Featured Studies

Researchers are studying the brain's response to language and sound. This study uses a repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), an investigational form of brain stimulation, to measure how different parts of the brain communicate in teens with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Findings from this study may aid in the development of possible future treatments.

A study at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is seeking healthy females aged 6-18 for a brain imaging study using MRI. Researchers aim to learn about brain anatomy and function, while advancing the understanding of behavior and mental health in children and young adults.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and over time limits the ability of individuals to breathe. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are studying the infection, disease progression, and abnormal genes responsible for cystic fibrosis to better understand the disease process and its effects on breathing.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are studying if the medication danazol can be used to treat people with short telomere disease who also have bone marrow failure, liver, or lung disease. In recent studies, danazol, at high doses, showed a positive influence on telomere length. Additional research is needed to learn more about the role of different doses of danazol on telomere disease as well as its effects on secondary diseases.

Fanconi anemia is a rare genetic disorder that mostly affects children and often leads to bone marrow failure. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are investigating a new drug to improve blood counts in individuals diagnosed with Fanconi anemia. Eltrombopag is an oral drug that mimics a special protein that causes the body to make more platelets. Currently eltrombopag is used to treat low platelet counts in patients with hepatitis C and chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Researchers are evaluating if this new drug will improve blood cell counts in individuals diagnosed with Fanconi anemia.

Treatment of severe aplastic anemia (SAA) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) usually involves a bone marrow transplant. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are testing ways to make transplant using unrelated donor cells from umbilical cord blood safer and more effective. We hope these procedures will reduce post-transplant complications and improve transplant outcomes.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) seeks healthy volunteers for a study about blood vessel stiffness. In this study, healthy volunteers will be compared with patients with rare genetic conditions that affect the blood vessels. All study-related procedures are provided at no cost and compensation is provided.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) seek patients with Williams Syndrome (WS) or Supravalvular Aortic Stenosis (SVAS) to join a research study. Researchers want to see how blood vessel elasticity and stiffness affect the heart, gut, kidneys, and the brain in people with Williams Syndrome.

Your healthy 8-year-old child is invited to participate in an NIH outpatient research study that examines how puberty affects brain development.

Doctors at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are conducting a research study to determine the viability and safety of early initiation of oral therapy with cyclosporine and eltrombopag in patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA).