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| Modifying Lethal Injection is Tantamount to Unlawful Experimentation on Prisoners, Say Miller School Researchers
Following up on their significant body of work that determined that some inmates put to death by lethal injection likely suffered excruciating pain, Miller School researchers have now concluded that some states modifying lethal injection protocols and “testing” them on inmates is tantamount to performing human subjects research without consent or ethical safeguards. The position of the Miller School researchers -- Teresa Zimmers, Ph.D., research assistant professor of surgery, and Leonidas Koniaris, M.D., associate professor of surgery, along with colleagues -- was published today in an essay in PLoS Medicine. It comes nearly six weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the use of lethal injection in Kentucky in a case that challenged how the protocol is administered and the combination of chemicals used to kill condemned inmates. While the team’s previous research looked at the history, science and methodology behind the lethal injections (they concluded that some inmates feel pain while being executed--possibly cruel and unusual punishment violating the Eighth Amendment), the current essay argues that in making changes to the lethal injection protocol, at least 10 states may be essentially experimenting on unwilling subjects. “The collective practice of lethal injection has employed invasive testing of different drug protocols and devices, data collection and monitoring, and systematic review with outcome data being used to revise practice,” said Zimmers. The methods and modifications employed, the researchers say, appear to resemble human subjects research and therefore must also comply with the accepted governance of such research. Although condemned inmates are stripped of the rights to freedom and life, they retain the right to bodily integrity. Zimmers and colleagues analyzed execution records obtained in litigation and Freedom of Information Act requests. (They note that execution records were not available from Texas and Virginia, two states that together have performed more than half of all executions by lethal injection.) While the researchers did not find the impetus for changes in concoction and methodology in some cases, they discovered that in Florida, the dose of thiopental was increased, and in North Carolina, the drug injection sequence was rearranged based on judicial orders, expert testimony, or recommendations from special panels. Thirty-six states have the death penalty and lethal injections are used in 35 of them. Commonly, in those states, when an inmate is put to death with lethal injection, three drugs are used: sodium thiopental for anesthesia, pancuronium bromide to induce paralysis and respiratory arrest, and potassium chloride to stop the heart. In the previous PLoS Medicine study (April 2007) Zimmers stated the drug combination has no clinical precedence and was not tested on lab animals before prison use, and that the varying results on inmates, including prolonged executions, indicate that the protocol may be inadequate to produce anesthesia for the duration of the execution. Though arguments for and against lethal injection have been expressed for many years, notwithstanding the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the ethics of biomedical research become important when apparent scientific tests are being done on humans. Especially in this case, the researchers argue, such experiments need to be monitored because human subjects standards developed under the Nuremberg Code, the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki, the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences, and the Belmont Report, ‘were developed at least partially in response to experimentation on prisoner populations.’ In the United States, the authors note federally funded experiments are regulated by the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects – known as the Common Rule – but organizations conducting experiments not backed by federal funds have also adopted the guidelines, including informed consent from participants. Moreover, many states, including some engaged in lethal injection modifications, prohibit all non-therapeutic research on prisoners. In the essay, Zimmers and the other authors say that given the vulnerable nature of the inmate population, “the ethical framework for the modification of lethal injection protocols should be made clear prior to further investigation into how to ‘improve the process.’” In addition to Zimmers and Koniaris, the research team included two others from the Miller School, Kenneth W. Goodman, Ph.D., co-director of the UM Ethics Programs and director of the Bioethics Program, and Uzoezi Ozomaro, a student in the M.D./Ph.D. program; along with Jeremy Sugarman, M.D., M.P.H., the Harvey M. Meyerhoff Professor of Bioethics and Medicine, and deputy director for medicine of the Berman Institute of Bioethics at Johns Hopkins University; and Jonathan Sheldon, a lawyer in Arlington, Va. | |
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The Miller School and UM School of Business Administration Launch M.D./M.B.A. Dual Degree Program
With the launch of its M.D./M.B.A. program, the Miller School has joined the ranks of several top-tier medical schools that offer dual medical and master’s of business administration degree programs designed to equip future physicians with the financial, planning, management, marketing and other business skills that are increasingly necessary as the delivery of health care becomes more complex. The dual program beginning this fall, along with existing offerings such as the M.D./M.P.H. and M.D./Ph.D. programs, allows the Miller School to attract the growing number students who want to learn excellent clinical and research skills and at the same time increase their specialized knowledge in other subject areas. It will take five years to complete both degrees. For more information, click here.
