UTMB Clinical Trials

The purpose of this study is to learn about the safety of a new pneumococcal vaccine and how the new pneumococcal vaccine helps to fight against germs that can cause pneumonia (lung infections), meningitis (brain infections), and otitis media (ear infections) in infants when compared to the pneumococcal vaccine that is currently in use, 20vPnC (Prevnar 20®). This study will test if the new pneumococcal vaccine is as safe as the one that is currently in use. It will also assess how the new vaccine works in comparison to the one that is currently in use when given with other childhood vaccines. To measure how the new pneumococcal vaccine compares to the current one, blood samples will be used to measure the body's ability to create proteins to fight those germs. This new vaccine can possibly provide additional protection against germs that cause pneumococcal disease that are not included in the vaccines that are currently given to infants. Pneumococcal disease includes a variety of infections caused by a specific germ, Streptococcus pneumoniae. There are three groups in this study. All participants will be assigned to one of the three groups. This study is seeking participants who are: - infants who are 2 months of age in Group 1; - infants who are 2 to 6 months of age in Groups 2 and 3; and - said to be healthy by the study doctor About 3000 infants will be assigned to Group 1. The infants in this group will have a 1 in 2 chance (50%) of receiving either PG4 (new vaccine) or 20vPnC (currently in use) into the left thigh muscle at 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 15 months of age. About 140 infants from outside the United States will be assigned to Group 2. The infants in this group will have a 1 in 2 chance (50%) of receiving either PG4 or 20vPnC into the left thigh muscle at 2 to 6, 3 to 8, 4 to 10, and 12 to 15 months of age. About 90 infants from outside the United States will be assigned to Group 3. The infants in Group 3 will have a 1 in 3 chance (33%) of receiving either PG4 into the left thigh muscle, PG4 under the skin of the left thigh, or 20vPnC into the left thigh muscle at 2 to 6, 3 to 8, 4 to 10, and 12 to 15 months of age. Infants in Group 1 will take part in this study for about 16 to 19 months (about 1 and a half years). Infants in Groups 2 and 3 will take part in this study for 12 to 21 months (about 1 to 1 and a half years). During this time, infants will have 6 study clinic visits and 1 phone call. At these study clinic visits, parent(s)/legal guardian(s) will be asked if the infant experienced any side effects. A side effect is an unintentional or unexpected reaction to a vaccine. Infants will have 3 blood samples collected.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2026

open study

The purpose of this study is to learn about the safety of a new pneumococcal vaccine and how the new pneumococcal vaccine helps to fight against germs that can cause pneumonia (lung infections), meningitis (brain infections), and otitis media (ear infections) in children when compared to the pneumococcal vaccine that is currently in use, 20vPnC (Prevnar 20®). This study will test if the new pneumococcal vaccine is as safe as the one that is currently in use. It will also assess how the new vaccine works in comparison to the one that is currently in use. To measure how the new pneumococcal vaccine compares to the current one, blood samples will be used to measure the body's ability to create proteins to fight those germs. This new vaccine can possibly provide additional protection against germs that cause pneumococcal disease that are not included in the vaccines that are currently given to children. Pneumococcal disease includes a variety of infections caused by a specific germ, Streptococcus pneumoniae This study is seeking participants who: - Are children aged 15 months to 18 years. - May or may not have received any doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in the past. The study will be conducted in the United States, Puerto Rico, and other countries. Participants will be assigned to 1 of 3 groups based on age: Group 1: 15 months to less than 2 years (about 300 participants) Group 2: 2 years to less than 5 years (about 300 participants) Group 3: 5 years to less than 18 years (about 600 participants) Within each group, participants will be assigned by chance in a 2:1 ratio to receive 1 vaccine injection (shot) with either PG4 (new vaccine) or 20vPnC, given in the arm or thigh. This means that for every 3 participants, about 2 will receive PG4 and about 1 will receive 20vPnC. Each participant will take part in the study for approximately 6 months. During this time, each participant will visit a clinic 2 times (visit 1 for vaccination and visit 2 to follow up) and will be contacted via telephone once (for a 6 month follow up). At the study clinic visits, participants will have their blood drawn and be asked if they have experienced any side effects. A side effect is an unintentional or unexpected reaction to a vaccine. During the 6-month follow-up contact, participants will be asked about any further side effects.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2026

