diabetes research
What to Know About Clinical Research Trials at TD&E 

Clinical research trials are conducted every day in every field of medicine in order to discover and advance new and innovative forms of treatment. At Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology (TD&E), our commitment to endocrinology research is unwavering. 

During a clinical research trial, patients volunteer to test cutting-edge new treatments (or medical devices) while in the development stage before they become available to the general public.

The benefits to a patient for opting to participate in clinical research trials include: (1) allowing them to learn more about their condition and actively take control of their health, and (2) potentially improving their condition (and therefore quality of life) by trying an effective new treatment.  

As appreciation and gratitude for their time and travel, patients who participate in TD&E research trials typically receive a form of compensation and all research-related medication and testing is free.

At Texas Diabetes, our Research Department was established in 2007 and is led by our team of board-certified endocrinologists and diabetes experts. We are considered one of the most active endocrine research practices worldwide.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about clinical research trials at Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology:  

TD&E Research Trials FAQs

Is there compensation for participating in a trial? How are patients compensated?

  • Yes, there is compensation for participating in each study as a thank you for your time and travel to the site. 
  • Compensation varies between each study and the requirements of each visit.  
  • Compensation is provided on a payment card that is loaded after each visit is completed. 
  • The informed consent for each trial has a detailed description of the payment schedule and the Research Coordinator will review it with the patient during their screening visit. 
  • Patients who receive a payment of $600 or more during a tax year will receive a 1099-MISC form in the mail for tax purposes.

What is the time commitment required for a clinical research trial and how flexible are visits?

  • Every study is different and the visit  frequency will vary depending on the type of study. Most visits with the Research Coordinator will last one to two hours and are scheduled based on the individual study requirements. The informed consent for each study will have a detailed explanation of the number of visits required and whether it’s an onsite visit or phone visit.
  • All visits are conducted Monday through Friday, with most visits being scheduled for the morning hours. Our office opens at 7am and closes at 4pm.
  • Most studies have a visit window which allows for some flexibility when scheduling study visits.

Will there be blood draws at each visit and where will they occur?

  • The majority of studies will require blood work to confirm eligibility and to make sure that it is safe for patients to participate in the trial.
  • All blood work will be conducted onsite by our research team.
  • All visits that require fasting blood draws will be scheduled in the morning.

Do clinical trials go through insurance or will patients have to pay copays?

  • Your insurance will not be billed for any research visits, and all materials and medication are provided by the research study.

Will patients learn at some point what medication they were on and will they be informed of results when the study is over?

  • Yes, the study team will let the site know once all participants have completed the trial at all sites (in the United States and globally) and all data has been collected. The participant will receive a letter afterwards with the information regarding what treatment was received during the study. 

Clinical Research Opportunities at TD&E

You can learn more about our research department and currently enrolling clinical trials here. Please feel free to contact us at (512) 334-3505, option 4, to speak to a recruiter about our enrolling studies.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and check back with us each month as we provide you helpful wellness and health information.

Spotlight on Obesity Clinical Research Trials

Clinical research trials test the effectiveness of a new treatment or therapy on volunteer patients during a development phase before being introduced to the public. 

Participating in clinical research trials is an integral part of our practice and provides Central Texans an opportunity to receive new and promising treatment and/or cutting edge technology.

Research participants do not have to be a current Texas Diabetes patient to enroll in a clinical trial and we are actively recruiting patients for obesity studies – both those with diabetes and those without diabetes. 

There is no cost for participation, and the provided medications and study-related labs and exams are free. In addition, most studies will compensate patients for their time and travel.

Obesity Clinical Research 

Our board-certified endocrinologists have served as principal investigators in obesity trials over the past decade to help patients with their weight loss management. Obesity is a serious condition that can lead to a variety of health problems including diabetesheart disease or respiratory issues.

“We see research as a very important part of what we do at Texas Diabetes,” says endocrinology expert Dr. Thomas Blevins. “We are currently studying the next generation of obesity agents just as we studied the GLP-1 agonists that are available today.”