UHealth Cardiovascular Experts Help Bring New Techniques to the International Medical Community
As part of its growing partnerships with international medical institutions to help bring the most innovative health care to Latin America, the University of Miami International Medicine Institute has been making major strides with heart health technology in Colombia. Miller School cardiovascular experts recently assisted and consulted in a new percutaneous aortic valve program at Angiografía de Occidente in Cali, in which eight patients were successfully treated for severe non-surgical aortic stenosis. Aortic stenosis is a thickening and blockage of the main valve of the heart that leads to shortness of breath, chest pain, heart failure and death, if left untreated, and is usually remedied through open-heart surgery. The Cali patients were given the percutaneous valve replacement – a new alternative to open-heart surgery – in which the stenotic aortic valve is replaced using catheters. During the minimally invasive procedure the patients are sedated but remain conscious. The results of these groundbreaking techniques were reviewed at the sixth annual Miami International Revascularization Summit (MIRS), April 10-12, at the Alexander Oceanfront Resort in Miami Beach. The MIRS conference was presented via live Webcast to schools, hospitals and clinics worldwide. William O’Neill, M.D., executive dean for clinical affairs for the Miller School and chief medical officer of UHealth, is one of the pioneers of percutaneous aortic valve surgery. In April, Dr. O’Neill, along with Alan W. Heldman, M.D., clinical chief of the Miller School’s Cardiovascular Division, conducted separate percutaneous valve trials at UM Hospital where the Edwards SAPIEN® aortic valve was used to treat two patients.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hosts Resident Research Day
Recent Humana Mailing Error
Humana recently attempted to mail a letter to some members notifying them about reproccessing a 2008 medical claim. Unfortunately, the letter was incomplete. If you received a letter from Humana that did not include text explaining its purpose, please disregard it. The letter should have explained that a 2008 medical claim had been reprocessed on your behalf. The correct version of the letter was mailed by Humana. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this letter, please contact Benefits Administration by completing the online form at www.miami.edu/benefits/ask.
2007 Health Care Flexible Spending Account Reimbursement Claim Forms Due
Participants enrolled in a 2007 health care flexible spending account must submit claim forms by this Sunday, June 15, for claims incurred between January 1, 2007, and March 15, 2008. Please fax the claim reimbursement form to 1-877-369-5616. You may only fax one claim form and its documentation per transmission. To download the Humana flexible spending account claim reimbursement form go to www.miami.edu/benefits/forms. For more information about flexible spending accounts, e-mail Laurie Starling at lstarling@miami.edu. For reimbursement claims questions, contact Humana customer service at 1-800-604-6228. You Need an Extra $1,500 -- UM Needs Nurses There is incredible competition for talent in South Florida, particularly in certain health care positions where the demand far exceeds the supply. To encourage UM faculty and staff to help recruit new health care employees, the University is pleased to announce an enhanced employee referral program. UM faculty and staff at all campuses are now eligible to receive a $1,500 bonus if they refer someone who is hired into a designated nursing or other difficult-to-fill health care position. The bonus is paid in two installments. The first $750, minus taxes and required withholdings, is paid in the regular paycheck following the referred new hire’s date of hire; the remaining $750, minus taxes and withholdings, is paid in the regular paycheck after the referred new hire successfully completes six months on the job. For the bonus to be paid, the applicant must list the referring faculty or staff member in their online employment application. This program is initially being offered for RNs, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, cardiac catheter technicians or technicians hired at one of our three hospitals (University of Miami Hospital, UMHC/Sylvester or Bascom Palmer/Anne Bates Leach). Please visit the Web site www.careers.med.miami.edu for more details and job postings. New Interdisciplinary Award Program Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., and Richard Bookman, Ph.D., executive dean for research and research training and vice provost for research, are pleased to announce