open study

The surveillance of pregnancies at risk for fetal loss secondary to high-risk maternal or fetal conditions remains a mainstay of perinatal care. Current testing to prevent fetal loss includes the regular use of ultrasound (biophysical profile) or fetal heart rate monitoring (non-stress test) in an outpatient clinic setting once or twice weekly. A patient may also be asked to subjectively assess daily fetal movements during the time between routine antepartum testing appointments. However, there are no good systems for pregnant women to objectively measure fetal movements. Smartphones have allowed for the development of applications that utilize various embedded devices including the camera and microphone. In our recent pilot STUDY00001552 of 205 pregnant patients, placement of the iPhone10 microphone directly on the maternal abdominal wall was utilized to detect fetal movements. AI assessment of the audio recordings proved superior to maternal perception of fetal movements that were recorded during simultaneous ultrasound (gross fetal movements: 64% audio vs 18% maternal; breathing: 93% vs 3%, hiccups: 73% vs 3%). This trial is a prospective, observational, feasibility study of 60 patients that includes both low-risk and high-risk pregnant women to examine the usability of the Womb Watch smartphone application. The study will involve introduction of the Womb Watch app to a population of pregnant patients. Features of the app will be modified based on participant feedback. Anxiety levels of the patient will be tracked serially using a survey tool. The various types and versions of smartphones will be assessed to see if they affect the AI model. Finally, patients will be asked to determine the strength of fetal movements to see if this parameter can be assessed by the AI model. Amniotic fluid data will assessed through clinical ultrasounds to see if this also has any effect on the AI model's ability to detect fetal movements.

Type: Observational

Start Date: Aug 2026

open study

The purpose of the study is to find out how a stimulation device worn on the ear works. This device is thought to stimulate nerves in the area around the ear to change the signals in the brain. The device has been shown to reduce pain and to reduce the symptoms of withdrawal. The investigator will also investigate changes in the way each participant perceive sensations of pressure and heat. The participant will be asked to reduce the amount of pain medication that they take. Then, the participant will spend several days and nights in the Clinical Research Center at UTMB (University of Texas Medical Branch) in Galveston. During that time, the participant will be monitored for withdrawal symptoms and will receive either active (e.g., "real") brain stimulation or sham (e.g., "fake") brain stimulation for two days (four hours each day). At two times over the course of the study (before and after ear stimulation treatment), the participant will complete questionnaires about their pain score and how they are feeling, sensory testing, and will undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of their brain. The investigator will collect the following information from the participant's medical record: age, gender, medication history, medical diagnoses, recent vital signs, past doctor visits or hospital stays, and results of urine drug tests. Participation in this study will last approximately four days, and the participant will stay in the Clinical Research Center.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2023

open study

This phase II trial tests whether ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) in combination with talazoparib works to shrink tumors in patients with solid tumors that are unlikely to be cured or controlled with treatment and that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced). Another aim of this study is to find out if, and how, patients' genes influence their response to this specific drug combination. For this part of the study, investigators will run tests using samples of patients' tumor tissue and blood that will be collected during the study. ZEN-3694 is an inhibitor of a family of proteins called the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET). It may prevent the growth of tumor cells that overproduce BET protein. Talazoparib is an inhibitor of PARP, an enzyme that helps repair deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) when it becomes damaged. Blocking PARP may help keep cancer cells from repairing their damaged DNA, causing them to die. PARP inhibitors are a type of targeted therapy. Genes are pieces of the DNA code that individuals inherit from their parents. Some genes work to protect against cancer by correcting damage that can occur in the DNA when cells divide. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are two examples of these types of genes, and they are called tumor-suppressor genes. For example, if a person has a mutation in a BRCA1/2 gene they have a greatly increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer because their cells may no longer be able to completely repair damaged DNA. It is the accumulation of DNA damage which causes a cell to change into a cancerous cell. Other genes are also involved in this process, and these are called DNA damage repair genes. The KRAS mutation is a change in a protein in normal cells. Normally KRAS serves as an information hub for signals in the cell that lead to cell growth, but when there is a mutation in KRAS it signals too much and cells grow without being told to, which causes cancer. Combination therapy with ZEN-3694 and talazoparib may be effective at slowing or stopping tumor growth in patients with advanced cancer.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2022

open study

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if fasting or not fasting before a procedure has an effect on recovery in those who are critically ill. The main questions it aims to answer for patients on a breathing machine who are receiving tube feeding are: - Does the risk of lung complications and death differ between those who are not fasting, which may have a higher chance of allowing tube feeding to enter the lungs, and fasting, which temporarily stops nutrition before a procedure? - Is there a difference in recovery times, hospital stays, infection rates, need for organ support, safety, and nutrition for those who either fast or do not fast before a procedure? - What is the relationship between nutrition and clinical outcomes? Researchers will compare not fasting and fasting to see if it has an effect on recovery. Participants will: - Be assigned by chance (like a coin toss) to one of two groups. One group (fasting group) will have their tube feeding stopped at least 8 hours before their procedure. The other group (not fasting group) will have their tube feeding stopped right before their procedure. - Be monitored via medical record for amount of protein and calories received, and any complications related to fasting/not fasting. - Data from routine electronic medical records will be reviewed to determine how participants are doing 3 months after their procedure. '

