Brigham Research Institute (BRI) - Brigham and Women's Hospital

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver disease globally. While weight loss through lifestyle modification is the standard treatment, most patients regain weight limiting ultimate improvement in liver disease. On the other end of the spectrum, bariatric surgery has shown promise in the treatment of MASLD/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) due to its efficacy in inducing weight loss. Nevertheless, its adoption has been hindered by the perceived invasiveness of surgery. Over the past decade, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) has gained recognition as a promising minimally-invasive approach to weight loss. The procedure involves utilizing a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized endoscopic suturing device to reduce the gastric volume by 70%. Studies reveal that ESG is associated with approximately 18.2% weight loss at one year after the procedure, with sustained results for at least 10 years. Nevertheless, the effect of ESG on MASH remains unknown. In this study, the investigators will compare ESG + lifestyle modification versus lifestyle modification alone in treating histologic MASH. The study will randomize patients to one of two different treatment options: ESG + lifestyle modification or lifestyle modification alone.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2025

open study

TRANSFORM is a prospective, randomized, open blinded endpoint (PROBE), event-driven, pragmatic trial in patients who are at increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular (CV) disease but with no known symptomatic CV disease. The trial tests the hypothesis that a Cleerly Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Staging System-based care strategy reduces CV events compared with risk factor-based care.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2024

open study

The objective of this study is to widely implement and evaluate the Care Transitions App in a randomized controlled trial. The app the investigators designed for patients with multiple chronic conditions has four envisioned modules: 1) falls-reduction content, 2) a digital post-discharge transitional care plan (e.g., after hospital care plan, including education, medications, follow-up appointments, warning signs to watch for, nutrition, and other care plan activities), 3) a new module for patients with MCC (diabetes, congestive heart failure, and chronic kidney disease) including condition-specific post-discharge care plans with relevant symptom management activities, 4) a new post-discharge report module which summarizes key care transition findings and allows for patients to enter notes and questions for their providers and their own goals for recovery.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2024

open study

This is a prospective, open-label, multi-center, single-arm study planned to enroll 200 subjects with heterogeneous emphysema and collateral ventilation (CV) in the target lobe. Subjects will undergo instillation of AeriSeal Foam in the target lobe and subsequent assessment of CV status using Chartis Pulmonary Assessment System. Subjects with CV- status will then undergo placement of Zephyr Valve in the target lobe for bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) and be followed for 24 months.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2024

open study

Research suggests that Whole Body Hyperthermia in a sauna-like environment can reduce symptoms related to post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), or Long Covid. The investigators aim to study the feasibility and treatment effect of this procedure for patients experiencing Long Covid symptoms.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2026

open study

This trial is a prospective, single-arm, multi-center clinical trial designed to assess whether adaptive radiotherapy with urethral sparing for low to intermediate risk localized prostate cancer will translate into a decreased rate of patient reported acute urinary side effects, as measured by the patient reported EPIC-26 questionnaire, compared with the historically reported rate for non-adaptive, non-urethral sparing prostate SBRT.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2023

open study

In this research study, investigators will test whether prophylactic high-dose IV Mg administration attenuates the risk of AKI in patients with malignant mesothelioma receiving intraoperative chemotherapy (HIOC) with cisplatin compared to placebo .

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2023

open study

The main aim of this study is to learn if fazirsiran reduces liver scarring (fibrosis) compared to placebo. Other aims are to learn if fazirsiran slows down the disease worsening in the liver, to get information on how fazirsiran affects the body (called pharmacodynamics), to learn if fazirsiran reduces other liver injury (inflammation) and the abnormal Z-AAT protein in the liver, to get information on how the body processes fazirsiran (called pharmacokinetics), to test how well fazirsiran works compared with a placebo in improving measures of liver scarring including imaging and liver biomarkers (substances in the blood that the body normally makes and help show if liver function is improving, staying the same, or getting worse) as well as to check for side effects in participants treated with fazirsiran compared with those who received placebo. Participants will either receive fazirsiran or placebo. Liver biopsies, a way of collecting a small tissue sample from the liver, will be taken twice during this study.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2023