the Interdisciplinary Research Development Initiative (IRDI), a new internal award program to develop interdisciplinary research at the Miller School. All full-time UM faculty members are eligible for IRDI funds as long as at least one faculty member on each application holds a primary faculty appointment at the Miller School. Please submit your proposals to Muriel Industrious at mindustrious@med.miami.edu no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, July 28. For complete program details and application instructions, please visit http://www.miami.edu/research. If you have questions, please contact Muriel Industrious at mindustrious@med.miami.edu or Jennifer McCafferty-Cepero, Ph.D., at jmccafferty@med.miami.edu. For Results You Can See, Visit Bascom Palmer's Aesthetic Center Bascom Palmer’s Aesthetic Center features non-surgical cosmetic enhancements including Botox, Restylane, dermal fillers, and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) for the treatment of wrinkles, age spots, sun damage and permanent hair removal. All UM employees receive a 20 percent discount. Questions about Compliance? UM Helplines Can Assist You
Any University of Miami employee reporting or deciding whether to report activity that may be in violation of a law, rule, or regulation is protected against retaliation by the Whistleblower Protection Statement. For more information, visit the Office of Compliance site. e-Update Submission Guidelines
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Pediatrics Grand Rounds: "The Physician as a Witness in Court"
June 10, 2008, 8 a.m., Mailman Center for Child Development, eighth-floor auditorium The Department of Pediatrics presents its Grand Rounds, "The Physician as a Witness in Court," today (Tuesday) from 8 to 9 a.m. in the Mailman Center for Child Development, eighth-floor auditorium. Walter Lambert, M.D., associate professor of clinical pediatrics and medical director of the Child Protection Team, will make the presentation. Cardiovascular Division Seminar: "Upcoming Challenges: From Molecular Imaging to Promotion of Cardiovascular Health" June 10, 2008, Noon, Lois Pope LIFE Center, seventh-floor auditorium The Department of Medicine's Cardiovascular Division will host Valentin Fuster, M.D., Ph.D., director of Mount Sinai Heart, the Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute, and Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Center for Cardiovascular Health at Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, for a special seminar. Dr. Fuster will present "Upcoming Challenges: From Molecular Imaging to Promotion of Cardiovascular Health" today (Tuesday) from noon to 1 p.m. at the Lois Pope LIFE Center, seventh-floor auditorium. Jay Weiss Center for Social Medicine and Health Equity Grand Rounds June 10, 2008, Noon, Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, third-floor auditorium The Jay Weiss Center for Social Medicine and Health Equity will host Judge Steve Leifman, special advisor on criminal justice and mental health for the Supreme Court of Florida, for Grand Rounds. Judge Leifman will present “Transforming Florida’s Mental Health System,” today (Tuesday) at noon in the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, third-floor auditorium. Lunch will be provided. For more information, e-mail Katie Houghton at Khoughton@med.miami.edu or visit www.jayweisscenter.org. Book Launch and Signing with Dr. Mark Brown June 10, 2008, 7 p.m., Books and Books, 296 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables Mark Brown, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chairman emeritus of orthopaedics, will launch his new book, Conquer Back and Neck Pain: Walk It Off!, today (Tuesday) at Books and Books, 296 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables. Based on his 35 years of experience as a spine specialist at the Miller School, the book details Dr. Brown’s proven solutions for relief without pills or surgery. The book launch will begin at 7 p.m. with a reception, followed by a book-signing at 8 p.m. For more information, call Books and Books at 305-444-9044. Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics Conference June 11, 2008, 7:30 a.m., Highland Professional Building, suite 470 The Departments of Family Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology are pleased to present Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) tomorrow (Wednesday) and this Thursday. The program is designed to enhance the cognitive and procedural skills of health care professionals while managing obstetrical emergencies. It will also provide a structured, evidence-based approach to the most common obstetric emergencies using an adult-learning model.
