Active Research Studies DEV

VCRC Longitudinal Study of Relapsing Polychondritis (RP)

The RP Longitudinal Cohort is being done to learn more about Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) by following a large group of patients for several years. The data from this study will be used by scientists to study the causes of RP, understand better what patients feel with RP, find new ways to track symptoms and predict responses, and to understand how to best treat patients with RP.

Study Duration: 3 years

Disease(s): Relapsing Polychondritis (RP)

Vessel Wall Enhancement in Giant Cell Arteritis (VEGA)

The main purpose of this study is to see how well magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect inflammation of arteries that supply blood to the head, brain, and eyes. This may be useful in the diagnosing process and overall treatment of giant cell arteritis (GCA; temporal arteritis).

Study Duration: 5 years

Disease(s): Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA)

VCRC Longitudinal Study of Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA)

The EGPA Registry is being conducted to learn more about eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), also known as a Churg-Strauss by following a large group of patients for several years. The data from this study will be used by scientists to study the causes of EGPA, understand better what patients feel with EGPA, find new ways to track disease and predict responses, to understand how to best treat patients with EGPA.

Study Duration: 5 years

Disease(s): Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA/ Churg-Strauss)

VCRC Longitudinal Study of Central Nervous System Vasculitis (CNSV)

This study is being done to learn more about central nervous system vasculitis (CNSV) by following a large group of patients for several years. The data from this research will be used by scientists to study the causes of CNSV, why certain people have CNSV, how it affects the body, and treatment strategies.

Study Duration: Up to 3 years

VCRC Genetic Repository One-Time DNA Study

The One-Time DNA study is looking to identify genes that increase the risk of developing vasculitis. Results of these studies will provide researchers in vasculitis with insight into the causes of these diseases and generate new ideas for diagnostic tests and therapies and will be of great interest to the larger communities of researchers investigating vasculitis and other autoimmune, inflammatory, and vascular diseases.

Study Duration: One time usually done at the time of enrollment

Redefining Autoimmune Diseases Across Rheumatology (RADAR)

The purpose of the study is to understand the community of bacteria and other microbes that reside in the nose as well as the genetic changes in the nasal tissue in people with AAV, and how these relate to the overall immune response in the blood of people with AAV. The objective of the study is to examine the changes in the nasal microbiome and the immune response to understand the cause of these diseases and develop better tests and therapies.

Study Duration: Approximately 2 years

Nasal Microbiome in ANCA Associated Vasculitis and Relapsing Polychondritis (NMB)

The purpose of this study is to examine the community of microbes living in the noses of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and to compare the composition of their nasal microbiome with those of healthy controls (those who do not have AAV) over time and correlate disease activity.

Study Duration: 2 to 3 years

Abatacept (CTLA4-Ig) in Giant Cell Arteritis (ABAGART)

The main purpose of this study is to understand how patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) respond to an investigational drug called abatacept (also called Orencia). Abatacept is being tested to determine if it is effective in treating GCA. An investigational drug is one that is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating GCA. We will use your personal health information, information from the tests and procedures done for the study, and information about how the study drug affects you to help determine if the study drug abatacept is safe and effective in treating GCA.

Study Duration: Up to 18 months

Disease(s): Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA)

Clinical Transcriptomics in Systemic Vasculitis (CUTIS)

Vasculitis frequently affects the skin and causes different kinds of rashes (lesions). The doctors in this study would like to describe the impact of vasculitis on the skin and to investigate the differences between the different types of skin vasculitis. The research team hopes that this study will develop information about skin vasculitis that will allow researchers to learn about the causes, the disease process and potential treatments for skin vasculitis.

Study Duration: One time visit, usually on the day of enrollment

Disease(s): Skin Vasculitis

Low Dose Naltrexone to Improve Physical Health in Patients With Vasculitis (LoDoNaVasc)

Vasculitis may cause pain, fatigue, problems with mood, difficulty sleeping, and difficulty with activities, resulting in a lower health-related quality of life for many patients. Naltrexone is a prescription drug approved for a different reason at a higher dose than the dose used in this study. However, “low-dose naltrexone” is widely used for a wide range of conditions associated with pain or fatigue. We hope to learn more about the impact of low-dose naltrexone on the symptoms caused by vasculitis.

Study Duration: 12 weeks

Disease(s): Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA/ Churg-Strauss)

Depemokimab Compared with Mepolizumab for Patients with EGPA on Standard of Care Therapy (OCEAN)

The purpose of this study is to learn more about eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) that returns (relapse) or has not responded to treatment, and if the investigational drug depemokimab can improve the disease. This study is being done to help determine if depemokimab is safe and how it works compared to mepolizumab. An investigational drug is one that is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat EGPA. Depemokimab is being compared to mepolizumab, which is approved by the FDA to treat EGPA. We will use your personal health information, information from the tests and procedures done for the study, and information about how the study drug affects you to help determine if depemokimab is safe and effective in treating EGPA.

Study Duration: Approximately 1 year

Disease(s): Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA/ Churg-Strauss)

A Randomized Multicenter Study for Isolated Skin Vasculitis (ARAMIS)

Vasculitis frequently affects the skin and causes different kinds of rashes (lesions). Because no research studies have provided answers to the question of what therapy for skin vasculitis is best, treatment decisions for patients with skin vasculitis are made based upon the treating doctor’s experience and expert opinions. The doctors involved in this study are hopeful that the information gathered from this study will help doctors and patients understand what the best treatment options are for patients with skin vasculitis.
This study will compare the effectiveness of the three different drugs for the treatment of skin vasculitis, look at how patients respond to the study drugs, and see if there are characteristics that predict which patients will respond to which drugs.

Study Duration: 12 to 18 months

Disease(s): Central Nervous System Vasculitis (CNSV)

Efficacy and Safety of Study Drug NS-229 in Treatment of Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

The main purpose of this study is to learn how well the investigational drug NS-229 works and how safe NS-229 is compared with placebo.  An investigational drug is one that is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat EGPA.

Study Duration: Approximately 9 months

Disease(s): Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA/ Churg-Strauss)