Clinical Research Directory

Insights Into Microbiome and Environmental Contributions to Sickle Cell Disease and Leg Ulcers Study (INSIGHTS Study)

Background: \- People with sickle cell disease and other blood disorders sometimes get chronic leg ulcers. These are wounds that develop on the skin and don t go away. Current treatments do not work very well, so researchers want to learn more about why the ulcers happen. They want to find out which bacteria may cause it, and if external factors play a role. Objective: \- To study social and environmental factors of sickle cell disease and the causes of sickle cell disease leg ulcers. Eligibility: \- People age 18 and older who have sickle cell disease or another red cell disorder, with or without an active leg ulcer. Design: * Participants will have a medical history and clinical evaluation. They will also have blood drawn. * Participants will complete questionnaires about their life, health, environment, stress, and other topics. * Participants may provide a small sample of hair. * Participants will be asked to collect a small amount of saliva. * Participants with leg ulcers will have their skin microbiome sampled. The microbiome is all of the microbes (bacteria and and/or fungi) and their genes in and on the body. Researchers will use swabs to collect skin samples. Photographs will be taken of the skin sample area. * Some participants without leg ulcers also will have their skin microbiome sampled. * Some participants who have their skin microbiome sampled will return for a second visit. At this visit, their microbiome will be resampled. It will take place more than 30 days after the first visit.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Genomics & Science DOJO 3.0 Learning Method in Improving Research Skills and Scientific Writing Among Researchers in Indonesia

The goal of this study is to rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of the DOJO 3.0 learning methodology in enhancing research skills and scientific writing among researchers in Indonesia compared to non-DOJO learning method. The main questions it aims to answer are: How effective is the Dojo 3.0 methodology in improving participants' research skills and scientific writing, including critical thinking, data analysis ability, knowledge acquisition, and scientific manuscript quality and publication progress? How do participants' experiences, perceptions of the learning process and teaching quality, as well as their engagement, performance, and learning behaviors, differ between the intervention (DOJO) and control groups throughout the program? Researchers will compare two groups, control group and intervention group to see if there is a significant difference between these two groups. Standard learning method Non-DOJO (Control) DOJO learning method (Intervention) For the intervention group, participants will participate in Shinjitsu class, an interactive dynamic lecture with real time engagement, an offline minicamp session with lecture that is more intense, intentionally more provocative and dynamic, wounded healer, shinjitsu ninja obstacles, shinjitsu ninja run, sparring and Tournament.

Integrating Tumor Genomics and Urinary Exosomal Proteomics to Establish a Multi-Layer Biomarker Framework for Early Risk Stratification and Post-Treatment Surveillance in Fresh Thyroid Cancer Patients

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, and although differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) generally confers favorable outcomes, 10-20% of patients still face substantial postoperative risks, including local recurrence, distant metastasis, and inadequate response to radioactive iodine therapy. Current risk stratification, largely based on tumor size, lymph node involvement, and histopathology, fails to adequately represent tumor heterogeneity and evolutionary changes, potentially resulting in both overtreatment and undertreatment. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revealed a stepwise accumulation of genomic alterations from early driver mutations (e.g., BRAF, RAS, RET/PTC, PAX8-PPARG) to late-stage progression events (e.g., TERT promoter, TP53, PI3K/AKT/mTOR), while metastatic lesions often harbor high-risk mutations absent in primary tumors, underscoring the limitations of single-time-point tissue sampling. Furthermore, serum thyroglobulin (Tg) surveillance is hindered in patients with anti-Tg antibodies. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly those obtained from urine, provide a compelling liquid biopsy modality due to their non-invasiveness, repeatability, and reduced interference by abundant serum proteins. The investigators' previous findings demonstrate that urinary exosomal peptides-including U-Ex Tg, ANXA2, TIMP, and Angiopoietin-1-correlate with malignancy, capsular invasion, and nodal metastasis, and exhibit dynamic postoperative variation, suggesting their utility in detecting molecular residual disease. This prospective study will recruit 100 fresh thyroid cancer cases and integrate tumor genomic profiling, urinary exosomal proteomics via LC-MRM/MS, and clinical phenotype assessment-including nodal involvement, subsequent therapies, and long-term outcomes-to delineate causal links between genomic drivers, proteomic execution signals, and clinical progression. The overarching aim is to establish an early risk-stratification and molecular recurrence-alerting model capable of identifying high-risk trajectories earlier than conventional approaches, thereby enhancing surveillance precision and enabling timely intervention. This multi-layered biomarker framework holds strong potential to redefine postoperative monitoring standards and advance the clinical and policy implementation of precision medicine in thyroid cancer.

GenoDrugP 2025: Study on Three-dimensional Models Derived From Brain Tumors in Pediatric Patients

Central nervous system tumours are the most common solid tumours and the leading cause of cancer mortality in children, with high biological and prognostic heterogeneity. Despite advances in the 2021 WHO molecular classifications, treatment options remain limited and often ineffective in high-grade tumours. New third-generation sequencing technologies and three-dimensional models derived from patient tumours offer promising tools for more comprehensive genomic characterisation and preclinical evaluation of drug responses. However, the lack of integrated preclinical studies remains a limitation, necessitating coordinated projects to develop personalised therapeutic strategies. The study aims to investigate the genetic and biological characteristics of paediatric brain tumours. To this end, tumour tissue samples taken during planned surgery and peripheral blood samples will be analysed. Advanced genetic analyses will be performed on these materials to identify tumour alterations and the patient's genetic characteristics. In addition, experimental in vitro models derived from the tumour will be developed to evaluate the response to different chemotherapy drugs. The information obtained will be used to better understand the mechanisms of tumour growth and resistance and to promote the future development of more targeted and personalised therapies.

Metabolism Imaging-genomics for Predicting the Surgical Outcomes of Colorectal Cancer

In this study, the investigators constructed an imaging-metabolism prediction model for colorectal cancer by analysing the imaging and metabolomics features of colorectal cancer, in order to further adjust and guide the treatment plan.