Department of Pathology Grand Rounds: "Hepatic Encephalopathy: History and Mechanisms"
June 12, 2008, Noon, Holtz Children's Hospital, conference room 2034 The Department of Pathology will present Grand Rounds, "Hepatic Encephalopathy: History and Mechanisms," this Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. at Holtz Children's Hospital, conference room 2034. Michael D. Norenberg, M.D., professor of pathology and biochemistry and molecular biology, will give the lecture. For more information, please contact Winnie Tang at 305-585-7017 or wtang@med.miami.edu.
Friday Noon Lecture Series: “The Educational Needs of Children with Sickle Cell Disease" and “Child Protection and Domestic Violence”
June 13, 2008, Noon, Mailman Center for Child Development, room 3023 Please join us this Friday from noon to 1 p.m. at the Mailman Center for Child Development, room 3023 for the Friday Noon Lecture Series/LEND Advocacy Talk. Clinical psychology interns Sakina Butt and Melissa Merrick will present lectures. Ms. Butt’s discussion "The Educational Needs of Children with Sickle Cell Sisease," will outline how adults can advocate for their children’s needs within the educational system. Ms. Merrick will present "Child Protection and Domestic Violence." Lunch will be served on a first-come, first-served basis. For additional information, call 305-243-4466 or e-mail Wanda Castro at wcastro@med.miami.edu.
Developmental Center for AIDS Research Laboratory Core Research Seminar
June 17, 2008, Noon, Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, room 3109 The Laboratory Core for the Developmental Center for AIDS Research will present its monthly research seminar on Tuesday, June 17, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, room 3109. Eckhard Podack, M.D., Ph.D., chairman and professor of microbiology and immunology, will present “Cell-based gp96 Vaccines for SIV and HIV.”
InfoEd Proposal Development System Hands-On Workshop
June 17, 2008, 1 p.m., Louis Calder Memorial Library, electronic classroom Patricia Atkinson, electronic research administration project manager, will present an InfoEd Proposal Development System Hands-On Workshop on Tuesday, June 17, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Louis Calder Memorial Library, electronic classroom. At the workshop, you will learn how to use the InfoEd Proposal Development System to prepare and submit proposals electronically to the NIH. InfoEd streamlines the process, is Web-based and accessible almost anywhere by Mac and PC users without additional software. An additional session, presented by Maria Valero-Martinez, will be held on Wednesday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Louis Calder Memorial Library, electronic classroom. Please note that you may only attend one session. Register through Ulearn at http://Ulearn.miami.edu. For more information, please contact Sofia Aymerich at saymerich@med.miami.edu.
Sponsored Programs Roundtable Series: "The Compliance Audit Process – What to Expect"
June 19, 2008, Noon, Batchelor Children's Research Institute, Baxter Conference Room Lynn E. Smith, director of the Office of Research Compliance Assessment, and Johanna Stamates, compliance officer, will present the next Sponsored Programs Roundtable Series, "The Compliance Audit Process -- What to Expect," on Thursday, June 19, at noon in the Batchelor Children's Research Institute, Baxter Conference Room. The seminar will provide a description of the types of audits conducted, the audit process and how to prepare for an audit. Participants will also learn about the most common findings, what information is reviewed and how the auditor assigns significance to the findings. Please register online at http://Ulearn.miami.edu. For more information, please contact Sofia Aymerich at saymerich@med.miami.edu.
