N/A
Ceremsak, John
NCT05754216
VICC-EDHAN23196

MRI and 18F-Fluoromisonidazole PET/CT Scan for Assessing Tumor Hypoxia and Guiding Adaptive Radiation Therapy in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer or Brain Metastases

Miscellaneous

This clinical trial is studying how well magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in combination with 18F-fluoromisonidazole (18F-FMISO) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scans works in assessing a decrease in the amount of oxygen (hypoxia) in tumor cells and in guiding adaptive radiation treatment in patients with head and neck cancer or cancer that has spread to the brain from where it first started (brain metastasis). Both head and neck cancer and brain metastases can be treated with radiation. Previous research studies have shown that the amount of oxygen that goes towards cancer cells prior to their radiation treatments predicts how the cancer cells will respond to radiation treatment. MRI is a type of imaging technique that uses radio waves and large magnets to produce detailed images of areas inside the body. 18F-FMISO is a radioactive substance that binds to hypoxic tumor cells and emits radiation, allowing the tumor cells to be visualized using PET/CT, which is an imaging technique that combines PET and CT in a single machine. It is used to make detailed, computerized images of inside the body. By combining MRI with 18F-FMISO PET/CT, researchers may be able to develop an MRI sequence that can be used to evaluate hypoxia in tumor cells and predict response to treatment in patients with head and neck cancer or brain metastases.
Miscellaneous
Early I
De vis, Jill
NCT05996432
VICC-EDMDT23195

Educational Telehealth Program for the Delivery of Care to Cancer Patients in Rural Communities, ENCORE Study

Miscellaneous

This clinical trial evaluates the clinical effectiveness of a multi-level telehealth-based intervention for cancer patients in rural communities. Rural residents face limited accessibility to cancer treatment and supportive care services, transportation barriers, and financial issues. Cancer Thriving and Surviving is an evidence-based self-management intervention with demonstrated efficacy across numerous chronic health conditions with dissemination across the US, inclusive of rural communities. This trial evaluates whether the evidence-based Cancer Thriving and Surviving intervention delivered through telehealth among rural patients may improve patient outcomes.
Miscellaneous
N/A
Friedman, Debra
NCT04758338
VICCPED2013

Impact of Indwelling Tunneled Pleural Drainage Systems (Gravity or Vacuum Based) on Pain in Patients with Recurrent Pleural Effusions

Lung

This trial studies the impact of indwelling tunneled pleural drainage systems (gravity or vacuum based) on pain in patients with plural effusion that has come back (recurrent). Vacuum drainage and gravity drainage are two commonly used drainage methods. Studying the best drainage methods may help future patients undergoing indwelling tunneled pleural catheter placement.
Lung
N/A
Maldonado, Fabien
NCT03831386
VICCTHO19118