Clinical Trials
646
27 active
Approvals
0
Total approvals
Agencies
0
Regulatory bodies
Founded
1838
Active, not recruiting
11
1.7%
Completed
412
63.8%
Enrolling By Invitation
3
0.5%
Not yet recruiting
13
2.0%
Recruiting
63
9.8%
Suspended
5
0.8%
Terminated
84
13.0%
Unknown
3
0.5%
Withdrawn
52
8.1%
No approval data available
- Virginia Commonwealth University researchers discovered that repurposing an existing FDA-approved metabolic drug can kill cancer cells by depriving them of a vital fat molecule essential for survival. - Without this fat molecule, the cancer cell's "cleanup center" malfunctions, causing a toxic buildup that ultimately kills the tumor from within. - Because the drug is already FDA-approved, this approach could significantly expedite future human clinical trials by bypassing lengthy approval processes. - The research aligns with the FDA's recent fast track designations for drugs targeting ovarian, pancreatic, and bladder cancers, offering a potential new avenue for treatment-resistant tumors.
- Researchers identified TRNAU1AP as a key protein driving glioblastoma stem cell survival, with elevated levels correlating to worse patient outcomes. - TRNAU1AP forms intracellular clusters that promote selenoprotein synthesis, protecting cancer stem cells from oxidative damage and therapy resistance. - The m6A reader protein IGF2BP3 stabilizes TRNAU1AP mRNA, and blocking the IGF2BP3-TRNAU1AP axis may render glioblastoma cells more vulnerable to treatment. - Lead investigator Suyun Huang aims to develop blood-brain barrier-penetrant small-molecule IGF2BP3 inhibitors as a potential therapeutic strategy.
- The VCU Quest Fund has awarded internal funding to a project investigating whether venetoclax can sensitize small cell lung cancer to tarlatamab, a DLL3-targeting bispecific T-cell engager. - The study is led by Anthony Faber, Ph.D., of the VCU School of Dentistry, as part of the 2026 Quest Fund awards supporting early-stage, high-potential research. - The project aims to explore a novel combination strategy that could enhance immunotherapy sensitivity in a difficult-to-treat malignancy with limited therapeutic options. - The Quest Fund provides critical institutional backing to help faculty generate preliminary data needed to compete for major national grants.
- Activation Capital announced a 10,535-square-foot expansion of its Bio+Tech Center in Richmond, Virginia, adding 13 new wet labs and a clean room to more than double current laboratory capacity. - The expansion, funded by federal grants, state support, and rental income, is expected to be completed by mid-2027 and will operate alongside upgraded coworking spaces and office pods. - The project aims to address persistent lab space backlogs and help early-stage life sciences companies preserve cash runway by providing pre-built, ready-to-use facilities. - VCU Vice President for Research P. Srirama Rao emphasized that laboratory incubators serve as an essential bridge between research breakthroughs and commercialized products that deliver societal impact.
- Virginia Tech, UVA, VCU, and Old Dominion University launched the Biomedical Research Diamond to accelerate translation of discoveries into patient care. - The partnership combines expertise in basic science, engineering, clinical research, pharmaceutical development, and manufacturing that no single institution possesses. - Researchers presented advances spanning neuroscience, cancer, rare diseases, cardiovascular health, immunology, artificial intelligence, and drug discovery. - Leaders emphasized the initiative aims to retain scientific talent in Virginia while strengthening national security and economic competitiveness.
- The Stravitz–Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health at VCU opened a $30 million Clinical Research Imaging Center featuring a rare Siemens Quadra PET/CT scanner, one of only about 20 in the U.S. - The center combines advanced imaging, radiochemistry labs, and clinical trial capabilities to accelerate translational research in liver disease, metabolic conditions, cancer, and inflammation. - Approximately 1 in 3 people worldwide has fatty liver disease, and more than 40 million Americans have diabetes, underscoring the urgent need for better therapies that the center aims to address. - Industry partner Antaros Medical plans to collaborate with the institute, with its CSO calling the center a "unique world class infrastructure" that will accelerate development of better therapies for patients.
- The Virginia General Assembly approved the 2027-29 state budget, including funding for VCU to acquire the 450,000-square-foot Altria Center for Research and Technology. - The Altria Center will provide modern research space critical for VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center to maintain its NCI comprehensive designation and launch life-saving clinical trials. - A new five-story, 312,000-square-foot School of Dentistry building will be constructed, expanding clinical learning environments and patient care capacity for Virginia's only dental school. - The investments are expected to accelerate health sciences research, attract top talent, and strengthen Virginia's healthcare workforce and pharmaceutical innovation economy.
- Egyptian physician-scientists Shady Azzam and Nada Nassif relocated to Richmond to pursue Ph.D. programs at VCU School of Medicine through the Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Portal. - Azzam investigates a genetic target to inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma growth in the lab of Devanand Sarkar, driven by losing both parents to liver and gastric cancers. - Nassif studies chronic skin conditions including dermatitis and psoriasis using 3D-reconstructed skin barrier models in Brian Wattenberg's laboratory, motivated by her own atopic dermatitis. - The couple aims to combine their dual-doctoral training in both laboratory research and clinical practice to develop better treatments with global patient impact.
- Recent randomized controlled trials present conflicting evidence on left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) versus traditional biventricular pacing for cardiac resynchronization therapy, with operator experience emerging as a critical factor. - The LECART trial demonstrated superior outcomes with LBBAP, primarily driven by reduced device-related complications requiring surgical reintervention, while the LEFT-BUNDLE-CRT trial failed to establish noninferiority. - Extended follow-up data from multiple studies suggest that while conduction-system pacing shows promise, biventricular pacing remains the established first-line therapy with the strongest evidence base. - Expert consensus indicates the field is moving toward individualized CRT approaches based on anatomy, conduction patterns, and operator expertise rather than universal replacement of conventional therapy.
- Galmed Pharmaceuticals announced top-line results showing synergistic effects of Aramchol, Stivarga (regorafenib), and metformin in killing gastrointestinal tumor cells both in vivo and in vitro. - The three-drug combination demonstrates potential as a fixed-dose treatment that could enhance Bayer's top-selling cancer drug Stivarga, which generated €458 million in the first nine months of 2022. - Phase 1b clinical trials are planned to begin in early 2026 at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and cholangiocarcinoma. - The combination could serve as a life-cycle intellectual property strategy for regorafenib as its main patents expire in August 2028 in Europe and July 2032 in the U.S.