Department of Medicine Research Conference: "Molecular Regulations of the Kidney Filtration Barrier"
June 23, 2008, Noon, Medical Training and Simulation Laboratory, conference room Join us on Monday, June 23, for a Department of Medicine Research Conference with Jochen Reiser, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension. Dr. Reiser will present “Molecular Regulations of the Kidney Filtration Barrier” at noon at the Medical Training and Simulation Laboratory, conference room. Lunch will be provided.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Grand Rounds: "Measurement of Pain in Clinical Research"
June 25, 2008, 7:30 a.m., Louis and Virginia Bantle Rehabilitation Research Center, third-floor auditorium The Department of Rehabilitation Medicine will host Grand Rounds on Wednesday, June 25, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Louis and Virginia Bantle Rehabilitation Research Center, third-floor auditorium. Elizabeth Felix, Ph.D., research assistant professor of rehabilitation medicine, will present "Measurement of Pain in Clinical Research."
Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute Seminar: “Hsp20 and MicroRNAs320: Novel Regulators of Cardio Protection”
June 25, 2008, Noon, Clinical Research Building, conference room 1179 Join us for a seminar by Guochang Fan, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacology and cell biophysics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, on Wednesday, June 25, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Clinical Research Building, conference room 1179. Dr. Fan will present “Hsp20 and MicroRNAs320: Novel Regulators of Cardio Protection.” For more information, contact Grisel Bisbal at 305-243-7999 or gbisbal@med.miami.edu. Second Annual Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute Symposium June 27, 2008, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m., University of Miami Hospital, seminar center The Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute will hold its second annual symposium on Friday, June 27, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at University of Miami Hospital, seminar center. The symposium will bring leading experts together to discuss novel data on the latest cutting-edge advancements in the field of stem cell research. Breakfast and lunch will be served, and refreshments will be provided during closing remarks. Evangelos Badiavas, M.D., Ph.D.—“Bone Marrow Cells in Wound Healing” | |
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Mild to Moderate Rosacea Jennifer Marks, M.D., is currently recruiting patients ages 18 or older, who are obese with impaired glucose tolerance and have hypertension, for participation in a study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an angiotensin receptor blocker for protection against endothelial dysfunction. Patients must be non-smokers who are otherwise in good health. Those who are interested should contact Dr. Jorge Mejia-Galvis at 305-243-6573. Sleep Maintenance Insomnia The Division of Geriatrics is recruiting men and women age 65 and older to take part in a study of vitamin D in the prevention of frailty. Participants are asked to come for six visits over six months for blood and urine tests. If you or someone you know are interested, please call Silvina Levis, M.D., at 305-243-4330. Study to Compare the Methods of Collecting Urine Samples for the Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infections Urinary Tract Infection Antibiotic Treatment Study Pregnant Women Needed for Urinary Tract Infection Study Melasma Study Keloid scars Leslie Baumann, M.D., professor and director of the Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute, is recruiting for studies on photoaging, fine lines, wrinkles, crow's feet, sun damage, brown spots, uneven pigmentation, acne, keloids, scars and loose skin on the abdomen or upper arms. If you are interested in any of these studies, please call our research team at 305-531-5788 or visit the Web site at www.derm.net. Studies will take place at the Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute located in the Miami Heart Institute, 4701 N. Meridian Avenue, Nichol Building, Suite 7450, Miami Beach. The Center for Liver Diseases is looking for volunteers with liver (hepatic) disease who are 18 years or older to test the safety of a new drug. For more information, please call Carlos Quintero at 305-243-2854. The Center for Liver Diseases is also conducting a research study on patients with hepatitis C viral infection (HCV). Patients must be at least 18 years of age with resistance to prior treatment. Qualified patients will receive treatment without cost. If you or someone you know is interested in participating in this study, please call Carlos Quintero at 305-243-2854. The Islet Cell Transplant Center at the Diabetes Research Institute is recruiting subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus to participate in research studies that involve transplantation of islets, the insulin producing cells of the pancreas. For more information and eligibility criteria, call the department at 305-243-5321 or view the clinical