The NIH Clinical Center is the world's largest hospital entirely devoted to clinical research. It is a national resource that makes it possible to rapidly translate scientific observations and laboratory discoveries into new approaches for diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease.
Clinical research is at the heart of the Clinical Center's mission.
Over 1,600 clinical research studies are conducted at the NIH Clinical Center, including those focused on cancer, infectious diseases, blood disorders, heart disease, lung disease, alcoholism and drug abuse. Most of these studies are sponsored by the Institutes and Centers at NIH.
Here is a sample of abstracts from the clinical research conducted at the NIH Clinical Center and published in a peer reviewed medical journal this year. Links to the full text and video formats are provided if available.
2025
Assessing the Impact of Cell Isolation Method on B Cell Gene Expression Using Next-Generation Sequencing
Published in: Experimental Hematology (June 2025)
Despite widespread use of immune cell type-specific isolation methods for human B cells, little research has been done on their effect on genetic transcription. New research reports significant gene expression changes following CD19-dependent B cell isolation via positive magnetic cell sorting (MCS) or fluorescence-activated sorting compared to negative MCS. The findings bear consideration during experiment design and sequencing dataset analysis, study authors say.
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Differences in Care and Outcomes in Cardiogenic Shock in Cardiac Intensive Care Units in the United States and Canada: CCCTN Registry Insights
Published in: Canadian Journal of Cardiology (April 2025)
Despite the evolution of cardiogenic shock (CS) teams, in-hospital mortality for CS patients remains high and high-quality evidence to guide optimal treatment remains scarce. In a new study, researchers analyzed data from 34 American and 8 Canadian tertiary cardiac intensive care units gathered from 2017 to 2022. The authors describe differences in practices and CS patient clinical outcomes.
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Do Caregivers Value the New Antiamyloid Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease More Than Home-Based Care?
Published in: The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (April 2025)
While the new FDA-approved drugs for Alzheimer’s disease mark a significant advancement, this study surveyed family caregivers’ views on the value of the new drugs by comparing them to home-based care. Though caregivers indicated a desire for their loved one to receive both medication and home-based care, just over half (57%) preferred insurance coverage of home-based care. Those who favored coverage of home-based care were more likely to think that the medication’s benefits do not outweigh its risks and burdens.
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Assessing the Reliability of Pancreatic CT Imaging Biomarkers for Diabetes Prediction: A Dual Center Retrospective Study
Published in: Academic Radiology (March 2025)
In a retrospective study, researchers analyzed the CT scans and HbA1c average blood sugar tests of 9,772 patients with and without diabetes from two institutions. Among other findings, the study suggests CT-derived imaging biomarkers, or disease indicators, could be a reliable tool for diabetes screening across multiple institutions.
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The Relationship Between Stiff Knee Gait Runner's Dystonia and Musculoskeletal Knee Pathology: A Case Series
Published in: Toxins (March 2025)
Runner's Dystonia (RD) is a rare movement disorder causing involuntary muscle contractions in the lower limbs during running. This condition is often overlooked or misdiagnosed due to RD patients overlapping symptomology with other conditions. Treatments to address neurological and musculoskeletal factors could improve patient outcomes. This research paves the way for personalized treatment plans and brings RD awareness to prevent long-term disability and improve quality of life.
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Epidemiology and Prognostic Significance of Acute Noncardiac Organ Dysfunction Across Cardiogenic Shock Subtypes
Published in: Journal of Cardiac Failure (February 2025)
Researchers analyzed medical data on 3,904 admissions for cardiogenic shock (CS) from 2017–2022 across 42 facilities. Their goal was to better understand the patterns and prognostic clues of acute noncardiac organ dysfunction across subtypes of CS. They found admissions for acute-on-chronic heart failure (HF)-CS had a lower burden of acute noncardiac organ dysfunction compared with admissions for de novo HF-CS and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) related CS. The study authors say their findings may help further improve risk stratification and prognostication in patients admitted with CS related to AMI, de novo HF, and acute-on-chronic HF.
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Read more articles about research in the NIH Clinical Center in 2025.