Ongoing Clinical Trials in Florida

The Sunshine State currently has the third largest number of fully functional clinical trial facilities in the country, which makes Florida one of the biggest names in the clinical research industry. So what makes Florida such a great place to conduct new clinical trials?

Well, this state happens to have one of the most diverse participant populations that can be found anywhere, and this has proven to be indispensable when it comes to producing the most accurate results from these ongoing clinical studies. People who choose to participate in a clinical trial in Florida are given access to state-of-the-art medical equipment and experimental treatments which could provide unheard of benefits.

Longitudinal Study of Ocular Complications of AIDS (LSOCA)

This is a clinical study based in Miami at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and incredibly, it initiated back in 1999. The study, which is open to participants ages 13 and up who have been diagnosed with AIDS, has been monitoring long-term trends in the incidence of CMV retinitis and other ocular complications which can be caused by AIDS.

The research team conducting this clinical trial are working to see how a highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) –induced immune status could affect the participant’s risk of developing CMV retinitis and other complications. They have also taken careful notes of the major characteristics that can be observed in a patient population that is at a high risk for this condition.

Cornea Preservation Time Study

This is another Miami clinical trial which is being conducted at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. This particular study was initiated in March 2012, and investigators are still looking to enroll more participants between the ages of 30 and 85. Now, did you know that sometimes following an endothelial keratoplasty procedure that is performed using donor corneas, some patients will experience a graft failure?

The lead investigators for this study want to determine if the 3-year graft failure rate following a procedure with donor corneas that have a preservation time of 8 to 14 days is non-inferior to the failure rate observed when donor corneas with a preservation time of 7 or fewer days are used instead.

Insulin Pump Therapy in Adolescents with Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)

Medical researchers are still looking for a few more participants to enroll in this clinical trial in Jacksonville, FL before it concludes in October. The research team set up this study so that 10 participants (all of them adolescent males between the ages of 12 and 17) will be randomly selected to either take a multiple daily injection (MDI) of Lantus insulin, or they will be given a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII; pump therapy).

Since the start of the study, the team has been closely monitoring the changes in disease management between participants who are using the MDI treatment or the pump therapy. Even more importantly, the researchers hope to gain a better understanding of how these diabetes treatments can affect the patient’s “honeymoon period” and their glycemic control, especially any alterations in their sensitivity to insulin and beta cell function. The results of this Jacksonville clinical trial could have a major impact on the standard of care for pediatric diabetes.

A Study of ARRY-502 in Patients with Persistent Asthma

Interested in hearing about clinical trials being conducted in Orlando, FL? Well this is a Phase 2 study which is taking place at Clinical Neuroscience Solutions. The primary purpose of this study, which was designed to incorporate a full six week treatment period for participants, is to evaluate the overall effectiveness of an experimental drug,

ARRY-502 as a treatment for patients struggling with mild to moderate persistent asthma. As is the case for most Phase 2 clinical trials, the lead investigators would also like to further evaluate how well this drug is tolerated by patients. This research team is looking to enroll approximately 180 participants for this asthma clinical trial.

As we continue to make new strides forward, Florida will certainly continue to play a key role in advancing prevention, diagnostic, and therapeutic practices for a wide range of diseases and conditions. With your continued support and involvement, research teams can continue to work on creating a whole new class of drugs and medicines which can have an immense impact on the way we live our lives in the future.