Clinical trials

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to determine whether a virtual reality (VR) training program can help healthcare providers improve their skills in discussing suicide prevention and safe storage of firearms and medications with Veterans. The study will test whether VR training increases providers' self-efficacy, confidence, and comfort in conducting lethal means safety counseling, and whether it improves their intention to use these counseling practices in their clinical work. Researchers will compare healthcare providers who complete the VR training to those who complete a 2D video training to determine whether the VR approach is more effective. Participants will complete online surveys before and after the training and again three months later. They will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: VR training group: Participants use a VR headset to interact with a virtual Veteran patient in a simulated rural clinic and practice suicide prevention counseling skills; Video training group: Participants use the same headset to watch a \~10-minute 2D video depicting the lethal means safety counseling session. After the training, participants will also provide feedback about their experience, including how realistic and useful they found the training.

The central goal of this application is to conduct a Hybrid Type 1 effectiveness-implementation randomized controlled trial to test the comparative effectiveness of an alcohol and social media parent-based intervention (PBI), compared to both a combined approach whereby parents receive the alcohol and social media PBI and adolescents receive an alcohol and social media personalized feedback intervention (PFI) and to an efficacious alcohol PBI handbook. Additionally, we will determine key implementation determinants that are crucial to optimizing effectiveness when delivered in community settings. The proposed study will address each of these goals in turn by enrolling parent and adolescent (age 12-17) dyads and collaborating with key community members.

The current project aims to design and implement an 8-week Virtual Reality Adventure Therapy Exergaming (V-RATE) intervention focused on women veterans. A randomized controlled trial using a repeated measure design with a 1-month follow-up assessment will be employed to examine effects on physical and mental health outcomes.

This study has two phases: Phase 1 is to examine blood pressure, microvascular function, and sympathetic nerve activity in mid-life adult binge drinkers vs. alcohol abstainers/moderate drinkers. Phase 2 is to examine the effect of 8-week aerobic exercise training on blood pressure, microvascular function, and sympathetic nerve activity in mid-life adult binge drinkers

Age-associated motor and cognitive deficits increase the risk of falls, a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Emerging evidence suggests that inflammatory mediators lead to impaired functional capacity and frailty in the elderly and suggests that immune system mediated inflammation in the brain play an important role in cognitive decline. Substantial literature has also demonstrated that age-targeted physical activity training are promising strategies for promoting the motor-cognitive process across the adult lifespan. Recently, the virtual reality (VR) application has been implemented in the neuropsychological rehabilitation settings suggesting that the VR-infused daily living activities may benefit the transfer of intervention outcomes and to promote autonomy in function of daily living such as cooking or grocery shopping. However, it remains unclear the effect of the VR-based exercise intervention (motor-cognitive impact) on older adults' cognitive function and fall prevention. The literature suggests that the similarity of VR exercises with real life activities may improve generalizability by extending the transfer of gains of training to everyday living and promote some aspects of quality of life in older adults. It is also unclear to what extent these aging-associated motor- cognitive changes may be affected by VR rehab games and whether systemic- and neuro-inflammation is ameliorated by this novel intervention in older adults. This purpose of this study is to design and implement a Virtual Reality-Infused Treadmill Training on Aging-Related Outcomes (V-TARGET) intervention, focusing on adults (aged up to 75 years old). The study will compare the effects of V-TARGET intervention (self-paced treadmill-simulator exercise with VR rehab games) against a control group on motor-cognitive function, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), circulating inflammatory markers and cerebral/peripheral blood flow through this 5-week intervention (2 times/week, 30-minutes/session, 10 sessions total).

This study is evaluating the effects of riding on a cycle ergometer while experiencing virtual reality to determine its effect on mood.

The goal of this observational study is to learn about the mechanisms causing functional decline with age, using magnetic resonance imaging, exercise science, integrative physiology, neuroscience, and remote monitoring. Specific aims include: Aim 1: Advance knowledge of the biology of aging and its impact on the prevention, progression, and prognosis of disease and disability. Aim 2: Determine the effects of personal and societal factors on aging. Aim 3: Examine the influence of racial/ethnic and sex differences on the biology of aging and its impact on the prevention, progression, and prognosis of disease and disability.

The goal of this study is to better understand how blood flows and how oxygen is utilized in the lower limbs of people who suffer from peripheral artery disease. This study will also assess how these factors affect treatment outcomes. Specific aims include: Aim 1: Utilize BB-NIR-DCS to differentiate PAD patients experiencing primary oxygen delivery limitations from those suffering from mitochondrial dysfunction. Aim 2: Test the efficacy of BB-NIR-DCS at predicting individual responses to vascular intervention.

The primary goal of this study is to investigate the comparative long-term (i.e., 1-year) effectiveness of energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) and portable air cleaners (PACs) in reducing indoor air pollutants and mold levels and improving asthma-related health outcomes in inner-city children and adults with asthma in low-income households in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metropolitan area, TX. Secondary goals include: (1) examining associations among asthma outcomes, exposure to indoor air pollutants and mold, and housing-related factors, (2) conducting a cost-benefit analysis of ERV and PAC interventions for improving IAQ, mold control, and health outcomes, and (3) evaluating the utility of cost-effective methods and protocols for measuring IAQ and mold for indoor air pollution epidemiology studies and for providing practical information to patients and their physicians. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial, 80 households will be assigned to receive active or placebo versions of ERVs or PACs. Environmental exposures and housing conditions will be monitored alongside comprehensive health assessments, including lung function tests and validated surveys on asthma control, quality of life, stress, and sleep quality.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death. An overactive sympathetic nervous system in CKD patients is one of the major mechanisms increasing the cardiovascular risks in this patient population. Recently, some studies have shown that a drug typically used to improve glucose control (pioglitazone) may also reduce sympathetic nerve activity and improve blood vessel function. The goal of this study is to determine whether a short-term treatment with pioglitazone can reduce sympathetic nerve impulses throughout the body in CKD patients.