Clinical Trials

  • Changes in Brain Biomarkers After Bariatric Surgery or Low-Calorie Diet (ages 18-65)

    Principal Investigator:

    Sharon L Wardlaw, MD
    The goal of this project is to understand why bariatric surgery is such an effective treatment for obesity with a focus on brain mechanisms. Cerebrospinal fluid neuropeptides, hormones, and protein levels will be measured in subjects before and after bariatric surgery as compared with subjects before and after diet-induced weight loss. Participants in the diet arm will follow a low-calorie liquid diet (Optifast) for approximately 12 weeks. They will have two lumbar punctures (spinal taps) and liquid test meal challenges, as well as weekly nutritionist counseling. These participants will...

  • Metabolism Study

    Principal Investigator:

    Judy Korner, MD
    The purpose of these studies is to gain an understanding of the mechanisms that promote weight loss and improved glucose control. The ultimate goal is to identify therapeutic pathways for obesity and diabetes as a way to optimize surgical procedures and discover novel non-surgical targets for safe and effective drug therapy. Participants with obesity will undergo weight loss by a low-calorie diet for 12 weeks or bariatric surgery. Treatment is not randomized but includes individuals who volunteer for the diet or those who are scheduled to undergo surgery. There will also be comparison with a...

  • POWERS - Understanding Body Changes After Weight Loss

    Principal Investigator:

    Rudolph L. Leibel, MD
    The Physiology of the Weight Reduced State (POWERS) is a national research study designed to discover and learn what happens to the human body after weight loss and to learn why some people regain their lost weight. Understanding why this happens could help health professionals improve strategies for successful weight loss maintenance after weight loss. POWERS is a research study with a goal to understand the changes in the body that occur after weight loss and learn how these changes affect the ability to keep the weight off. It involves universities, medical centers, researchers, and most...

  • Pregnancy and Lactation Associated Osteoporosis Study

    Principal Investigator:

    Adi Cohen, MD
    We are studying the causes of and potential treatments for pregnancy & lactation-associated osteoporosis (PLO). We know little about the clinical features, causes, and prognosis of PLO. Our goal is to define the clinical characteristics of PLO and better understand similarities/differences among the women. We are looking for women with fractures during/soon after pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

  • Time Restricted EATing (TREAT) to Improve Cardiometabolic Health

    Principal Investigator:

    Blandine Laferrère, MD, PhD
    This is a randomized trial that will examine the effect of self-monitoring food intake via a smartphone application, and of a novel lifestyle intervention called time-restricted eating, on improvement of metabolic health in persons with overweight or obesity. The intervention lasts 12 months and will be administered via a smartphone app. Participants will use the app to take pictures of all food and drinks, every day for 3 months, then 10 days a month for the following 9 months. Participation requires one screening visit (~1hr), and eight outpatient visits (~1-5hr) including an IV catheter in...

  • Weight Loss Study: Genetic Variations and Response to Naltrexone/Bupropion

    Principal Investigator:

    Judy Korner, MD
    The purpose of this study is to evaluate if genetic variations are associated with the amount of weight loss with diet and while taking an FDA-approved medication for weight loss. The participation lasts one year and includes seven in-person visits at CUIMC with blood sampling and questionnaires, virtual nutritional counseling, and taking an oral weight loss medication for 28 weeks.