1. Shoulder Pain Research Study

Qualifications:

1. The patient needs to have shoulder pain.
2. The pain needs to have been present for more than 5 days, but less than 21 days.
3. The patient needs to be age 14 or older.
4. Patient must be willing to keep a pain diary and do initial blood work.

What the Patient will receive:

1. ALL office visits and medication free of charge.
2. A $175 stipend for participating.
   

2. Ankle Sprain Research Study

Qualifications:

1. The patient needs to have a possible ankle sprain.
2. The injury needs to have happened between 6 and 48 hours ago.
3. The patient needs to be age 14 or older.
4. Patient must be willing to keep a pain diary and do initial blood work.

What the Patient will receive:

1. ALL office visits and medication free of charge.
2. A $175 stipend for participating.
   

Richmond Bone and Joint Clinic is pleased to announce the launch 3 new clinical trials!  The research studies are part of the RBJC initiative to offer the newest advances in medicine and the best treatment options available to our patients.  

Clinical trials are a step in medical research conducted to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. A clinical trial is a research study used to answer specific questions about new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. These trials can take place only after satisfactory information has been gathered on the quality and safety of the drug or device being studied. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find new treatments that work in patients.  

The treatments being offered to patients who take part in a clinical trial are not available to the general public, so by doing clinical trials, RBJC is able to offer our patients treatment options that they might not have access to elsewhere in the Houston area. 

Below is a list of our current clinical research studies.  Patients who enroll in a trial will receive visits to our physicians, investigational medication, other study treatments including laboratory tests and imaging free of charge.  Compensation is also provided for time and travel.  

There are more studies to come, so keep checking back!!  

1. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Study

1. Principal Investigator:  Fayyaz Ahmed, MD
2. Sub-Investigator:  Thomas Rivers, MD
3. Must be 18 years or older with a diagnosis of lupus and must have active lupus
4. Compensation $1160 for the study period
5. Patients may have the option to continue taking the study medication at no charge after the study ends
6. Go to http://www.illuminatestudies.com/ for further information

 

2. Damaged Knee Cartilage:  Cartilage Implant Study

1. Principal Investigator:  Vishal Shah, MD
2. Sub-Investigator:  Ali Motamedi, MD
3. Must be 18 to 55 years old
4. Must not have widespread cartilage damage, for example, widespread arthritis, or cartilage damage to both knees
5. Study is free but patients must have medical insurance
6. Compensation $600 over the study period
7. Go to http://osteoarthritis.about.com/b/2009/04/11/cartilage-autograft-implantation-system-in-phase-iii-trials-at-rush-university.htm and to http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT00881023?show_locs=Y#locn for further information

 

3. Rheumatoid Arthritis

2. Principal Investigator:  Thomas Rivers, MD
3. Sub-Investigator:  Fayyaz Ahmed, MD
4. Must be at least 18 years old  and have had rheumatoid arthritis for at least 6 months
5. Patients must have taken a TNF-alpha inhibitor (Remicade (infliximab), Cimzia (certolizumab), Enbrel (etanercept), Humira (adalimumab), Simponi (golimumab) but are no longer taking it
6. Compensation $350 over the initial study period
7. Patients may have the option to continue taking the study medication at no charge after the study ends
8. Go to http://www.rheumatoidarthritisstudy.com/ for further information.

 

If you are interested in participating or finding out more, please do not hesitate to contact Christina Hannah, MD, Director of Clinical Research at 832-434-0429 or channah@rbjc.com.