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2025

open study

This phase 1 randomized, open-label, dose-escalation clinical trial evaluates the safety and immunogenicity of OCU500, a ChAd36 Vector Encoding SARS-CoV-2 Spike Vaccine, in healthy adults aged 18-64 who previously completed a primary COVID-19 vaccination series and at least one booster. The study evaluates two dose levels (1×10^10 viral particles (VP) and 5×10^10 VP) and two routes of administration (intranasal and inhaled). The trial includes 80 participants across four study arms (20 per arm). The primary objective is to evaluate the safety and reactogenicity of a single dose of OCU500 administered in previously vaccinated healthy adults.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2026

open study

The purpose of this research is to develop and validate a single gene Non-Invasive Prenatal Test. The development of this investigational single-gene noninvasive prenatal testing (sgNIPT) for conditions such as cystic fibrosis (CF), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Sickle cell disease, alpha thalassemia (a-thalassemia) and beta thalassemia (b-thalassemia) could provide information about the possibility that a child will be born with a serious health condition, in some cases in the absence of reproductive partner screening. In order to develop a test for this purpose, investigators will collect blood samples and medical information from pregnant women who have pregnancies at higher risk for single gene disorders, such as those who are carriers for these conditions or affected by these conditions themselves, medical data from their reproductive partners in some cases, and either genetic testing results or a cheek swab sample from the newborn(s).

Type: Observational

Start Date: Jan 2024

open study

This Phase III Trial evaluates whether breast conservation surgery and endocrine therapy results in a non-inferior rate of invasive or non-invasive ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) compared to breast conservation with breast radiation and endocrine therapy.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jun 2021

open study

This study is testing a new approach to help people with migraine headaches. Researchers want to find out if using electrical stimulation to affect blood flow in the external carotid artery is safe and practical for helping control headaches. The goal of the study is to determine whether this approach could improve headache symptoms and overall outcomes for people with migraines.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2026

open study

To conduct an unblinded pragmatic randomized controlled trial (pRCT) "Improvement of PPROM Management with Prophylactic Antimicrobial Therapy (iPROMPT)" of a seven-day course of ceftriaxone, clarithromycin, and metronidazole versus the current standard of care of a seven-day course of ampicillin/amoxicillin and azithromycin or erythromycin to prolong pregnancy and decrease adverse perinatal outcomes among hospitalized pregnant individuals undergoing expectant management of PPROM <34 weeks.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2024

open study

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare a 2-dose and 3-dose series of 9vHPV vaccine among 27-45-year-old females to assess if 2 doses elicit a noninferior immune response. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to either the 2-dose group or the 3-dose group and asked to provide 4 blood samples over a period of 12 months. All 2-dose participants will be offered a 3rd dose after the final blood draw,12 months after their initial vaccination.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jan 2023

open study

This study aims to assess the safety and clinical accuracy of the SIRA-1000, SIRA® RFA Electrosurgical Device in ablating margins post-lumpectomy in patients undergoing breast conserving surgery for breast cancer. Radiofrequency ablation, or RFA, uses radio waves to create heat, that in turn, causes deliberate controlled damage to the tissue surrounding where the tumor was located. You may hear your doctor refer to this as the 'margins'. Your doctor is using this treatment to help destroy remaining cancer cells in the margins around the site of the lump.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2026

open study

This research study aims to understand the relationship between brain stimulation and leg skill learning in both healthy adults and persons with chronic stroke.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2025

open study

The purpose of this investigation is to better understand the wound microbiome in burn wounds and the role it plays in outcomes and complications related to treatment.

Type: Observational [Patient Registry]

Start Date: Nov 2022

open study

The FLEX Registry will be implemented to operate as a large-scale, population based, prospective registry. All patients with stage I to III breast cancer who receive MammaPrint® and BluePrint testing on a primary breast tumor are eligible for entry into the FLEX Registry, which is intended to enable additional study arms at low incremental effort and cost. FLEX Registry will utilize an adaptive design, where additional targeted substudies and arms can be added after the initial study is opened.

