Advancing Lung Care through Clinical Research

Clinical research is a vital step in the advancement of medicine. The Taft Center for Clinical Research at El Camino Hospital provides the resources and infrastructure needed to support doctors conducting leading-edge research and provides community access to the latest treatments. The Center conducts scientific investigations on the latest advancements and technology in a number of medical areas including pulmonology.

Dr. Ganesh Krishna, Medical Director of Interventional Pulmonology at El Camino Hospital and a Palo Alto Medical Foundation doctor, leads our lung care clinical research. As the Principal Investigator of several active lung trials and additional studies to start later this year, Dr. Krishna has more than 15 years of experience as an interventional pulmonologist and has become a leader in pulmonary research in Northern California. Dr. Krishna says, “Advancing science through technology is very appealing to me. Playing an active role in the next generation of patient care modalities with cutting edge research makes it more exciting to come to work every day.”

The Taft Center for Clinical Research at El Camino Hospital is currently conducting the following clinical trials in pulmonology:

• Bronchial Sample Collection for a Novel Genomic Test - BRAVE (BRAVE-3) is a sample-collection study to help diagnose interstitial lung disease (ILD). Biopsy samples and pathology slides collected in this study will be sent to the sponsor for review to help develop a molecular profiling test that may help diagnose ILD in a timely manner. This trial is currently enrolling patients.
• Lung Function Improvement after Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction (BLVR) with Pulmonx Endobronchial Valves (EBV) used in Treatment of Emphysema (LIBERATE): The EBV valve is designed to treat patients with emphysema, which is one form of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD). It is a one-way valve designed to produce lung volume reduction that blocks off the affected lung section to inhaled air while letting the trapped air inside the area escape. Using bronchoscopy to place the valve, the affected part of the lung collapses; this may allow the healthier parts of the lung to expand and function more efficiently, resulting in improved breathing. This is a randomized, controlled study to investigate the safety and effectiveness of the EBV for treating emphysema symptoms as compared to standard medical therapy. This trial is currently in follow-up.
• Clinical Evaluation of super Dimension Navigation System for Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy (NAVIGATE) is an observational study to collect data that may help with the accurate diagnosis of suspicious lesions in people with lung disease. Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy™ (ENB™) procedure uses the superDimension™ navigation system, which functions like a GPS of your airways. ENB is an image-guided approach that uses 3D-reconstructed computed tomography (CT)-scan and sensor location technology to guide a steerable endoscopic probe. It helps the physician to reach lesions located in the outer area of the lung that may be beyond the reach of conventional bronchoscopes. This trial is currently in follow-up phase.
• Safety and Effectiveness of the Spiration Valve System in Air Leaks (VAST) is a non-surgical minimally invasive treatment for treating patients with persistent air leaks in lungs. The Spiration Valve System (SVS) is a one-way valve which may limit the amount of air that can reach the damaged parts of the lungs, while still allowing mucus to clear out of these areas. The SVS valve may provide benefits, including better healing and shorter length of stay in patients who experience post-operative air leak in the lungs. This is a randomized, controlled study of the investigational device SVS to evaluate outcomes when compared to standard medical management, such as chest tube or surgical treatment. This trial is currently enrolling patients.
• A comparison of Trans -bronchial cryobiopsy (TBCB) and Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgical biopsy (VATS) in the diagnosis of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIP): VATS is a complex procedure and the current gold standard adopted to diagnose interstitial lung diseases. TBCB is a new procedure by which we can obtain large tissue samples in a minimally invasive fashion without a surgery. This study aims to compare the ability to diagnose IIP between the two techniques. This trial is currently enrolling patients.

Volunteering for a clinical trial is a personal choice. Trial participants contribute to the advancement of medical science and create a pathway for future treatment options. For more information about current pulmonology trials, contact the Taft Center for Clinical Research at 650-962-4463.