WHAT IS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH?
Biomedical research focuses on the study of human physiology and the treatment or understanding of disease. Biomedical research is conducted by physicians or biomedical scientists, as well as biologists, chemists, physicists, and other medical and scientific professionals.
Some biomedical research involves clinical trials, which are phased studies using human volunteers. These trials are designed to answer questions about safety and efficacy related to biologics, devices, pharmaceuticals, new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. Trials are often conducted in small groups initially but expand in later stages once safety and efficacy are established. Most clinical trials are FDA regulated, but there are some exceptions.
WHY IS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH IMPORTANT?
Research through the years has led to many important discoveries that have improved human lives for the better. Some examples are new medications, improved medical procedures, new or improved tests like ultrasounds, X-ray machines or genetic testing, vaccines, and ways to stop smoking.
WHAT IS BREF’S ROLE IN VA RESEARCH?
BREF handles over 100 pre-clinical and clinical VA Research projects annually, in both pre- and post-award phases. BREF’s involvement in biomedical research at VA Medical Centers spans a wide range of activities. BREF administrators cultivate scientific collaborations, identify research funding opportunities, assist in the development of and submit research grant applications and budgets, negotiate contractual terms with research sponsors, hire and manage research staff, purchase research supplies and equipment, facilitate travel to scientific conferences, manage research revenue and expenditures, and create research project financial reports. BREF administrators also work closely with the VA Medical Center Research and Development Services to facilitate required research regulatory and safety processes and procedures enforced for all research taking place within the VA Health Care System.
BREF employs research staff who play an active role in the execution of biomedical research. These employees work directly with VA Research Principal Investigators to fulfill the research scope of work, maintain appropriate research and regulatory documentation, and perform data collection, storage, analysis and interpretation.
ACTIVE CLINICAL TRIALS
Oncology:
A phase II study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of OQL011 on VEGFR inhibitor associated hand-foot skin reaction in cancer patients
CemiplimAb Survivorship Epidemiology (CASE) Study
MRI Brain Surveillance Alone Versus MRI Surveillance and Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation (PCI): A Randomized Phase III Trial in Small-Cell Lung Cancer (MAVERICK)
A Trial to Find Out if Vidutolimod Together With Cemiplimab is Safe and if it Works in Adult Participants With Advanced Cancer or Metastatic Cancer
A Phase III Double-Blind, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Study Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of Capivasertib + Docetaxel Versus Placebo + Docetaxel as Treatment for Patients with Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) - CApitello-280
A Phase III Double-Blind, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Study Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of Capivasertib + Abiraterone Versus Placebo + Abiraterone as Treatment for Patients with De Novo Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer (mHSPC) Characterised by PTEN deficiency - CAPItello-281
A Dose-Escalation and Expansion Study of the Safety and Efficacy of XL092 in Combination with Immuno-Oncology Agents in Subjects with Unresectable Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors
A Phase 3 Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Study of Niraparib in Combination with Abiraterone Acetate and Prednisone Versus Abiraterone Acetate and Prednisone for the Treatment of Participants with Deleterious Germline or Somatic Homologous Recombination Repair (HRR) Gene-Mutated Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer (mCSPC) - amplitude
Phase 3 Study of ProstAtak® Immunotherapy With Standard Radiation Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer (PrTK03)
covid-19:
ENSEMBLE: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Phase 3 Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Ad26.COV2.S for the Prevention of SARS-CoV-2-mediated COVID-19 in Adults Aged 18 Years and Older
Cardiology/Vascular:
Carotid Revascularization and Medical Management for Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis Trial - (crEST-2)
Carotid Revascularization and Medical Management for Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis Trial - HEMODYNAMICS (CREST-h)
endocrinology:
Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Insulin Treated Patients with DM2 at Higher Risk for Hypoglycemia, a Randomized Clinical Trial
Effectiveness and Safety of the Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System in Non-Critically Ill Patients in the Inpatient Setting
Time In Glucose Hospital Target - A Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Use of CGM to Achieve a Mean Glucose Target of 90 to 130 mg/dL without Hypoglycemia in Hospitalized Adults with Type 2 Diabetes (“TIGHT RCT”)
Podiatry:
Developing an Ideal Wound Care Platform - Transforming Powder Dressing for Diabetic Foot Ulcer Treatment
If you would like to be contacted about any of the studies listed above please complete the request form below for each study you are interested in. Your contact information will not be shared with anyone but the study team associated with the trial you are interested in.