Clinical Trials
101
6 active
Approvals
0
Total approvals
Agencies
0
Regulatory bodies
Founded
1927
Active, not recruiting
2
2.0%
Completed
54
53.5%
Not yet recruiting
4
4.0%
Recruiting
15
14.8%
Terminated
1
1.0%
Unknown
24
23.8%
Withdrawn
1
1.0%
No approval data available
- A large-scale EEG study of approximately 400 autistic children found that face-related neural signals are less distinct compared to neurotypical peers, published in Nature Mental Health. - Machine learning analysis of whole-scalp electrical activity showed that neurotypical children's face processing becomes more refined with age, a developmental trajectory absent in autistic children. - The findings suggest face processing differences in autism emerge earlier than previously understood, beyond the well-known N170 biomarker, and may reflect the condition's underlying biology rather than lived experience. - Researchers propose that whole-scalp EEG patterns could serve as a new biomarker for autism, potentially aiding diagnosis and identifying candidates for early social skills interventions.
- University of Houston researchers developed a groundbreaking single-molecule imaging technique to observe individual CTR1 protein complexes inside living cells, revealing previously hidden copper regulation dynamics. - The team discovered that the copper transport protein CTR1 changes its structure when copper levels become too high, reducing copper uptake as a protective cellular mechanism, published in Nature Communications. - A new $2.16 million NIH grant will fund investigation into how disruptions in copper-regulating behavior connect to signaling in human neurons and may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases. - The approach could eventually help scientists study other diseases where rare molecular events or cell-to-cell differences play an important role.
- Rhabdomyosarcoma accounts for approximately 50% of all pediatric soft tissue sarcomas and 8% of all childhood cancers, with only a 20%–30% survival rate once metastasized. - University of Houston researchers identified TAK1 protein and the IRE1α-XBP1 stress-response pathway as key drivers of rhabdomyosarcoma tumor growth in two Nature journal publications. - Blocking either TAK1 or the IRE1α-XBP1 axis slowed tumor growth and promoted differentiation of cancer cells into normal muscle cells. - The findings, supported by a $3.2 million NIH grant, establish two new molecular targets for future drug therapies against this fatal pediatric cancer.
- The University of Houston announced the launch of UH Health, an academic health enterprise integrating education, research, and community engagement across multiple health disciplines. - UH Health brings together medicine, nursing, pharmacy, optometry, psychology, social work, and population health under an interprofessional, team-based care model. - The initiative addresses Texas' healthcare workforce shortage, with 64% of hospitals reporting reduced services due to staffing gaps, according to the Texas Hospital Association. - UH is investing $77 million in a new 55,000-square-foot medical research building to expand interdisciplinary research, with completion expected by summer 2028.
- ARMR Sciences will begin human trials of its fentanyl vaccine in early 2025 with 40 healthy adults at the Centre for Human Drug Research in the Netherlands. - The vaccine works by attaching a carrier protein to a fentanyl-like molecule to generate antibodies that prevent fentanyl from crossing the blood-brain barrier. - Preclinical studies in rats demonstrated the vaccine blocked 92 to 98 percent of fentanyl from entering the brain, with protection lasting 20 weeks. - The vaccine could offer up to a year of protection in humans and represents a paradigm shift from reactive overdose treatments to preventive intervention.
- Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a noninvasive urine test that can monitor lupus nephritis activity without requiring painful kidney biopsies. - The study analyzed 1,317 urine samples and identified 57 proteins that correlate with kidney damage severity in lupus patients. - This breakthrough could transform care for 2.5 million lupus patients worldwide who develop kidney complications, eliminating the need for repeated invasive procedures. - The protein biomarkers can distinguish between active inflammation and chronic scarring, enabling more precise disease monitoring and treatment decisions.
- University of Houston's Gregory Cuny received nearly $4 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to develop treatments for Cryptosporidium infections, which currently have no effective cure. - Cryptosporidium parasites kill over 50,000 children under five annually through severe diarrhea and represent the second leading cause of diarrhea-related death after rotavirus. - The research targets CDPK1 enzyme, which is essential for parasite survival, with drug candidates designed for gastrointestinal targeting through enterohepatic recycling. - The multi-institutional team aims to establish CDPK1 as a validated drug target while minimizing systemic exposure through direct gastrointestinal tract delivery.
- Researchers at Occidental College and UC Irvine have developed electromechanical reshaping (EMR), a laser-free alternative to LASIK surgery that uses electrical current to temporarily reshape the cornea. - The technique successfully corrected nearsightedness in 10 out of 12 rabbit eyeballs within about one minute, matching LASIK's timeframe but without incisions or tissue removal. - EMR works by using electricity to alter tissue pH, making collagen-containing corneas temporarily moldable before locking them into corrected shapes. - The method could potentially offer a cheaper, reversible alternative to LASIK and may treat conditions like corneal cloudiness that currently require transplants.
- University of Houston biomedical engineer Tianfu Wu has received a $1 million Department of Defense Impact Award to develop a novel spleen-specific drug delivery system for lupus treatment. - The innovative system uses mannose-modified lipid nanoparticles to directly target immune cells in the spleen, including B cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and macrophages that drive lupus pathogenesis. - This approach represents the first instance of a spleen-specific targeting system designed for lupus models, potentially offering more precise treatment with reduced systemic side effects. - The technology aims to modulate immune responses rather than employing broad immunosuppression, addressing current therapeutic limitations in lupus management.
- A fentanyl vaccine developed at the University of Houston is set to enter clinical trials in mid-2025, aiming to prevent the opioid from reaching the brain. - The vaccine uses an adjuvant to stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies against fentanyl, preventing overdose by keeping the drug out of the brain. - Clinical trials will face challenges in recruiting participants with opioid use disorder and determining the vaccine's long-term effectiveness and optimal dosage. - Experts emphasize that the vaccine is not a standalone solution but a crucial addition to existing treatments like buprenorphine, potentially enhancing their efficacy.
