Clinical Trials and Non-Federal Research

Why Participate?

Future medical discoveries are not possible without clinical research. And clinical research is not possible without volunteers. 

By taking part in research studies, you can try a potential new treatment that may (or may not) be better than standard treatments available. Your participation may also help people who may be suffering from the same disease or condition in the future. 

We have a critical need for volunteers for these studies.  Eighty-five percent of studies get started late and 40 percent never finish because of a shortage of volunteers.  Researchers are working hard to find new and better ways to treat diseases, but they need people like you to help contribute.

When you participate in a research study, you are helping to move research forward.  This means that cures and treatments are able to reach people more quickly.  You can help make history by participating in research. Working together, we can improve healthcare for years to come. Join us to improve the health of others.

Who Can Participate in a Clinical Study?

Clinical studies have standards outlining who can participate. These standards are called eligibility criteria and are listed in the protocol. Some research studies seek participants who have the illnesses or conditions that will be studied, other studies are looking for healthy participants, and some studies are limited to a predetermined group of people who are asked by researchers to enroll.

Eligibility. The factors that allow someone to participate in a clinical study are called inclusion criteria, and the factors that disqualify someone from participating are called exclusion criteria. They are based on characteristics such as age, gender, the type and stage of a disease, previous treatment history, and other medical conditions.

Current, active IRB approved, studies at University of Washington

• ADVISE - ADalimumab Vs. conventional ImmunoSupprEssion for cortisoid-sparing for uveitis (ADVISE) Trial

• OMAG Study – Non-invasive in vivo Optical imaging of Microstructural and Microvascular Tissues in the Eye

• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a current method of taking three dimensional images of the eye.  Recently our research laboratory has developed a way to also see blood vessels and blood flow in the eye non-invasively.  The purpose of this study is to see if this new way of seeing the eye tissues will help to diagnose eye diseases earlier than current methods.

• Macular Telangiectasia (MacTel) and The Natural History Observation Registry (NHOR)

MacTel is an age related eye disorder that causes gradual deterioration of central vision. It is a disease of the retina, the light sensing tissue at the back of the eye. The worldwide MacTel Project aims to improve the clinical understanding of MacTel, raise awareness of the disease, and identify causes and appropriate treatments. 

The Natural History Observation Registry (NHOR) is a world-wide registry of individuals with Macular Telangiectasia type 2, and their family members. Enrollment in the registry involves an initial clinic visit with a comprehensive eye exam, and blood is drawn for MacTel research. By enrolling in the registry, individuals are helping to advance MacTel research.

• HUMBOLDT STUDY - Clinical Research Study Evaluating an Investigational Drug in Participants with Active Noninfectious Uveitis

This study is about evaluating an oral investigational drug in subjects with noninfectious uveitis. Having a better understanding on how this investigational drug blocks specific pathways may be important to the type of eye inflammation that leads to uveitis.  This study will examine whether this investigational drug can potentially control this inflammation over time so flares of uveitis are avoided. This will happen as a standard steroid therapy is slowly discontinued. For additional information please visit clinicaltrials.gov.

• Centers for Disease Control and National Opinion Research Council Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System Study

The CDC’s Vision Health Initiative and the National Opinion Research Council at the University of Chicago are working together to develop a national survey program to measure the state of vision health in the US population. Patients at the University of Washington Eye Clinic may be invited to participate in a study designed to evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed survey. Participation involves responding to a 10-minute phone survey about vision loss and related health. With patients’ permission, the researchers at the University of Washington will also collect information from insurance claims data and medical records to determine if the survey is capturing an accurate picture of their eye health. By enrolling in this study, patients will be helping to enable accurate collection of information about vision loss and eye health in the United States.

•  The GUARD trial - a multicenter, randomized, controlled, prospective, adaptive phase 3 clinical trial of repeated intravitreal injections of ADX-2191 versus standard-of-care for the prevention of proliferative virteoretinopathy
  
  

•  Local 5-fluorouracil injection for the treatment of chalazia: a prospective, comparative study

•   Ophthalmic examination and imaging in cognitive decline and dementia

•  OFAM – human eye flare photometry

•  A Phase 2, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Filgotinib in Subjects with Active Non-Infectious Uveitis

•  Evaluation of a low-cost, portable fundus camera in clinical settings

•  Smartphone assisted applanation device study

•  Relationship between the brain and eye vasculature

•  Non-invasive functional imaging of the retina

•  The ocular surface microbiome in endophthalmitis

•  Characterization of the ocular microbiome and pathogen discovery in presumed ocular infections

   

• DOVETAIL - A multi-center, non-randomized, open-label, multiple ascending dose study to investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of RO7200220 in monotherapy and in combination with ranibizumab following intravitreal administration in patients with diabetic or uvietic macular edema
  
  
• Microbiome as a Therapeutic Response Biomarker (MASTER)
  
  
• Fenofibrate for prevention of diabetic retinopathy worsening (DRCR study)
  
  
• Advanced eye testing of patients with retinal disease (EyeRET Study)
  
  
• Visual field 24-2c performance in glaucoma patients
  
  
• The effect of blue-blocking lenses on re-epithelization and photoallodynia after photorefractive keratectomy
  
  
• Eye exam in organ, systemic, and local diseases associated with the eye blood vessel changes
  
  
• The effect of blue-blocking lenses on re-epithelization and photoallodynia after photorefractive keratectomy