Active clinical trials for "Genetic Diseases, Inborn"

Systemic autoinflammatory diseases (SAIDs) are a set of rare clinically and genetically heterogeneous conditions. The project proposes to identify novel genes and specific signatures in subgroups of patients with SAIDs.

After extraction of the cell-free DNA circulating in maternal plasma, we aim at developing new techniques for fetal DNA enrichment to perform fetal gender determination, and indirect diagnosis of inherited diseases like Cystic Fibrosis, Huntington Disease, Myotonic Dystrophy, B-Thalassaemia...

Noninvasive prenatal genetic testing (NIPT) is an important new screening test option provided to pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy. The advantage of this screen is that is provides information about the risk of trisomy 13, trisomy 18, and trisomy 21 with greater accuracy than conventional screens. At the same time, NIPT can produce information about the risk of a cohort of other fetal genetic variants, including sex chromosome aneuploidies and microdeletion syndromes. While not yet clinically available for whole exome sequencing, the potential for this next clinical application already exists. The challenge is that, while this is an important new test, there are little data about how to best structure patient-centered decisions about its use, including decisions if to use this screen and how the information may directly inform subsequent prenatal care decisions. The purpose of this study is to gain formative data about current practice patterns with respect to how NIPT is discussed in the clinical visit and to use these data to help inform best practices for its continued use in the clinical setting.

The Transition Navigator Trial (TNT) is a pragmatic randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of usual care plus a patient navigator service versus usual care plus newsletters and other educational materials, to improve transition outcomes among adolescents aged 16-21 who have chronic health conditions requiring transfer to adult specialty care. The study will provide urgently needed data to guide health care providers and policy makers regarding the provision of coordinated transition care. These results have the potential to: Change care delivery Improve health outcomes Improve the experiences of young adult transition to adult care

The general area of research in which this project has been designed is that of retinal degeneration related to mutations in the ABCR gene, responsible of Stargardt disease/fundus flavimaculatus retinal dystrophy (STD/FF). STG/FF is one of the major causes of vision impairment in the young age. STG/FF originates typically from the dysfunction and loss of cone and rod photoreceptors, developing through a photo-oxidative mechanism. The major disease locus is the central retina, i.e. the macula, whose neurons have the highest density and underlie critical functions such as visual acuity, color vision and contrast sensitivity. There is currently no cure for STG/FF. Recent experimental findings indicate that Saffron, derived from the pistils of Crocus Sativus, may have a role as a retinal neuro-protectant against oxidative damage. The stigmata of Crocus sativus contain biologically high concentrations of chemical compounds including crocin, crocetin, whose multiple C=C bonds provide the antioxidant potential. In addition it is well known that this compound is safe and free of adverse side effects. The aim of this research is to investigate the influence of short-term Saffron supplementation on retinal function in STG/FF patients carrying ABCR mutations. The macular cone-mediated electroretinogram (ERG) in response to high-frequency flicker (focal flicker ERG) will be employed as the main outcome variable. Secondary outcome variable will be the psychophysical cone system recovery after bleaching.

Background: We want to learn more about the relationship between the way families function and how children adapt to having a sibling with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). What we learn will help us design better interventions for families. Objective: To learn more about how families with an individual with DMD function. To learn how siblings adapt in families with an individual with DMD. Eligibility: One parent and one child, age 13-18, from a family where another child has DMD. The parent and the child must be able to read and write English. Design: One parent from each family will complete a survey about how family members communicate and relate with each other. The parent will also answer questions about the behavior of the child without DMD. This survey will take you about 40 minutes to complete. One child from each family, either a boy or a girl, will also complete a survey. This survey asks about how he/she views him/herself. It also asks about how he/she interacts with peers and family members and how he/she behaves. The survey also asks how satisfied he/she is with how his/her family functions. This survey takes about 30 minutes to finish.

The purpose of this study is evaluate the natural course of disease progression related to gross motor function in children with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD).

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of subantimicrobial dose doxycycline (50 mg/d), administered for 12 weeks, on patients with mild Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy (TAO).

The NC NEXUS research study is exploring the utility of next generation sequencing in newborn screening and parental decision making. The National Institutes of Health (NICHD and NHGRI) are co-funding this study under a single U-19.

The study "Investigating the Feasibility and Implementation of Whole Genome Sequencing in Patients With Suspected Genetic Disorder" is a research study that aims to explore the use of whole genome sequencing as a potential first line genetic test for patients for which a genetic diagnosis is suspected. This is an internally funded research study. The investigators will enroll 500 participants who are being seen in one of the various genetics clinics within the Partners HealthCare system for a suspected genetic disorder for which standard-of-care genetic testing is ordered. At the time of their standard-of-care genetic testing, an extra blood sample will be collected, and genome sequencing may be performed. Within 3-4 months, patients learn if they received genome sequencing or not, and any results are returned and explained. Investigators are also studying the experiences of both participants and their providers to better understand how to implement genome sequencing into clinical care.