These studies done by a research team under the leadership of Anthony Sung, MD; Assistant Professor of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine; Associate Director, Duke Microbiome Center; Senior Fellow, Duke Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development; Member, Food and Drug Administration Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (FDA ODAC).
Dr. Sung oversees a large research program of lab-based studies that have successfully moved into phase 1 and phase 2 randomized clinical trials in humans. This includes work on the impact of the microbiome on outcomes from infectious diseases.
His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including the
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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
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National Cancer Institute (NCI)
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National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS)
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National Institute of Aging (NIA)
He also has research funded by non-profit foundations, including the
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American Society of Hematology
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Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
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Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
With our ongoing HCT research, we are already improving transplant outcomes, but there is still more work to be done. Our studies aim to improve clinical outcomes and quality of life for people who have HCT. Below are our main areas of research:
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS)
National Institute of Aging (NIA)
American Society of Hematology
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
Microbiome:
Over 100 trillion microbes live in our gut, skin, and other parts of our body, making up the microbiome. Strategies to manipulate the microbiome may improve outcomes for HCT patients. Our research seeks to analyze the microbiome through bio-sample collection to understand these relationships so that we can design rational approaches to be tested in clinical trials with the goal of improving patient outcomes.
Home Transplant:
We have developed a novel home-based HCT program that provides support and care management in the patient’s home or temporary lodging environment. In contrast to standard hospital-based care, patients stay in their homes and providers make daily house calls to assess patients, draw blood for laboratory studies, and given intravenous medications, transfusions, and other HCT-related treatments. Through our successfully completed phase 1 trial and ongoing phase 2 trials, we have demonstrated safety and feasibility of this approach, and we have received positive feedback from our patients and their caregivers. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have temporarily transformed into a fully home-based clinical HCT program and are opening a new study to evaluate these outcomes.
mHealth:
As technology continues to advance, the world of healthcare increasingly relies on mobile health (mHealth) apps to improve patient outcomes. We have begun to implement devices such as Apple watches and smartphone apps into our studies to monitor patient characteristics such as step count, heart rate, diet, symptoms, patient-reported outcomes, and other important information. Our goal is not only to use these data to improve clinical outcomes, but to predict adverse outcomes before they happen so we can intervene to prevent them.
Exercise:
We developed a novel Remotely Monitored, Mobile-health-supported High Intensity Interval Training program (REMM-HIIT) to improve physical function in cancer patients prior to HCT. These assessments help us create a personalized HIIT exercise program (heart rate goals during short periods of intense anaerobic exercise, with less intense recovery periods in between) for our patients. Patients are provided Apple watches and Iphones during the study to help track their physical activity. Only the first HIIT session takes place in-person; all subsequent sessions take place in the patient’s home with remote monitoring and support. Our goal is to use REMM-HIIT to improve physical function in our patients prior to HCT with the hope that this will lead to improved outcomes after HCT.
How you can help
Our HCT studies have the potential to greatly improve the lives of people going through HCT. However, they do take a lot of resources and effort.
We have received funding for much of this work from the NIH and non-profit foundations. However, more funds are needed to support the development of new ideas or essential research infrastructure.
If you are interested in donating money towards our HCT research efforts, we would greatly appreciate it.
