Clinical trials

The goal of this clinical trial to is assess the benefits of holistic lifestyle interventions, including nutrition, physical activities, and mindfulness, aiming to reduce preterm birth in twins, potentially revolutionizing twin care globally. An initial integrated pilot study is be conducted to assess and refine the intervention methods. The primary objective of the pilot study is to evaluate feasibility. If deemed feasible, the full study will be implemented, incorporating data from pilot study participants into the main study. Objective of the full study: To evaluate if a multi-component lifestyle extends gestational age at delivery by one week. Additional objective: to evaluate if the intervention positively influences multiple secondary outcomes including pregnancy complications, neonatal and maternal outcomes, and maternal quality of life. For the pilot study, we aim to include 81 pregnant women across 4 sites. This sample size is based on pragmatic considerations, while ensuring diverse representation, including individuals from low socioeconomic status backgrounds and high-risk groups. For the full trial, in total 274 women are needed to detect a clinically meaningful difference in gestational age at delivery, the primary outcome.

The aim of this study is to evaluate wound healing after the application of the Tooth Collar Technique (TCT) for bone augmentation in the upper or lower jaw. This technique is designed to promote tension-free wound closure and to reduce the risk of wound dehiscence. Augmentation is performed under local anesthesia. The gingiva is opened according to the TCT, after which the bone defect is reconstructed with standard biomaterials and covered with a membrane. No experimental materials are used- only a modified incision technique.

This study examines which factors influence quality of life in adults with a spinal deformity. It looks at imaging findings together with pain, daily functioning, psychosocial factors, and frailty to support more person-centred care. A total of 320 adults will participate in three groups: conservative treatment, first corrective surgery, or reoperation. All care follows standard practice; no experimental treatments are added. Participants complete questionnaires, and routine FASD tests and existing EOS/X-ray images may be used. Follow-up lasts up to 2 years, with scheduled assessments depending on whether treatment is surgical or conservative.

LESLIE is a multicentric randomized controlled trial in patients with triple negative breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemo/immunotherapy (NAT). This trial investigates the hypothesis that adding a cyclic fasting-mimicking diet combined with exercise during the NAT improves the NAT's therapeutic efficacy, treatment tolerability and compliance, as well as improve quality of life.

1\. Introduction This 3-week single case intervention study is funded by the Horizon Europe Research Program and is part of the VIPPSTAR project (Project 101156763 - VIPPSTAR "Visually Impaired children and adolescents: bridging the gap with Personalized Prevention Strategies, Tools, Approaches, and Resources). Within this project, the Belgian consortium will focus on the development of body image in relation to the social media use of children (10-11 years old) and adolescents (12-18 years old) with visual impairment (VI). This intervention study builds upon the insights done in earlier studies within the project, a focus group study and daily diary study. In the intervention study, children and adolescents with visual impairment will complete digital body image exercises through the first version of VIPPSTAR app. It is important to note that the data collection for this particular study will be limited to Flanders, Belgium, and will not extend to the other countries involved in the VIPPSTAR project. Furthermore, the ethical approval obtained for this study is specifically for collecting data from Flemish participants only, ensuring compliance with local ethical guidelines and regulations.