Type: Observational [Patient Registry]

Start Date: Apr 2017

open study

This is a mechanistic, controlled, open-label, single-site study to evaluate the effects of RG-RV16 inoculation on airway mucosal gene expression and airway remodeling in 25 healthy controls (HC), in 25 allergic rhinitis subjects (AR) with cat dander allergy, and in 25 allergic asthmatic subjects (AA) with cat dander allergy. Three groups (HC, AR, and AA) will undergo screening to establish clinical history, will undergo pulmonary function testing (spirometry), and will have blood drawn for clinical characterization (IgE, , ImmunoCAP, CBC and differential), and for assessing the presence of existing neutralizing antibody against RV16. Only those who meet criteria will be permitted to continue into the interventional and run-out phases of the study.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Apr 2023

open study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Pumitamig versus Pembrolizumab in participants with previously untreated advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and PD-L1 ≥ 50%.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2026

open study

This Phase II/III trial will evaluate the what kind of chemotherapy to recommend to patients based on the presence or absences of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) after surgery for colon cancer.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Jul 2022

open study

In this study, researchers will learn more about the use of felzartamab in participants with primary membranous nephropathy, also known as PMN. In people with PMN, autoantibodies build up in the glomeruli of the kidney. Antibodies are proteins that help the body fight off infection. An autoantibody is a type of antibody that mistakenly targets and attacks the body's own tissues. Glomeruli are the filters of the kidney that remove waste and extra fluid from the body. In PMN, the build-up of autoantibodies in the glomeruli causes damage to the kidneys. Kidney damage can lead to too much protein and blood leaking into the urine. High levels of protein in the urine, called proteinuria, are common in people with PMN. Symptoms of PMN can include swelling in the legs and body, tiredness, and high blood pressure. If left untreated, PMN can eventually lead to kidney failure. In this study, researchers will learn more about how a study drug called felzartamab affects people with PMN. Felzartamab is a monoclonal antibody, which means it is an antibody made in a laboratory. Felzartamab can target immune cells that produce autoantibodies, helping to lower their buildup in the kidneys. The main goal of this study is to compare how felzartamab works compared to a drug called tacrolimus. Tacrolimus is another drug given to people with PMN and kidney disease. The main question that researchers want to answer is: - How many participants achieve a complete response after 104 weeks of treatment? - A complete response means that their urine protein levels decrease to a low level and their kidney function remains stable. Researchers will also learn about: - How long it takes before the participants' disease gets worse - How long the participants' urine protein levels stay low - How many participants develop antibodies against felzartamab in the blood? - How many participants achieve a complete response after 76 weeks of treatment - How many participants have medical problems during the study - How felzartamab is processed by the body - How felzartamab affects participants' tiredness and overall physical health The study will be done as follows: - Participants will be screened to check if they can join the study. This may take up to 42 days. - Participants will be randomized to receive either felzartamab as intravenous (IV) infusions or tacrolimus, taken orally as tablets. - If participants have worsening kidney function or worsening proteinuria, or if their PMN relapses, or if they show no signs of improvement in their PMN, they will have a chance to receive rescue treatment. - If a participant stops treatment early, there will be follow-up visits every 12 weeks until they reach Week 104. - In total, participants will have up to 23 study visits. Participants who do not need rescue treatment will stay in the study for up to 104 weeks. Participants who need rescue treatment will stay in the study for up to 156 weeks.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: May 2025

open study

This Phase III, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of induction therapy with Afimkibart (RO7790121) compared with placebo in participants with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC).

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Dec 2024

open study

This study aims to determine the effects of 2 spiritual care interventions. Spiritual wellness and healthcare service utilization will be measured from a sample of advanced cancer patients recruited from outpatient settings.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Mar 2026

open study

The goal of this clinical trial is to test in moderately symptomatic chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) patients if middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) can be used as an alternative to conventional open surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are: - Compared to open conventional surgery, does MMAE reduce the need for rescue surgery or deaths? - What is the safety of MMAE and conventional open surgery in these patients? Participants will be asked to: - Share their medical history and undergo physical examinations - Have blood drawn - Have CT scans of the head - Answer questionnaires - Undergo MMAE or conventional open surgery - Provide information about possible adverse events Researchers will compare participants in the MMAE group with those in the conventional open surgery group to see if there is a reduced need for rescue surgery or deaths and evaluate safety.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Nov 2024

open study

This pilot clinical study aims to investigate the potential effects of tirzepatide on biological aging in older adults. In this novel study, 90 adults aged 55-70 years with an indication for tirzepatide weight-loss therapy will be randomized to receive either tirzepatide 2.5 mg subcutaneously (SC) weekly or no drug for 24 weeks, followed by 12 weeks off the drug. Since tirzepatide is already recognized as a highly effective weight-loss agent in this population, the primary focus will not be on measuring weight loss. Instead, the study will document the effects of tirzepatide on markers of aging, physical function, and overall health.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2026

open study

This is a pilot trial of the effects of spiritual care interventions on spiritual well-being and readiness to engage in advance care planning (ACP) among black patients with advanced cancer recruited from outpatient settings to determine the feasibility of conducting a larger trial of effects of early integration of spiritual care into outpatient oncology care on patient outcomes.

Type: Interventional

Start Date: Feb 2025

open study