Clinical Research

Adolescent Brain Development - No History

Principal Investigator: Daniel O'Leary, PhD

Adolescents between the ages of 13-18 (who are still in jr. high or high school) with no family history of alcohol problems are invited to participate in a research study investigating brain development conducted at the Department of Psychiatry. 

Study will last 1-2 visits and involve filling out forms, saliva sample, cognitive testing and an MRI scan (no radiation).  Parents will be asked to fill out family history forms.  Additionally, both parents should have no more than a 4 year college degree.  Compensation available. 

For more information, call (319) 353-8520 or email brain-lab@uiowa.edu

Adolescent Brain Development - History

Principal Investigator:Daniel O'Leary, PhD

Adolescents between the ages of 13-18  (who are still in jr. high/high school) with at least 1 biological parent who has a history of alcohol treatment/addiction/problems related to use are invited to participate in a research study investigating brain development conducted at the Department of Psychiatry.  

Study will last 1-2 visits and involves filling out forms, saliva sample, cognitive testing and an MRI scan (no radiation).  Guardians will be asked to fill out family history forms.  Compensation available.  For more information, call (319) 353-8520 or email brain-lab@uiowa.edu

This study is being conducted by the University of Iowa Department of Psychiatry.

A Phase III Randomized Trial of Adding Vincristine-topotecan-cyclophosphamide to Standard Chemotherapy in Initial Treatment of Non-metastatic Ewing Sarcoma

Principal Investigator: Ayman El-Sheikh, MD

Participants are being asked to take part in this research study because they have been diagnosed with a type of tumor called Ewing sarcoma that is localized. Ewing sarcoma is a type of tumor that occurs in the bones or the soft tissues around the bones. A localized tumor is one that has not spread to any other places in the body.

It is common to enroll children and adolescents with cancer in a clinical trial that seeks to improve cancer treatment over time. Clinical trials include only people who choose to take part. Study participants have a choice between a standard treatment for Ewing sarcoma and this clinical trial.

Six hundred and thirty (630) people are expected to enroll on this study. Approximately nine people will take part in this study conducted by investigators at the University of Iowa.

Randomized Trial for Newly Diagnosed High Risk B-Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Principal Investigator:Ayman El-Sheikh, MD

AALL1131: A Phase III Randomized Trial for newly diagnosed high risk B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) testing clofarabine (IND 73789) in the very high risk stratum

Leukemia is cancer of blood cells. It develops in the bone marrow, which is the soft, spongy center of the bones that produces the three major blood cells: white blood cells to fight infection; red blood cells that carry oxygen; and platelets that help blood clot and stop bleeding. The term ‘risk’ refers to the chance of the cancer coming back after treatment

Your ALL may be classified as “High Risk” for several reasons:

• You are 10 years of age or older;
• You have a white blood cell count of over 50 000/microliter at diagnosis;
• You are a male and have leukemia in your testes;
• You have leukemia in the spinal fluid (the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord) or the brain; or
• You received treatment with steroid medications, such as prednisone or dexamethasone, in the month before you were diagnosed.

This study is organized by Children's Oncology Group (COG). The purpose of the study is to closely monitor patients, with the aim of reducing the number of unintended and unwanted results of treatment (serious side effects) and deaths among children and adolescents with DS HR-ALL.

Approximately 4 people will take part in this study conducted by investigators at the University of Iowa. The total number of people enrolled nationally on this study is expected to be 4450.

Study for Patients with Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS)

Principal Investigator: Ayman El-Sheikh, MD

ARST0921: A randomized phase II trial of bevacizumab (IND 7921, Avastin) and temsirolimus (IND61010, torisel) in combination with intravenous vinorelbine and cyclophosphamide in patients with recurrent/refractory rhabdomyosarcoma

Participants in this study have Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). Rhabdomyosarcoma occurs in soft tissues like the muscles and it can occur in many places in the body. This cancer is recurrent or refractory. Recurrent means that the cancer has come back after treatment. Refractory means that the cancer has not responded to treatment. The purpose of this study is to test 2 experimental drug combinations in the hope of finding a new therapy for fighting this particular cancer. The 2 drug combinations are:
1) vinorelbine and cyclophosphamide with bevacizumab
2) vinorelbine and cyclophosphamide with temsirolimus

Approximately 4 people will take part in this study conducted by investigators at the University of Iowa. The total number of people enrolled on this study nationwide is expected to be 100