Clinical research at the Charles and Jane Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research is conducted under the direction of the center faculty members and focuses on investigations of osteoporosis, kidney stones and other disorders of mineral metabolism.  These clinical research studies are unique and contribute to the general understanding of the biological and chemical processes involved in these diseases.  Results from these clinical research studies could lead to improved prevention and treatment of kidney stones and osteoporosis in the future.

Clinical research in the Center for Mineral Metabolism involves the evaluation of patients seen at the Mineral Metabolism Clinic and other associated clinics in the area as well as healthy volunteers from the general population.  The Center for Mineral Metabolism also collaborates with other clinics in the United States and Europe and has become a central repository of clinical data involving disorders of mineral metabolism, allowing us to take a global approach in our clinical research. 

Research studies at the Center for Mineral Metabolism encompass a wide degree of involvement, ranging from single visit studies for the collection of biological samples, to week-long inpatient metabolic evaluations, to long-term outpatient evaluations for disorders of mineral metabolism.

If you are interested in participating in a Mineral Metabolism research study as patient or as a healthy volunteer, please click on one of the links below for more information on our active clinical research studies.

Osteoporosis Treatment with Sodium Fluoride and Calcium Citrate

Study of Insulin Resistance in Stone-Formers, Diabetics and Normal Controls

DNA Database for Studies of Mineral Metabolism

The Effects of a Low Carbohydrate Diet on Bone Loss and Kidney Stone Risk

The Effects of Dietary Potassium on Blood Pressure and Insulin Metabolism

Reducing Stone Risk in Topamax-treated Patients

The Effect of PCC on the Risk for Kidney Stones and Osteoporosis after Bariatric Surgery

The Role of Renal Fat Content in Kidney Stone Disease