open study

This phase III trial compares the effect of modified fluorouracil, leucovorin calcium, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (mFOLFIRINOX) to modified fluorouracil, leucovorin calcium, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX) for the treatment of advanced, unresectable, or metastatic HER2 negative esophageal, gastroesophageal junction, and gastric adenocarcinoma. The usual approach for patients is treatment with FOLFOX chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs 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. Fluorouracil stops cells from making DNA and it may kill tumor cells. Leucovorin is used with fluorouracil to enhance the effects of the drug. Oxaliplatin works by killing, stopping, or slowing the growth of tumor cells. Some patients also receive an immunotherapy drug, nivolumab, in addition to FOLFOX chemotherapy. Immunotherapy may induce changes in body's immune system and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Irinotecan blocks certain enzymes needed for cell division and DNA repair, and it may kill tumor cells. Adding irinotecan to the FOLFOX regimen could shrink the cancer and extend the life of patients with advanced gastroesophageal cancers.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2023

open study

The proposed study is a two-arm randomized clinical trial designed to assess the effects of the StrokeWear system on clinical outcomes over a period of 6-months in chronic stroke survivors. The Intervention group will use StrokeWear system in combination to a motor and behavioral home intervention whereas the Control group will follow usual care which consists of a home-exercise plan (HEP).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2025

open study

The primary aim of our pilot study is to determine whether fibrosis in the heart can be measured with [68Ga]CBP8, a positron emission tomography (PET) probe, using PET/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging, in 30 individuals with documented cardiac amyloidosis. The investigators will also enroll 15 individuals with recent myocardial infarction and 15 individuals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as positive controls for fibrosis, and the investigators will enroll 5 individuals without cardiovascular disease to undergo [68Ga]CBP8 PET/MRI imaging as a healthy control group. The primary hypothesis of this study is that [68Ga]CBP8 will bind to interstitial collagen and quantify myocardial fibrosis in patients with cardiac amyloidosis. The investigators hypothesize that [68Ga]CBP8 uptake will be greater in patients with cardiac amyloidosis, myocardial fibrosis, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy than in healthy controls. Secondly, the investigators also hypothesize that [68Ga]CBP8 activity more strongly correlates with standard MRI measures in patients with recent myocardial infarction and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (where extracellular expansion is caused by myocardial fibrosis/collagen deposition) than in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (where myocardial fibrosis is combined with infiltration).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2023

open study

This registry evaluates patient characteristics, real-world treatment patterns, and short- and long-term outcomes in a population of patients in the United States and Europe with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) who are receiving mavacamten, receiving other treatment for obstructive HCM, or not receiving treatment for obstructive HCM due to intolerance or failure of prior treatment. United States Sub-Study: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of mavacamten in patients with symptomatic obstructive HCM in the real-world setting. Europe Sub-Study: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of mavacamten in patients with symptomatic obstructive HCM in the real-world setting.

Type: Observational [Patient Registry]

Start Date: Aug 2022

open study

This is a prospective pilot clinical study of subjects with cardiac amyloidosis and control subjects without amyloidosis where we plan to evaluate changes in myocardial blood flow, systolic and diastolic function before and after sonotherapy.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2023

open study

To evaluate workflow and outcomes of iVATS and standard VATS for small pulmonary nodules. The outcomes of the patients will be evaluated separately as there will be no direct comparison of the two arms.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2018

open study

Multi-center, global, prospective, non-randomized, interventional, pre-market trial. All subjects enrolled with receive the study device.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2017

open study

The objective of this study is to investigate the hypothesis that delivery at 35 0/7- 35 6/7 weeks in stable patients with gastroschisis is superior to observation and expectant management with a goal of delivery at 38 0/7 - 38 6/7 weeks. To test this hypothesis, we will complete a randomized, prospective, multi-institutional trial across NAFTNet-affiliated institutions. Patients may be enrolled in the study any time prior to 33 weeks, but will be randomized at 33 weeks to delivery at 35 weeks or observation with a goal of 38 weeks. The primary composite outcome will include stillbirth, neonatal death prior to discharge, respiratory morbidity, and need for parenteral nutrition at 30 days.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2018