It involves collecting safety and efficacy data, under the actual conditions of use of off label and compassionate use medicines in children and adolescents approved in humans before 2007, using a validated tool (Ennov EDC) and relying on the network recognised pediatric hemato-oncology centers in Belgium and responsible for the organization of Pediatric National tumor boards which discuss each case of relapse in order to define the best therapeutic options.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are substances produced by gut bacteria when they ferment dietary fiber. They can act as signals between the gut and the brain and may help regulate the body's immune and stress responses. Earlier work has shown that delivering SCFAs to the colon can lower the stress hormone response to a mental stress task in healthy people, and laboratory studies suggest SCFAs can reduce inflammation. However, it is not yet known whether SCFAs can reduce inflammation in humans, or whether doing so protects mental performance. This study uses a controlled, acute, and short-lasting challenge. Healthy adults receive a single, low dose of a bacterial substance called lipopolysaccharide (LPS) through a vein. LPS briefly activates the immune system and causes mild, flu-like symptoms (such as fatigue, headache, and feeling unwell) that pass on their own within a few hours. It does not cause a real infection. Participants are randomly assigned to take either SCFA capsules or inactive placebo capsules on the morning of the test day, before the LPS challenge. Neither the participants, the researchers running the visit, nor the researchers analyzing the results know who received which capsules until the study is complete (triple-blind). The main goal of the study is to test whether SCFAs, compared with placebo, reduce the inflammatory response to LPS, measured by markers of inflammation in the blood. The study also examines whether SCFAs reduce the associated sickness symptoms and whether they protect performance on tasks that measure core executive functions: the ability to keep relevant information in mind (working memory), the ability to hold back automatic responses or thoughts (inhibition), and the ability to switch flexibly between tasks or rules (cognitive flexibility). Blood, saliva, and stool samples are collected to measure inflammation markers, SCFA levels, stress hormones, and gut bacteria. Participants attend a screening visit, a test day with monitoring for several hours, and a short follow-up visit the next day.

This prospective study wants to demonstrate the safety and clinical performance of the 5C® MEDic Knee System following total knee arthroplasty. Additionally, all observed product-related complications are documented during the course of the follow-up study. These observations help to re-assess current (known) risks and identify new ones. The data obtained during this study is part of the post market surveillance.

Osteoarthritis (OA) stands out as the most prevalent joint disease. It manifests as a progressive degradation of articular cartilage, new bone growth and often synovial tissue proliferation, resulting in pain and compromised joint functionality, ultimately leading to disability. Misalignment of the lower limb (varus or valgus knees) are recognised as a risk factor for osteoarthritis onset and progression. High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a surgical technique that allows to shift the load from the affected area to other areas with intact cartilage. Similarly to HTO, braces realign the lower limb, without the need for surgical intervention. These corrective treatments are recommended for the youngest group of patients as it allows them to stay active, as opposed to Total Knee Replacement (TKR). Until today, the effects of braces and HTO on the subchondral bone microstructure and cartilage are not well understood. Investigating these aspects to better understand treatment failures is becoming more and more crucial because global prevalence of knee OA is expected to increase with the ageing of populations.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) volumes continue to rise each year as the population ages and indications broaden. Increasingly, younger patients require hip replacement for conditions beyond primary osteoarthritis or fractures. As a result, the number of revision procedures is growing and is expected to increase further. Prospective data collection within this population will enable us to address key uncertainties, particularly around optimal implant selection for complex primary and revision cases. In addition, establishing a structured prospective database will allow for systematic internal auditing for quality assurance. Even simple metrics - such as verifying whether every patient received a complete diagnostic infection workup before revision surgery - could immediately enhance service quality and inform improvements to clinical pathways.

Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) is a progressive condition of the tendon of the tibialis posterior muscle with symptoms of tendinopathy or even rupture. Functionally, it is associated with the inability to lock the mid foot and thus manifests itself as a main contributor to adult acquired flatfoot deformity. Concerning treatment, clinical decision making is currently based on a classification integrating various parameters as pain, flexibility of the foot joints, the condition of the posterior tibial tendon assessed through ultrasound imaging and radiographic assessment of arthritic changes. Surprisingly, this classification does not consider any morphologic characteristics (the shape of a bone or joint) or functional, biomechanical characteristics of the foot and ankle, i.e. based on kinematics (e.g. range of motion) and/or kinetics (center of pressure, angular velocity, moment, power absorption and power generation of a joint). Detailed biomechanical characteristics of the foot and ankle can be reliably collected by instrumented gait analysis wherein a 3D camera system is combined with a force plate and plantar pressure platform. Kinematic studies in the field of PTTD typically considered the foot as a structure consisting of three segments: hind foot, forefoot and hallux. Consequently, the mid foot segment (the Chopart and Lisfranc joints) has been neglected, although it is this segment that is particularly affected in PTTD patients. The aim of this research is to overcome the limitations of the current classification system and treatment of PTTD patients, by complementing the current standard-of-care clinical assessment with better insight in the pathologic changes that occur in PTTD patients.

