DALLAS - May 20, 2005 - Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center are seeking patients to participate in medical studies on hepatitis C, women with endometriosis and men and women who have family histories of type 1 diabetes. All clinical trials are approved by UT Southwestern's Institutional Review Board, which reviews them for benefits, risks, side effects and informed consent.

Hepatitis C
People between the ages of 18 and 70 with hepatitis C are needed for a study at UT Southwestern Medical Center to determine the effectiveness of two medications for treatment of liver disease. All participants, who must have documented hepatitis C, will be given screenings and treated at no charge with an active medication for the condition. People with bipolar disorder, a history of seizures or diseases that require chronic use of steroids are not eligible. Anyone with a history of drug or alcohol abuse must have abstained from using the substances for at least two years prior to screening. Study participants will receive regular physician visits and testing that will monitor the effectiveness of the treatment. You can find out more at http://www.idealstudy.com. For more information, call 214-648-0259.

Endometriosis
UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers are seeking women with endometriosis - a gynecological condition where the tissue lining the inside of the uterus grows outside the organ - for a clinical trial involving a new drug treatment regimen. Participants must provide diagnosis of endometriosis and will receive drug treatment and a doctor's visit, including pap smear and blood test, at no charge. Compensation will be available. For more information, please contact Nancy Adams, study coordinator, at 214-648-2507. 

Natural history of type 1 diabetes
UT Southwestern Medical Center is participating in TrialNet, a global study for the natural history and genetic causes of type 1 diabetes. Any relative of a patient with type 1 diabetes should be screened for the antibodies that lead to diabetes. Eligible relatives are those first-degree relatives (brothers, sisters, parents) under the age of 45, and second-degree relatives (cousins, aunts and uncles) under the age of 20. Only a small blood sample is required for the screening test.

The TrialNet study also has two smaller studies. The first study is searching for families with two children who have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and two non-diabetic children. These are not strict eligibility criteria; any family with sibling pairs that have type 1 diabetes should contact the UT Southwestern study coordinator. The second study is for any patient with type 1 diabetes. This study involves participating in two mixed meal challenge tests and two glucagon stimulation tests. For more information, please call
214-648-4716.

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