open study

Blood cancers occur when the molecules that control normal cell growth are damaged. Many of these changes can be detected by directly examining parts of the cancer or cells in blood. Several alterations that occur repeatedly in certain types of blood cancers have already been identified, and these discoveries have led to the development of new drugs that target those alterations. More remain to be discovered. Some of these abnormalities include alterations in genes. Genes are the part of cells that contain the instructions which tell the investigators bodies how to grow and work, and determine physical characteristics such as hair and eye color. Genes are composed of DNA letters that spell out these instructions. Studies of the DNA molecules that make up the genes are called "molecular" analyses. Molecular analyses are ways of reading the DNA letters to identify errors in genes that may contribute to an increased risk of cancer or to the behavior of the cancer cells. Some changes in genes occur only in cancer cells. Others occur in the genes that are passed from parent to child. This research study will examine both kinds of genes. The best way to find these genes is to study large numbers of people. The investigators expect that as many 1000 individuals will enroll in this study. This research study is trying to help doctors and scientists understand why cancer occurs and to develop ways to better treat and prevent it. To participate in this study the participant must have cancer now, had it in the past, or are at risk of developing cancer. The participant will not undergo tests or procedures that are not required as part of their routine clinical care. The investigators will ask the participant to provide an additional sample from tissue that is obtained for their clinical care including blood, bone marrow, or tissue sample. The investigators will also ask for a gentle scrape of the inside of their cheek, mouthwash or a skin sample to obtain their germline DNA

Type: Observational

Start Date: Aug 2014

open study

The Fabry Registry is an ongoing, international multi-center, strictly observational program that tracks the routine clinical outcomes for patients with Fabry disease, irrespective of treatment status. No experimental intervention is involved; patients in the Registry undergo clinical assessments and receive care as determined by the patient's treating physician. The primary objectives of the Registry are: - To enhance the understanding of the variability, progression, and natural history of Fabry disease, including heterozygous females with the disease; - To assist the Fabry medical community with the development of recommendations for monitoring patients and reports on patient outcomes to help optimize patient care; - To characterize and describe the Fabry population as a whole; - To evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of Fabrazyme® Fabry Pregnancy Sub-registry: This Sub-registry is a multicenter, international, longitudinal, observational, and voluntary program designed to track pregnancy outcomes for any pregnant woman enrolled in the Fabry Registry, regardless of whether she is receiving disease-specific therapy (such as enzyme replacement therapy with agalsidase beta) and irrespective of the commercial product with which she may be treated. Data from the Sub-registry are also used to fulfill various global regulatory requirements, to support product development/reimbursement, and for other research and non-research-related purposes. No experimental intervention is given; thus a patient will undergo clinical assessments and receive standard of care treatment as determined by the patient's physician. If a patient consents to this Sub-registry, information about the patient's medical and obstetric history, pregnancy, and birth will be collected, and, if a patient consents to data collection for her infant, data on infant growth through month 36 postpartum will be collected.

Type: Observational [Patient Registry]

Start Date: Jul 2001

open study

Patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after thoracic surgery often experience complications related to immobility, such as muscle weakness, pulmonary issues, and longer recovery times. Early mobilization has been shown to improve outcomes, but its implementation is often limited by patient fragility and staff resources. This study will test the safety and feasibility of using the Atalante X, a self-balancing exoskeleton, in the Thoracic Surgical ICU at Brigham and Women's Hospital. The exoskeleton is designed to support patients in standing and walking, even if they have limited strength or balance, thereby reducing the physical burden on healthcare staff and increasing patient mobility. Eligible participants are adults recovering from thoracic surgery, who are debilitated (Johns Hopkins Highest Level of Mobility scale ≤ 5). Each participant will undergo up to 2-3 exoskeleton sessions per week for a maximum of 2 weeks. Sessions will be personalized, with progressive standing time and walking depending on patient tolerance. The primary goal is to evaluate the safety of exoskeleton use, measured by adverse events such as skin lesions, cardiovascular instability, or accidental device-related issues. The secondary goals are to evaluate: Feasibility (ability to deliver sessions as planned, duration of standing/walking, level of assistance needed), Usability (patient and staff satisfaction, ease of donning/doffing, staff workload), and Preliminary effectiveness (improvement in mobility scores at discharge). Results will provide early insights into whether robotic exoskeletons can be safely integrated into ICU rehabilitation programs after thoracic surgery.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2025