The CLARA trial is a phase II window-of-opportunity trial evaluating how a commonly used weight-loss medication (tirzepatide, a GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist) affects breast cancer biology, alone and in combination with standard hormone therapy (letrozole). The main goal is to determine whether tirzepatide, alone or combined with letrozole, reduces tumor cell growth.

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is an important contributor to the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Women with glucose intolerance in early postpartum are a particularly high-risk group with about 50% who will develop T2DM within 5 years after the delivery. Moreover, women with a history of GDM progress more rapidly to T2DM compared to women with similarly elevated glucose levels. Early intervention after the index pregnancy is therefore crucial to prevent T2DM. With the SERENA project, the investigators aim to reduce the risk to develop T2DM with the long-acting GLP-1 agonist semaglutide in women with a recent history of GDM and glucose intolerance in early postpartum.

The goal of this study is to test better ways to predict if cancer will return after surgery in adults (18+) who have been diagnosed with stage II or III colon cancer. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can computer programs (Artificial Intelligence) and special blood tests give more accurate information about the risk of cancer returning than the methods doctors use today? * Does combining these new tests help doctors better understand which patients really need chemotherapy and which do not? Researchers will compare the new computer and blood tests to the standard hospital methods used now to see if the new way is more accurate in predicting the cancer's behavior Participants will: * Sign a form saying they agree to take part in the study * Have their standard surgery to remove the tumor * Give a few extra teaspoons of blood during their regular, scheduled hospital visits * Allow researchers to scan and study a small piece of the tumor that was already removed during surgery * Continue with their normal hospital check-ups for up to five years so researchers can track their health

The goal of this study is to determine how blood biomarker tests (ptau217 and ptau217/Aβ42) performed in primary care influence the patient trajectory in individuals with cognitive concerns. Participants will provide a blood sample for biomarker testing and undergo clinical assessments as part of diagnostic evaluation.

This study investigates whether infrared thermography, a harmless and non-invasive thermal camera technique, can help monitor how surgical wounds heal after skin surgery. The goal is to detect wound problems earlier, such as infection or delayed healing, and to support doctors in making timely clinical decisions.

The goal of this clinical trial is to set up a prospective, fit-for-purpose collection of human body material (HBM)-blood (serum, plasma, DNA) and tissue-and standardized clinical data of patients with cutaneous melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer and healthy controls. The main questions it aims to answer are: * To create a biobank with samples of human body material (HBM): blood (serum/plasma/DNA) and tissue and clinical data of patients with cutaneous melanoma, non-melanoma and helathy controls. * To support future research questions (after specific approval of the Ethics Committee) by using the biobank (through satellite protocols). If there is a comparison group: Not applicable (umbrella protocol for collection only). Participants will: * Share demographics, medical and surgical history, risk factors. * Complete Cancer Worry Scale questionnaire. * Provide biological samples: * Blood samples (serum, plasma, DNA). * Tissue samples (residual tissue or additional biopsy if consented).

The objective of this prospective paired diagnostic comparison study is to evaluate the diagnostic yield and field applicability of SDS-EDTA-treated chromatography paper strips for the collection, transport, and laboratory detection of mpox virus compared with the routine swab-based sampling method under field conditions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The study is conducted among patients with suspected mpox infection presenting to healthcare facilities in South Kivu, DRC. For each participant, paired samples are collected simultaneously using the standard swab method and the SDS-EDTA strip method. Samples are analyzed using locally available molecular diagnostic platforms.

This survey study aims to investigate the incidence of Chronic post surgical pain (CPSP) in cardiac surgery patients treated at UZ Leuven. The primary hypothesis is that the incidence of CPSP at 3 months postoperatively is lower than 33%, which is the rate commonly reported in the literature. Secondary objectives include comparing CPSP incidence based on the type of surgical incision, as well as comparing incidences between type of surgery. Finally, the study will assess pain intensity, interference with daily activities, and quality of life of 3 months and when required also at 1 years postoperatively.