trials section of the Web site www.diabetesresearch.org. The Department of Psychology and the UM/SCCC Division of Biobehavioral Oncology and Cancer Epidemiology are conducting an NCI-funded quality of life research study with patients recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Participants are eligible if they have been diagnosed with prostate cancer within 3 months and have not begun treatment. All participants will be followed for two years and will undergo psychosocial and medical assessments. Participants will be reimbursed up to $250 for their time and effort. If you or someone you know may be interested in more information about this study, please contact Natalie Escobio at 305-243-3329 or nescobio@med.miami.edu. The Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine is seeking patients with COPD for phase III protocol that will determine whether a once-a-day dose of an investigational medication, bronchodilator, will effectively improve breathing for 24 hours. You will be paid for your time and effort. For more information, please call 305-243-2568 or e-mail Eliana Mendes at emendes@med.miami.edu. Robert M. Jackson, M.D., from the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, is seeking idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients for an ongoing phase II clinical trial of vasodilator therapy (sildenafil). The objectives will be to assess possible therapeutic benefits of a vasodilator, sildenafil, on exercise tolerance and dyspnea in IPF patients and to observe changes in post-exercise markers of oxidant stress. The investigators seek patients with mild to moderate IPF and who have been diagnosed clinically. The study is open to at least ten additional patients. For more information, please contact Robert M. Jackson, M.D. or IPF program coordinator Carol Ramos at 305-575-3548 or by e-mail at rjackson2@med.miami.edu. This trial is funded by the Veterans Administration Research Service and is open to non-veterans of both genders. More information can be found at http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00359736?order=2. The Department of Psychology and the Division of Biobehavioral Oncology, Prevention, Epidemiology and Control at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center are conducting an NIH-funded intervention study to examine the effects of stress management on health and quality of life in women recently diagnosed with breast cancer (stages 0-III). Participants must have recently had surgery for breast cancer, have not yet begun chemotherapy or radiation treatment, and have fluency in English. Eligible women will participate in weekly group sessions over a period of five weeks and be compensated for completing three assessments (questionnaire packet, saliva collection, and blood draw). If you are interested in participating or would like further information about this study, please contact the study coordinator, Janny Rodriguez, at 305-284-2220 or jannyr@miami.edu. Jay Skyler, M.D., and Jennifer Marks, M.D., from the Diabetes Research Institute, are currently recruiting patients 18 years of age and older with type 1 diabetes mellitus for participation in research studies to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of inhaled insulin. Patients must be taking multiple insulin injections daily, be non-smokers and in good health. Those who are interested should contact Rogelio Suarez at 305-243-6573 or rsuarez2@med.miami.edu. Jennifer Marks, M.D., is currently recruiting patients ages 18 through 40 with type 1 diabetes mellitus with a recent diagnosis for participation in a research study to test the safety and effectiveness of an investigational medication. Patients must be taking multiple insulin injections daily and in good health. Those who are interested should contact Rogelio Suarez at 305-243-6573 or rsuarez2@med.miami.edu. Robert Kirsner, M.D., Ph.D., vice chairman of the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, is looking for people with foot ulcers as a complication of diabetes or venous insufficiency. Please contact Carol Kittles at 305-243-8485 for additional information on these studies. The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is conducting a federally funded HIV behavioral intervention research study for women and their partners, the New Opportunities for Women 2 (NOW 2) Project. The project will address topics related to safer sex, sexual risk reduction, STDs and communication skills. The NOW 2 Project is currently recruiting English-speaking couples, in which one or both individuals must be HIV positive. Participants must be 18 years or older, willing to be tested for STDs, and answer personal questions in a confidential interview. Women and men who participate may each receive compensation of up to $360 for an entire year of participation (this includes attendance at all interviews, examinations and sessions). If interested, please contact Arnetta Phillips or Jackie Gomez, at 305-243-2103, or (aphillips@yahoo.com / jgomez4@med.miami.edu). Do you or someone you know experience pain related to spinal cord injury? Eva Widerström-Noga, Ph.D., and her colleagues