open study

The hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (preeclampsia and gestational hypertension) are associated with increased long-term maternal risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Recent evidence suggests that activation of the mineralocorticoid receptor promotes ongoing susceptibility to hypertension in women following hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. In addition, women with overweight/obesity are at increased risk for progression to chronic hypertension after experiencing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Among women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity, the investigators will conduct a randomized trial to test the effect of pharmacologically blocking the mineralocorticoid receptor for three months after delivery on blood pressure and cardiac remodeling at nine months postpartum.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Oct 2025

open study

This is a phase 1, first-in-human (FIH) trial for two vaccines, DV700P-RNA and DV701B1.1-RNA. This means it is the first time these study products are being tested in people. The purpose of this study is to see if the study products are safe, if people are able to take them without becoming too uncomfortable, and how a person's immune system responds to them (a person's immune system protects them from infections and disease). Forty-five volunteers without HIV and in overall good health, aged 18 to 55 years, will be enrolled and be in this study for about 16 months (about 12 visits), Study procedures will include blood draws, injections, and the collection of white blood cells and cells from their lymph nodes.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Aug 2025

open study

This study is investigating the effects on immune cells of injecting the influenza vaccine (also known as "flu shot") into cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) tumors prior to having standard-of-care Mohs excision surgery. The study will help understand if the addition of the influenza vaccine could improve the immune system response against the cancer. The names of the study drug involved in this study is: -Fluzone Influenza vaccine (flu shot)

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2024

open study

This study is a clinical trial being done to investigate the efficacy of drug BRS201 as a treatment in patients with acute ulcerative colitis. Patients who qualify are adults who have not responded to treatments for their severe ulcerative colitis. Participation in this study will take 12 weeks long and the study is structured as an open-label pilot study in which participants will take the study drug for 4 weeks in the form of an oral medication. Participation may also involve receiving an IV dose of the medication. The study will require participants to attend 8 study visits, all of which will be conducted at a study site. Participation will involve taking an oral medication twice daily, tracking the medication in a log, and getting blood drawn and giving a stool and urine sample for a few lab tests throughout the study. Participants may also undergo a flexible sigmoidoscopy at the beginning and end of the study.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2025

open study

The LIFT will be conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) of Harvard Medical School, focusing on the effect of Pyridostigmine (Mestinon) and Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) in subjects aged 18-70 meeting the Canadian consensus criteria (CCC) for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) as well as having specifically Orthostatic Intolerance (OI). Long COVID (LC) subjects will also be included if they meet CCC and have OI. This double-blind, placebo-controlled study will involve 160 participants randomized into one of four possible groups: Pyridostigmine/LDN (40), Pyridostigmine/Placebo (40), LDN/Placebo (40), Placebo/Placebo (40). The dose of Pyridostigmine will be carefully titrated from 30mg to 60mg three times a day, and the dose of LDN will be titrated from 1.5 mg to 4.5 mg once daily. The trial includes a scale-back plan, allowing participants to reduce their dosage if they experience intolerance symptoms, with adjustments made during weekly visits. This plan provides a personalized approach to medication tolerance, ensuring participant's safety and comfort throughout the trial. The time commitment for the participant is approximately three (3) months, and during this time, there will be three (3) in-person visits to BWH and four (4) virtual visits. Study procedures will include two (2) submaximum cardiopulmonary exercise tests, questionnaires (virtually completed), and blood and urine collection. We will be recruiting from the BWH Dyspnea Clinic as well as the Open Medicine Foundation (OMF) StudyME Registry and anticipate the entire trial will take two (2) years to complete. The LIFT represents a significant endeavor to improve treatment options for ME/CFS patients and contribute to the broader understanding of this debilitating condition.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Sep 2024

open study

Lung cancer patients undergoing upfront surgery, highly benefit from a systematic lymph node dissection in the mediastinum and in the surgical specimens. The latter is performed by the pathologist. Developing a standardized technique to dissect the lobectomy specimen has the potential of maximizing the retrieval of all N1 stations lymph nodes. The investigators believe that the adoption of such technique will improve lung cancer staging and identify a higher number of patients that qualify for adjuvant therapies.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2024

open study