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Current Research Studies

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For more information, call Texas Diabetes Institute at 210-358-7500.

Current Research Studies

Find a diabetes-related research study to participate in at University Health in San Antonio.

We are currently conducting the following studies:

Current Studies

Adult JDFR Diabetes Type 1 Study– HSC20180515H/P20902
Principal Investigators: Dr. M Abdul-Ghani

Purpose: To investigate whether the addition of pioglitazone to SGLT2 inhibitor in Type 1 diabetic patients can amplify the decrease in HbA1C and prevent the increase in plasma ketone concentration.

Eligibility:

  • Type 1 diabetes mellitus
  • Age > 18 yrs
  • Good general health other than diabetes
  • Poor glycemic control (HbA1C 7.0-11.0%)
  • Treatment with multiply daily insulin injects or insulin pump
  • Total daily insulin dose > 0.6 units/kg/daily
  • Stable insulin dose in the preceding 3 months
  • eGFR > 60 ml/min
  • Stable weight in the preceding 3 months

(Study coordinator: Gozde)

This study will enroll approximately 120 study participants with Type 1 diabetes.

*Subjects receive study visits, follow-up by physicians, laboratory tests, blood glucose monitoring supplies, electrocardiograms, and study related medications free of charge. Also, they receive compensation for time, transportation (if needed), and study meals free of charge.

For information, please call (210) 358-7200 and ask to speak with one of the research nurses or investigators; or you may send an email message to mary.samano@uhtx.com


JDFR Diabetes Type 1 Study
Principal Investigators: Drs. M Abdul-Ghani and R. DeFronzo

Purpose: To examine the effect of addition of combination therapy with dapagliflozin plus pioglitazone to insulin on glucose control and plasma ketone concentration in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Eligibility:

  • 18 years or older
  • Have uncontrolled blood sugar (HbA1c > 7%)
  • In good general health
  • Have normal kidney function
  • Take more than 40 units of insulin each day

*Subjects receive study visits, follow-up by physicians, laboratory tests, blood glucose monitoring supplies, electrocardiograms, and study related medications free of charge. Also, they receive compensation for time, transportation (if needed), and study meals free of charge.

For information, please call (210) 358-7200 and ask to speak with one of the research nurses or investigators; or you may send an email message to mary.samano@uhtx.com


ADA Pre-Diabetes StudyHSC 20130414/P20372
Principal Investigators: Drs. DeFronzo/Cersosimo/Curtis Triplitt

Purpose: Preservation of beta function in pre-diabetes in subject with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

Principal Investigator: Drs DeFronzo/Cersosimo/Curtis Triplitt

Eligibility:

  • Ages 18-65
  • Pre-Diabetics (A1C 5.7-6.4) or
  • Normal healthy subjects without family history of diabetes in a first degree relative
  • BMI=24-40 kg/m2
  • Stable body weight
  • Able to take oral medications

A 2 yearlong clinical trial study

*Subjects receive study visits, follow-up by physicians, laboratory tests, blood glucose monitoring supplies, electrocardiograms, and study related medications free of charge. Also, they receive compensation for time, transportation (if needed), and study meals free of charge.

For information, please call (210) 358-7200 and ask to speak with one of the research nurses or investigators; or you may send an email message to mary.samano@uhtx.com


Triple Therapy Study – HSC20080456H
Principal Investigators: Dr. DeFronzo

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of two different therapeutic regimens for the treatment of individuals with newly diagnosed diabetes.

Eligibility:

  • Newly diagnosed (<2 years) Type 2 diabetes
  • May be taking metformin

This study will enroll approximately 600 study participants with Type 2 diabetes, and it will continue for a period of 3 years.

*Subjects receive study visits, follow-up by physicians, laboratory tests, blood glucose monitoring supplies, electrocardiograms, and study related medications free of charge. Also, they receive compensation for time, transportation (if needed), and study meals free of charge.

For information, please call (210) 358-7200 and ask to speak with one of the research nurses or investigators; or you may send an email message to mary.samano@uhtx.com 


Hyperfiltration Studies – HSC20160262H/P20602
Principal Investigators: Drs. Cersosimo and DeFronzo

Purpose: To examine effect of farxiga on renal function and size in Type 2 diabetic patients with hyperfiltration.

