Clinical Trials


Clinical trials, also known as research studies or patient studies, are essential in the fight against kidney diseases. These human studies help physician-scientists better understand, diagnose, treat and prevent diseases and conditions. UT Health San Antonio- Division of Nephrology conducts numerous clinical trials and research studies on a wide spectrum of kidney diseases including acute kidney injury, diabetic nephropathy and cardiorenal syndromes. Two landmark long term, NIH sponsored, multi-center clinical trials are actively following the subjects in the Division: The Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS) and Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes). In addition, our faculty participate in several industry-sponsored clinical trials. Our patients’ participation have contributed significantly to the success of recently completed trials evaluating newer cardiorenal protective drugs such as Atrasentan in SONAR, Canagliflozin in CREDENCE, Finerernone in FIDELO and FIGARO, and ongoing study with Empaglifozin in EMPA-Kidney.

Following studies are open for enrollment to participants who want to volunteer for research studies related to kidney health and disease.

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  • TRIDENT – Transformative Research In Diabetic Nephropathy

    Diagnosis Requirements: Type 1 or 2 Diabetes
    Age Eligibility: 18 years and older
    Location: University Hospital and Texas Diabetes Institute
    P.I: Dr. Shweta Bansal; Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania

    The purpose of this study is to gather a group of patients with diabetes who undergo a kidney biopsy to create a source of information with genetic, blood, and urine samples available, by which researchers can study how diabetes affects kidney function.

  • SPIRRIT-HFpEF Pragmatic Trial

    Diagnosis Requirements: Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
    Age Eligibility: 50 years and older
    Location: University Hospital and Texas Diabetes Institute
    P.I: Dr. Shweta Bansal; Sponsor: Duke Clinical Research Institute

    The purpose of this study is to assess whether the initiation of spironolactone (which has shown to be effective for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction) plus standard care improves outcomes compared to standard care alone in patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF or stiff heart). It is a registry based randomized pragmatic clinical trial where patients do not need to come for separate study visits.

  • Nicotinamide Riboside in SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Patients for Renal Protection (NIRVANA)

    Diagnosis Requirements: SARS-CoV-2 Infection with Acute Kidney Injury
    Age Eligibility: 18 years to 101 years
    Location: University Hospital
    P.I: Dr. Kumar Sharma; Sponsor: NIH-NIDDK

  • FRONTIER Clinical Trial

    Diagnosis Requirements: Type 2 diabetes with kidney disease
    Age Eligibility: 18 years to 101 years
    Location: Texas Diabetes Institute
    P.I: Dr. Shweta Bansal; Sponsor: AstraZeneca

    The FLOW clinical trial is phase 2 study evaluating the efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of new medication in adults with diabetic kidney disease who are already on standard of care therapy including angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and dapagliflozin, and still have protein in the urine. The total duration of study participation is 9 months.

  • DISCOVER CKD

    Diagnosis Requirements: Chronic Kidney Disease
    Age Eligibility: 18 years and older
    Location: Texas Diabetes Institute
    P.I: Dr. Tareq Nassar; Sponsor: Astra Zeneca

  • APPLAUSE-IgAN Clinical Trial

    Diagnosis Requirements: IgA nephropathy (IgAN)
    Age Eligibility: Age Eligibility: 18 years and older
    Location: Texas Diabetes Institute
    P.I: Dr. Shweta Bansal; Sponsor: Novartis Pharmaceuticals

    Currently there are no evidence-based disease-modifying pharmacotherapies for IgAN. The purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate the superiority of LNP023 (a factor B inhibitor which works by damping the innate immune system) versus placebo on top of the maximally tolerated doses of an ACEi or ARB in slowing kidney disease progression and reduction in the protein in the urine.

  • (VOID-HF) – Clinical Feasibility Research Trial

    Diagnosis Requirements: Decompensated Heart failure with persistent congestion
    Age Eligibility: Age Eligibility: 22 years and older
    Location: University Hospital and Texas Diabetes Institute
    P.I: Dr. Shweta Bansal; Sponsor: 3ive Labs, LLC

    The purpose of this feasibility clinical research trial is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational JuxtaFlow System performing negative pressure diuresis for the treatment of fluid overload and persistent congestion despite high dose intravenous diuretic therapy in patients with decompensated heart failure