Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes Clinical Studies and Clinical Trials

Ongoing clinical trials in diabetes at UMass Memorial Health, UMass Chan Medical School and UMass Children's Medical Center are focused on testing new treatment approaches designed to improve quality of life for all people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.  

Anyone living with diabetes interested in our clinical studies can consent to the registry and sign up for UMass Chan Medical School's monthly research newsletter. Download the enrollment form and check the Diabetes/Endocrine System box.  

Register for a trial or learn more: 

Email Lisa.Hubacz@umassmed.edu

Open & Accruing Trials

PBL | Immune Function in Autoimmune Disease 

Principal Investigator: Dale Greiner, PhD

Seeking volunteer blood donors with type 1 diabetes to be used in our basic research studies to recreate and better understand T1D and other autoimmune diseases. The donated blood will be studied in a replicated human immune system to investigate what causes the body to attack healthy tissues and cause various autoimmune diseases, like type 1 diabetes.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS) 

Principal Investigator: David Harlan, MD

Scientists are growing stem cell-derived pancreatic beta cells from blood donated by heathy volunteers with type 1 diabetes. People’s own peripheral blood stem cell lines are used to recreate and study human T1D in our novel humanized mice.

PRODMAT | Proliferation Diabetes Mellitus and Adipose Tissue  

Principal Investigator: Silvia Corvera, PhD

The location of body fat varies among individuals, with fat deposits in the belly area being a risk factor for diabetes.  The purpose of this research is to characterize how fat cells from the abdomen and buttock regions are different. We'll also study which types of cells in those areas of the body can make new fat cells (stem cells).  Studying fat cells collected from the bellies and backsides of healthy volunteers (18 years and older) and adults with type 2 diabetes to look for differences that might explain what causes diabetes and obesity. Participants will donate fat cells collected using a needle and syringe from their belly and their backside.

Development and Feasibility Testing of DM-BOOST Intervention 

Clinical Study Archives

The GOOD-ER Program

Led by Mark O’Connor, MD and emergency physician Laurel O'Connor, MD 

This randomized clinical trial provided continuous glucose monitors to people with diabetes who did not already have one and arrived at the Emergency Room with high or low blood sugar, or other diabetes related complications. Those who fit the criteria and agreed to participate, received a Freestyle Libre to wear for two weeks to monitor their blood sugar and share the data with their diabetes care team. The study analyzed whether CGM successfully keeps people from returning to the ER with diabetes-related issues, compared to the control group who did not wearing a device to monitor their blood sugars. The goal is to reduce clinic no-shows and improve glycemic outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Breath Acetone Level as a Measure of Diabetes Control 

(H00016426) Principal Investigator: Michael Thompson, MD

This research tested a device that measures the amount of acetone in the breath.  Acetone is naturally produced when the body digests fats and carbohydrates.  It is thought that there are higher levels in people with diabetes than healthy non-diabetics.  This study investigated levels of breath acetone and compared them to blood sugar levels in people with and without diabetes. 

HYCLO (Hybrid Closed Loop Insulin Delivery System Data Collection)

(IRB00000766) Principal Investigator: Michael Thompson, MD

This project collected data over the first year of clinical use of the Medtronic MiniMed 670G closed loop insulin delivery system among patients with type 1 diabetes and evaluated how the system impacted both clinical and patient-reported outcomes.  

T1D Exchange Ancillary Study: Residual C-Peptide in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

(H14601) Principal Investigator: David Harlan, MD

Studied how often patients with T1D still produce at least some of their own insulin and if it's related to how long they've had diabetes or their age at diagnosis.

Onset 9 

(H00013294) Led by Samir Malkani, MD and Eyad Hamoudeh, MD

Assessed the advantage, if any, of the newly approved faster-acting Aspart (FiASP) in combination with Degludec (Tresiba) in insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes, compared to Aspart (Novolog) and Degludec (Tresiba).  

New Onset T1D Blood Samples 

(H-11522) Principal Investigator: Dale Greiner, PhD

Blood samples from newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes patients were collected within one month of diagnosis and again at four months from diagnosis. This study was in collaboration with Genzyme to produce a comprehensive RNA transcriptome during new onset T1D.

T1GER (SIMPONI to Arrest beta cell Loss in New Onset Type 1 Diabetes) 

(H00011321) Principal Investigator: Michael Thompson, MD

Tested whether the anti-TNF medication Golimumab can preserve beta-cell function in children and young adults with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes.  

WISDM (Wireless Innovation for Seniors with Diabetes Mellitus) 

(IRB00000766) Principal Investigator: Michael Thompson, MD

This study was intended to determine if a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is helpful for older adults to manage type 1 diabetes and reduce hypoglycemia.  

T1D Exchange Type 1 Diabetes Network 

(H14240) Principal Investigator: David Harlan, MD

This clinic registry contains about 25,000 individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, to study and learn more about T1D.   

PERL (trial of allopurinol to prevent GFR loss in type 1 diabetes) 

(H00004468) Principal Investigator: Michael Thompson, MD

Designed to test whether the medication allopurinol can prevent or slow down kidney disease in people with type 1 diabetes. Participants had a history or presence of microalbuminuria or moderate macroalbuminuria, or evidence of declining kidney function.