are conducting research into the nature and treatment of pain associated with spinal cord injury. Studies are enrolling now. Eligible participants will be 18 to 70 years of age and at least two years post-injury. If you are interested in enrolling, please call The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at 305-243-8132 for information. The Department of Psychology is recruiting participants for the following studies: • A family factors and autism study Researchers at the MRI Center need healthy subjects for a magnetic resonance imaging study. For more information, please visit http://midas.med.miami.edu/Research/MRStudies.htm. The Department of Psychology and the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control is conducting a quality of life research intervention with advanced prostate cancer patients. Participants should have Stage III or IV prostate cancer and have recently or currently been treated with hormone therapy. Eligible participants will take part in a ten-week cognitive behavioral stress and affect management program or a health promotions program. Three psychosocial/medical assessments are also required. If you are interested in this study or would like more information, please contact Frank Penedo, Ph.D., at 305-243-3329, or fpenedo@miami.edu. Daniel Santisteban, Ph.D., of the Center for Family Studies in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, is currently conducting a research program that would provide adolescents and/or their family treatment for free. Participants must be 14 to 17 years old, have a parent or legal guardian willing to participate, meet DSM criteria for both substance abuse disorder and borderline personality disorder, and be willing to participate in four separate, paid evaluations. If interested, please contact Maite Mena, Psy.D., at 305-243-3658, or mmena@med.miami.edu for details. The Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement is conducting research with family caregivers of dementia patients who speak English and are 50 years of age or older. If you are not a caregiver but are interested in participating, you may be able to help as well. Participants will receive basic training on how to use the Internet and will be asked to look for information about care-giving and dementia. If you are interested in being a part of this research study, please call 305-355-9200. You will be paid for your time and effort. The AIDS Clinical Research Unit, directed by Margaret Fischl, M.D., is recruiting participants for the following studies: • An investigational polyclonal caprine IgG, HRG214, for HIV patients not responding to antiretroviral therapy. HRG214 contains antibodies that targets HIV infected CD4 cells and specific regions on HIV. Laboratory/animal studies suggest these antibodies are capable of killing or disabling HIV and preventing further infection. Participants must have HIV RNA < 5000 copies/ml and CD4 cells < 200 cells/cmm. The study will evaluate 3 increasing dose of HRG214 in part I and compare HRG214 to optimized antiretroviral therapy in part II. HFG214 is given IV over about 30 minutes three times a week for up to 26 weeks. $100 provided each completed week of HRG214 treatment and $25 each completed week of observation • A phase II study of investigation use of recombination human keratinocyte growth factor (rHuKGF, palifermin) for patients with incomplete immune recovery on HAART. rHuKGF may enhance thymus production of lymphocytes and increase CD4 cell counts. Participants must be 18 years and older, receiving antiretroviral therapy for at least 6 months with HIV RNA <200 and CD4 cell count <200 cells. The study will evaluate 3 doses (20, 40 60 mcg/kg) of rHuKGF compared to placebo. rHuKGF given IV bolus daily for 3 days. Follow up study visits at weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 with thymus CT scans at entry and week 12. • A phase II of an investigational glycosylated recombinant human IL-7 (CYT017, a cytokine that aids T-cell development and improves T-cell survival). Participants must be 18 years of age, receiving HAART for at least 12 months and have an HIV-1 RNA level < 1,000 copies/ml and CD4 cell count of 101 - 400 cells/ccm. The study will evaluate three increasing doses (10, 20, 30 Fg/kg) of IL-7 given by SQ injection once a week for 3 weeks. Up to $275 in food certificates provided. For more information on studies conducted by the AIDS Clinical Research Unit, contact Juan at 305-243-3838 or Leslie at L.Thompson@miami.edu. Bruce Rubin, M.D., is currently performing a study on trigeminal neuralgia (TN) treatment with subcutaneous injections of BOTOX® to evaluate the effectiveness of treating facial pain associated with TN. Patients must have a diagnosis of TN for more than three months and be at least 18 years of age. | |
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology hosted its fifth annual Resident Research Day showcasing the research of fourth-year residents and the work of gynecologic oncology fellows on Thursday, May 29, at the Gordon Center for Research in Medical Education, Broad-Bussel Auditorium.
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