Scott Ruark
Clinical Trials Specialist, Sr.
2311 Pierce Avenue
Nashville, TN 37232-8808
Phone: (615) 936-3465
Fax: (615) 936-0128
scott.ruark@vumc.org

Saige Wilkins
Clinical Trials Specialist
2311 Pierce Avenue
Nashville, TN 37232-8808
Phone: (615) 936-1474
Fax: (615) 936-0128

Currently Enrolling Clinical Trials

Novartis: Diabetic Macular Edema Study

Vanderbilt researchers are looking for patients with diabetic macular edema due to type 1 or 2 diabetes. This is a Phase III, randomized trial being conducted to find out if the drug brolucizumab is safe and has beneficial effects in people who have diabetic macular edema (DME). This is a progressive condition in the eye which, if left untreated, may cause you to lose the central vision in your eye(s) because the macula, which is the central part of your retina (the film in the back of your eye), is swollen. Patients will be randomized to either Brolucizumab or Eyelea for treatment throughout the study. Participants will be compensated for their time.

If you are interested in learning more about this study, please call Saige Wilkins at 615 936-1474 or send an email to saige.wilkins@vumc.org.

CLICK HERE to learn more.

 

Myopia Treatment Study

Vanderbilt researchers are looking for healthy, nearsighted (myopic) children between the ages of 5-12 to participate in a study. The study is being done to see if low-dose eye drops of a drug called atropine can help prevent myopia (nearsightedness) from getting worse. Participants will be randomized to either 0.01% atropine eye drops or placebo eye drops. Participants will use the study eye drop in each eye nightly for two years. Then, there will be 6-months of no eye drops.

Study visits start with an enrollment visit and a randomization visit. Then, participants will see their study doctor every 6 months for about 2.5 years. Each visit will be about 1 to 1.5 hours. Study visits are no-cost, and participants are compensated for their time. Glasses may also be provided by the study.

If you are interested in learning more about this study, please call Saige Wilkins at 615 936-1474 or send an email to saige.wilkins@vumc.org.

CLICK HERE to learn more.

 

Zoster Eye Disease Study (ZEDS): Important Study on Shingles of the Eye

The Zoster Eye Disease Study (ZEDS), supported by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health, aims to determine the best treatment to reduce the complications of herpes zoster ophthalmicus, also referred to as shingles of the eye. Our goals are to have a diverse group of study participants and to make the study as accessible as possible across the United States and Canada. Your participation in this research study will enable us to find the best treatment for zoster/shingles of the eye.

The purpose of this research study is to determine whether a low-dose of antiviral treatment taken by mouth for one year reduces complications of the varicella zoster virus, including eye disease and chronic pain. This treatment is effective and widely used in a similar eye disease caused by a related virus. The antiviral medication has been approved for many years for the short-term treatment of acute zoster/shingles and other viral infections, and has an excellent safety record. The study is designed to obtain the highest quality evidence to determine optimal care for future patients.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with eye disease caused by zoster/shingles, you can learn more about ZEDS by calling Scott Ruark at 615-936-1639 or you can call the ZEDS Coordinating Center at NYU Langone Health at 1-844-NYU-ZEDS (1-844-698-9337). You can also learn more on the ZEDS website or on clinicaltrials.gov.

CTX Prevalence Study

Do you or your child have cataracts in both eyes?

If so, you might be interested in a voluntary research study of people who have cataracts in both eyes at a young age.

This study involves no medication.

You or your child may be eligible to participate if:

• You have cataracts in both eyes
• You have no known cause for your cataracts
• You were between the ages of 2 and 21 at the time the cataracts were diagnosed

Pediatric Optic Neuritis Prospective Outcomes Study (PON1)

For information on the PON1 study please contact:

Scott Ruark (615) 936-1639