Clinical trials

The purpose of this study is to identify gene changes that cause DCM and gene differences that influence the development and severity of DCM. These genetic studies may identify a change in a gene that has already been linked with DCM, a change in a gene not previously associated with DCM, or these studies may identify a gene or genes that affect the development and severity of the DCM. With this knowledge we hope to have a better understanding of how genes and gene changes cause DCM.

This research study is designed to better understand the molecular determinants of response to immunotherapies including pembrolizumab and nivolumab. We hope to learn the relevance of tumor neoantigens in the recognition of cancer cells by the immune system. The ultimate goal is to rank and filter these neoantigens and correlate with response to immunotherapies.

Mitral valvular disease, and specifically mitral valve regurgitation is the most common valve disease in the US. Currently mitral valve surgery (open heart surgery), either with repair or replacement, is the standard of care for patients with symptomatic mitral valve disease. Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is an emerging therapy that could offer patient a less invasive alternative to open heart surgery. The goal of the APOLLO trial is to evaluate whether TMVR is non-inferior to conventional mitral surgery with respect to composite endpoint rate of all-cause mortality, all stroke, reoperation (or reintervention) and cardiovascular hospitalization at one year in patients with severe symptomatic native mitral regurgitation. The secondary objectives of this trial are to assess differences in quality of life, clinical benefit (efficacy endpoints) and health economics in patients with severe symptomatic native mitral regurgitation.

The field of Cardiology has made tremendous strides to reduce cardiovascular (CV) disease over the past several decades through reduction of risk factors and novel medical treatment to manage disease once present. However, much work is still needed to combat CVD. At the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute we are collecting biological samples from patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for genomic, biochemical, molecular and cellular analyses. It is hoped that future analyses on these samples will help us learn what factors predispose patients to develop cardiovascular disease, cause progression of symptoms and/or predict response to various therapies. Our ultimate goal is to be able to predict long-term clinical outcomes in patients who are living with cardiovascular disease to further reduce the incidence, morbidity and mortality rates of CVD.

Clostridium difficile infection is an intestinal infection that can be life threatening. The incidence is increasing in children, and there is resistance to standard treatment with rising rates of recurrence. In resistant and recurrent cases, manipulation of the microbiome by FMT is an effective treatment. We are examining the intestinal microbiome in children before and after FMT to gain and better understanding of why this treatment is effective and also to improve FMT treatment in the future.

The study is designed to assess the elasticity of pelvic floor muscles in women with varying degree of pelvic organ prolapse.