Clinical Trials

Every medicine you take was at one time considered an investigational drug. Dozens, sometimes hundreds, of volunteers test the safety and efficacy of new medicines before the drug comes on the market. As a research volunteer, you become an important part of a process that may help people improve their medical condition. The Vermont Lung Center is involved in several studies at all times. At the Vermont Lung Center, we are running several studies in Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis, and studies conducted in the Intensive Care Unit, of The University of Vermont Medical Center. Some may involve investigational drugs, others may be looking at the physiology of a certain condition. Before any clinical study gets underway, it must first be approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Vermont. The IRB is a multi-disciplinary group of professionals who review study protocols and any materials that will be used to recruit subjects.

Please find our current studies listed below. If you would like more information about clinical trials or participation in a clinical trial at the VLC, please call the Clinical Trials Office at (802) 847-2193. Vermont Lung Center Clinical Offices are located at 792 College Parkway, Medical Office Building, Suite 305, Colchester, VT  05446

Asthma

Increased lung volumes as rescue therapy for asthma

STATUS: Active - Recruiting
Primary Invesitgator: Anne Dixon
Coordinator: Stephanie Burns
Who: Adult asthmatics with a BMI of 35 or more
What: up to 5 visits
Compensation: up to $500

Increased lung volumes as controller therapy for asthma

STATUS: Active - Recruiting
Primary Investigator: Anne Dixon
Coordinator: Stephanie Burns
Who: Adult asthmatics with a BMI of 35 or more
What: 3 visits
Compensation: up to $300

NAC: Effects of BMI on Allergic Responses

STATUS: Active - Recruiting
Primary Invesitgator: Anne Dixon
Coordinator: Stephanie Burns
Who: Asthmatics and Healthy 18-6 yrs.
What:
Compensation: up to $200

Airway Compliance in Relation to BMI in Asthma

STATUS: Active - Recruiting
Primary Invesitgator: Anne Dixon
Coordinator: Stephanie Burns
Who:  late onset asthmatics BMI >35, normal healthy subjects BMI >35, early onset asthmatics BMI 18.5-25
What: up to 3-4 visits
Compensation: up to $500

COPD

The effect of lung volume on respiratory system mechanics in asthma and COPD

Primary Investigator: David Kaminsky
Coordinator: Heidi Pecott-Grimm
Who: age 18-80 with a physician diagnosis of COPD
What: 2 visits 4-5 hours total
Compensation: none

EMPROVE: Evaluate the Saftey and Effectiveness of the IBV Valve System for the Single LobeTreatment for Emphysema
Primary Invesitgator: Matthew Kinsey
Coordinator: Sara Ardren
Who: diagnosis of severe emphysema
What: 7 visits over 12 weeks
Compensation: none

Lung Cancer

Detection of Lung Heterogeneity in patients undergoing lung cancer screening by low dose CT of the chest

STATUS: Active - Recruiting
Primary Investigator: David Kaminsky
Coordinator: Heidi Pecott-Grimm
Who: Age 51-78 with a cumulative smoking history of 30 packs/yr undergoing lung cancer screening by low dose CT of the chest.
What: one two-hour visit

Compensation: $100

Investigation of Radiographic, Epigenetic, and molecular biomarkers for lung cancer

STATUS: Active - Recruiting
Primary Invesitgator: Matthew Kinsey
Coordinator: Alice Peng
Who: people 18 and over with a diagnosis of primary lung cancer or a pulmonary mass
What: one visit
Compensation: none

Cystic Fibrosis

STATUS: Active - Recruiting
Cystic Fibrosis
Primary Investigator: Charlotte Teneback
Coordinator: Julie Sweet
Who: age 6 and older with a diagnosis of CF on inhaled anti-pseudomonal treatment
What: quarterly sputum samples
Compensation: none

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

STATUS: Active - Recruiting
Changes in the Diffusion Capacity for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO) in Response to Vasodilator Therapy in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Primary Investigator: David Kaminsky
Coordinator: Heidi Pecott-Grimm
Who: diagnosis of Pulmonary Hypertension
What: 3 visits
Compensation: Up to $150

Important Information for Study Participants

The Vermont Lung Center staff is responsible for making sure you understand what is expected of you from the study.

Once the study is explained to you, you will be asked to read and sign an Informed Consent. This form is designed to explain everything you need to know about the study-who the Principal Investigator is, who the sponsor is, what is being researched, what your compensation is and what to do if you encounter a problem.

Studies may be therapeutic (involving investigational drugs or equipment) or non-therapeutic (involving observation of lung function). However, the Vermont Lung Center can make no claims that your involvement in a research study will improve your condition.

Compensation may or may not be provided to you for your involvement in a study. If compensation is provided, it is meant to cover time and expenses incurred while acting as a study subject-it does not constitute employment.