Eligibility:

  • Drug naïve, metformin-treated, or sulfonylurea-treated patients with Type 2 diabetes
  • BMI: 20.0-45 kg/m^2
  • A1C: 7-12%
  • Hct: >34
  • BP: <140/90

(Study Coordinators: Drs. Jane/Gozde)

This study will enroll approximately 60 study participants with Type 2 diabetes.

*Subjects receive study visits, follow-up by physicians, laboratory tests, blood glucose monitoring supplies, electrocardiograms, and study related medications free of charge. Also, they receive compensation for time, transportation (if needed), and study meals free of charge.

For information, please call (210) 358-7200 and ask to speak with one of the research nurses or investigators; or you may send an email message to mary.samano@uhtx.com


Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Study
Principal Investigators: Drs. Luke Norton and Ralph DeFronzo

Purpose: To understand the role that mitochondria - often referred to as the powerhouse of the cell - play in the development and progression of fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Eligibility:

  • 18-75 year old people with or without diabetes
  • Enrolling healthy controls without diabetes
  • Enrolling T2DM subjects with fatty liver
  • Will receive free evaluation of fatty liver status in the study.

*Subjects receive study visits, follow-up by physicians, laboratory tests, blood glucose monitoring supplies, electrocardiograms, and study related medications free of charge. Also, they receive compensation for time, transportation (if needed), and study meals free of charge.

For information, please call (210) 358-7200 and ask to speak with one of the research nurses or investigators; or you may send an email message to mary.samano@uhtx.com


SGLT2 Inhibitors, Ketones & Cardiovascular Benefit Study – HSC20210528H/P21168
Principal Investigators: Drs. Carolina Solis-Herrera, E Cersosimo, and R DeFronzo

Purpose: To examine the effects of SGLT2i (and SGLT2i –induced increase in plasma ketone concentrations) on skeletal muscle and cardiac ketone uptake, skeletal muscle bioenergetics, cardiopulmonary exercises capacity, and patient-reported functional outcomes.

Eligibility:

  • Type 2 diabetes with HbA1c > 6.0% and < 10.0%
  • Class II-III New York Heart Association heart failure with ejection fraction less than 45%
  • Age: 18-80 years
  • BMI: 23-38 kg/m^2; males or females
  • No treatment with GLP-1RA, DPP4i, pioglitazone, SGLT2i or insulin
  • Blood pressure < 145/85mmHg
  • eGFR > 30ml/min/1.73 m2
  • No contraindication for MRI (metal plates, parts, screws, shrapnel, pins in the body or cardiac pacemaker)

(Study Coordinators: Jane (Yuejuan)

This study will enroll approximately 71 study participants with Type 2 diabetes.

*Subjects receive study visits, follow-up by physicians, laboratory tests, blood glucose monitoring supplies, electrocardiograms, and study related medications free of charge. Also, they receive compensation for time, transportation (if needed), and study meals free of charge.

For information, please call (210) 358-7200 and ask to speak with one of the research nurses or investigators; or you may send an email message to mary.samano@uhtx.com


Treatment of NAFLD Study – HSC20210284H/P21137

Purpose: To examine the quantifying hepatic mitochondrial fluxes in humans.

Eligibility:

  • Good general health
  • Age 18-75 years
  • HbA1c < 5.5%
  • BMI=25-40 kg/m2
  • • Stable body weight (±4 pounds) over the preceding 3-months
  • Not taking any medication known to affect glucose metabolism
  • No evidence of T2D, (IFG; FPG ≥ 100 > 126 mg/dl) OR (IGT; 2 h OGTT glucose ≥ 140 > 200 mg/dl)
  • No evidence of fatty liver on FibroScan or
  • Evidence of moderate/severe fatty liver on FibroScan

(STUDY COORDINATOR: Michael/Curtiss Puckett PA)

*Subjects receive study visits, follow-up by physicians, laboratory tests, blood glucose monitoring supplies, electrocardiograms, and study related medications free of charge. Also, they receive compensation for time, transportation (if needed), and study meals free of charge.

For information, please call (210) 358-7200 and ask to speak with one of the research nurses or investigators; or you may send an email message to mary.samano@uhs-sa.com


Doctors
  1. Damilola Ashorobi, MD
    Damilola Ashorobi, MD
    Endocrinology
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  2. Jorge Velez Garza, MD
    Jorge Velez Garza, MD
    Endocrinology
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  3. Marilyn Arosemena Coronel, MD
    Endocrinology
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