Clinical Trials?

[jjames]

Has anyone here participated in a diabetic clinical trial, particularly a transplant? If so, how did it go? Also, how difficult is it to be included in a clinical trial? I would really like to get into one - but don't really know how to up my chances of getting into one.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[It Ain't Over]

You should check with (1) Local University for a Diabetes Research Dept. (2) Your endo, he may have info on research and the ongoing transplant programs.
What I have read so far is that the deleterious effects of the antirejection meds are killing those that undergo a transplant faster than out of control diabetes. Not good news,and I hope I read some bad reports. But it is a major concern at best.

[seacomp]

The best way to be eligible for a clinical trial is to live near a major medical center where they are routinely carried out. There is a big difference between a clinical trial of a new drug to, for example, protect the kidney from secondary damage due to diabetes and a transplant (whether islet or full pancreas).
Transplant are big deals! Their cost is in the 6 figures. I don't believe that full pancreas transplants are still in the clinical trial stage. They know how to do them and how to treat for them; it's an established proceedure, just one that isn't done too often, primarily because it doesn't really work that well.
In general for surgical trials, the preferred subjects come from two distinct populations. The first one is in perfect health except for the one flaw that they will try to take care of. The other group of canidates are so far out on their last legs, that any "forlorn hope" is considered justified. Do you belong to either category?

[Cyborg]

I heard that they usually transplant kidneys and pancreas together in diabetics.

[NoelD]

I heard that they usually transplant kidneys and pancreas together in diabetics.

So have I.

[jjames]

Do you belong to either category? Unfortunately (or fortunately - depending how you look at it) I do not. I wonder if it would be "cheaper" or "easier" in Canada. I know we have a couple of Canadians on the board, perhaps their input would be helpful. Although I'm in Missouri (USA) - I'd be willing to travel for it.

[slipperyelm]

Hey, a fellow Missourian. JJames, if you are near St Louis, both Washington University Med School and St Louis University Med School look for diabetic volunteers frequently. They tend to be studies of longish duration--months to years. I think I posted recently that one of these schools was looking for diabetic volunteers for 14 different investigations. They are actually conducting more studies than that using human volunteers, but some of them are in cooperation with other institutions and volunteers may be in other cities, states.

[JediSkipdogg]

I have actually been involved in numberous studies and trials. One large one is SEARCH...

SEARCH - SEARCH For Diabetes In Youth :: Welcome (http://www.searchfordiabetes.org/index.cfm) - This is a huge study by the CDC & NIDDK to find diabetes in youth and differentiate what causes may cause each type. It also just studies diabetes in kids up to 20 years old. I'm still in it because I started before 20 and they are using me to find further info on complications and such.

I have recently asked but turned it down to try Exubera. My doctor's office is doing a trial of Exubera on type 1s as part of a larger study nationwide. However, I think that one is too risky to try and the dosing isn't as accurate, therefore I feel I'll have more problems.

I have also done numerous "trials" on BG meters. I've recieved quite a few before the general public has then written up reviews and pros/cons for the manufacturer.

So how did I get choosen for these? Most I just talk to my doctor about and they mention them to me. When I was at Children's Hospital I was asked for alot because both me and my bro had diabetes and no other family history of it. Therefore, we were a closely watched pair. A good website to find more at is ClinicalTrials.gov - Information on Clinical Trials and Human Research Studies (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/)

[jjames]

Slipperyelm,

Thanks for the info! I'll see if those places might be looking for anything right now. Thanks again!

BTW - I'm actually at the Lake of the Ozarks, so I'm about three hours from St. Louis. :/ Oh well - I'll try anyways.

[KickStart101]

Has anyone here participated in a diabetic clinical trial, particularly a transplant? If so, how did it go? Also, how difficult is it to be included in a clinical trial? I would really like to get into one - but don't really know how to up my chances of getting into one.

Any advice would be appreciated.


Parrotletzoo had a transplant although I am not sure
if this is what you were asking about.


Signature
pumping since sept 17, 2003 no longer pumping
IDDM since jan 1980
Mom's day 2006 recieved islet transplant, off insulin as of July 14, 2006.
for more infomation visit http://transplant.hospital.uic.edu/t...nt/islets.html

and http://www.thechicagoproject.org/UIC...0Magazine2.pdf


ooops sorry, that was the eyelet transplant not organ.

[w5wjp]

The ADA has a lot of trials listed on their web site.

[KickStart101]

I was wondering what difference did it make if it was
cheaper in Canada? If you are in a Clinical Trial, you
don't pay anything but your bus fare to the Hospital,
etc. I imagine it is the same in the US.

I was going to be in the Clinical Trials for RA over here.
They said they'd also pay for my parking. Unfortunately,
the head of the trials said, "NO Diabetics". They wanted
clean slates except for RA. Too bad they didn't mention
that before I did all the pre-consults.

[jjames]

I was wondering what difference did it make if it was
cheaper in Canada? If you are in a Clinical Trial, you
don't pay anything but your bus fare to the Hospital,
etc. I imagine it is the same in the US.
Yeah, that's probably true. What I really meant was to go and have a pancrease transplant without being in a trial would probably cheaper. Though I still wonder if it'd be easier considering how we Americans have to put up with the FDA.

[KickStart101]

Though I still wonder if it'd be easier considering how we Americans have to put up with the FDA.


We have the FDA here also. You do mean the Food and
Drug Administration/Association?

[KickStart101]

JJames:

google search: pancreas transplant in canada


if you haven't already.

There's a bunch of sites that I am not going to read
thanks, cause I'm not interested in that as far as for me.
I don't know if there is a problem accepting US citizens here.
Check them out. Post back please. Good Luck.

I think shots are better as long as a Person is not too far gone. ;)

[Keezheekoni]

I would assume that since they have been doing pancreatic/kidney transplants as well as islet cell transplants for awhile, there's probably no way that you'd be able to get into a trial for that...since there will probably not be anymore. The studies are done on them already.

There are always new drug studies coming out, check the ADA website for those. :)

[parrotletzoo]

Islet transplants are still in clinical trials in both the US and Canada. You can find a list of centers in North America that are doing islet transplants at https://web.emmes.com/study/isl/roster/sites.htm

Kidney transplants are for the most part considered standard medical procedures although not often done without the need for a kidney also. In the US you can search ClinicalTrials.gov - Information on Clinical Trials and Human Research Studies (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/) for available clinical trials. In Canada search myhealthCANADA: Find Canadian Medical Research and Clinical Trials (http://www.myhealthcanada.com/index2.html)