There are a few ongoing large randomized controlled trials (RCT's) on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in women with gestational diabetes (GDM) powered for pregnancy outcomes. However, none of these studies included women diagnosed with early GDM. The CORDELIA trial is a Belgian-Australian open-label multi-centric RCT with 16 centers in women with GDM (including both early and late GDM). Women will be randomized 1/1 to either treatment with CGM (intervention group, Freestyle Libre 3 +) or continue with self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) with glucometer in line with normal routine (control arm). The study ends at the postpartum oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT 6-24 weeks postpartum) to screen for glucose intolerance.

What is HFpEF? In heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), the heart pumps well but struggles to relax and fill with blood between beats. This raises the pressure inside the heart, especially during physical activity, causing symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue - even with light activities like walking or climbing stairs. What is this study about? Recent research suggests that a higher heart rate may help lower this elevated pressure. Many HFpEF patients already have a pacemaker. This study investigates whether simply increasing the pacemaker rate during light exercise can reduce the pressure in the heart. How does the study work? We wille measure heart pressures in 20 patients in rest and while cycling using a heart catheter and monitor their breathing. Throughout these measurements, we will gradually increase the pacemaker rate step by step. Why does this matter? If a higher pacemaker rate successfully lowers heart pressure, this could offer a simple, drug-free way to improve daily functioning and comfort for thousands of patients with HFpEF, justifying further long-term studies to evaluate effects beyond the immediate changes in heart pressures.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided portal pressure measurement can determine the treatment response to non-selective beta-blockers (NSBB) in patients with cirrhosis and clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH). Participants will undergo EUS-guided portal pressure measurement before start of Carvedilol en after three months of treatment. EUS-guided measurements will be paired with transjugular hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement as well as non-invasive tests for assessment of portal hypertension.

This project targets patients with a form of primary liver cancer, specifically "hepatocellular carcinoma". This disease often develops in the context of a chronically diseased liver, caused by viral infections, excessive alcohol consumption, or fatty liver. Primarily due to the rise of the latter risk factor, liver cancer is one of the few cancer types whose incidence continues to increase globally, year after year. As a result, liver cancer has become the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. There exists a significant challenge in reducing the disease on all fronts: prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. This research aims to personalize the treatment of liver cancer patients, tailoring it to the individual. More specifically, this research seeks to identify patients with immunotherapy-sensitive liver cancer by biomarkers before treatment begins. Determining whether a tumor is immunotherapy-sensitive is internationally recognized as one of the most important challenges within this condition. Based on a combination of existing laboratory techniques on tumor tissue and/or blood, the investigators seek to predict the likelihood of this treatment's success before initiating it. With this knowledge, the investigators could recommend alternative treatments to patients with tumors that are unresponsive. This way, they would also avoid exposure to the side effects of an ineffective therapy.

Purpose of this study is to determine the value of liquid biopsies, e.g. testing of minimal residual disease (MRD) by using liquid biopsies to measure circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) at diagnosis and during the multimodal and multidisciplinary curative-intent treatment of resectable esophageal cancer.

Current clinical practices often provide general verbal advice to low-risk patients, which may not sufficiently address individual concerns or offer actionable steps. Generic information on the internet can be overwhelming or unreliable, leading to confusion and unnecessary follow-up visits. This project introduces a tailored approach by combining evidence-based guidelines with personalized details about the patient's risk profile. The discharge letter bridges the gap between clinical expertise and patient understanding, offering clear, specific, and actionable advice that has been shown to improve health behaviors and outcomes in other contexts . The personalized discharge letters are generated using an AI agent trained on validated letters from the hospital's electronic health record system (KWS). Each letter is reviewed and approved by a physician before being provided to the patient, ensuring both accuracy and clinical relevance.