Dr. Blevins recently served as a co-author for a published study on a promising innovative obesity agent called Oforglipron.

“We are now offering a new obesity trial for an investigational drug that is being developed as a chronic weight management treatment,” explains Dr. Blevins. “To qualify for this study, participants must be living with obesity and have at least one weight-related health issue other than type 2 diabetes.”

Anyone interested in learning more about this study can contact our research department to learn more. 

Patient Success with TD&E Research Trials 

One TD&E patient who has participated in obesity clinical research is 61-year-old Carla. Three years ago, she was prediabetic and wanted help managing her weight, so she opted to participate in a three-year study that involved weekly shots, counting calories, and working with a TD&E study coordinator and registered dietician to help her reach her goals.

She completed the clinical research trial in December 2023 with the following positive results:

  • Shedding 130 pounds
  • Losing her prediabetic status
  • Eliminating her blood pressure medicine 

TD&E applauds Carla for her diligent efforts to tackle weight loss while contributing to the greater advancement of medicine and science! 

She encourages other patients looking for additional ways to improve their condition to take the first step by contacting TD&E to see what clinical research trials are available.

“The Texas Diabetes research team was my greatest cheerleader,” shares Carla. “Someone was always available to help keep track of my health and advise me every step of the way.”

To those who sign up for clinical studies, Dr. Blevins thanks them and says, “we are indebted to the patients who volunteer to take part in our research trials at Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology.” 

Clinical Research Opportunities at TD&E

You can learn more about our research department and currently enrolling clinical trials here. Please feel free to contact us at (512) 334-3505, option 4, to speak to a research coordinator about our enrolling studies.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and check back with us each month as we provide you helpful wellness and health information.

diabetes clinical research
Clinical Research Trials at Texas Diabetes

At Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology, we are dedicated to advancing medical therapies through rigorous clinical research trials. Our research department aims to test new and promising treatments before they become widely available, providing a vital service to both the medical community and our patients. 

What are clinical research trials? 

Clinical research works to advance medical or device therapies by testing new and potential treatments before they are available to the public. 

At TD&E, we offer many clinical research trials for patients to participate in if interested. 

Our research goals at TD&E are to (1) help with the advancement of new therapies and devices, and (2) to improve a patient’s quality of life by offering new and alternative therapies to which they might not otherwise have access. 

Here’s what you should know about voluntary participation in clinical research trials we offer at TD&E Research.  

What is the benefit to the patient for participating in clinical research trials? 

Clinical trials give patients an opportunity to help with the advancement of medications, devices, and innovative ways to treat different conditions and diseases. Participation in a clinical research trial also affords patients a unique opportunity to learn more about their condition and take an active role in their health. 

Are all patients eligible to participate in TD&E clinical research trials? 

Patients must first meet specific inclusion criteria to participate in a clinical trial. 

What are the additional requirements for participating in a trial? 

Clinical research trials often require additional procedures beyond what is included in your regular care such as more lab work (blood and urine samples), ECGs, questionnaires, dietician consultations, and visits with our clinical research team. Patients will be asked to keep in close contact with our office if they experience any medical or health issues associated with their new trial treatment.

How much time do research visits typically take?

Research visits can take approximately one to three hours depending on the type of visit and requirements needed for the study. 

How long do research trials usually last?

The time period for clinical trials varies, but they can last anywhere from a singular, one-time visit up to five years depending on the data needed. 

Is there a cost associated with participating in a clinical research trial at TD&E?

There is no cost to our patients for their participation, and most studies will compensate for the time and travel for completing required visits and procedures. 

Clinical Trials at Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology Research

You can learn more about our research department and currently enrolling clinical trials here. Please feel free to contact us at (512) 334-3505, option 4 to speak to a recruiter about our enrolling studies.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and check back with us each month as we provide you helpful wellness and health information.

Type 1 diabetes patient
9-year-old Georgetown boy participates in clinical trial to help find Type 1 Diabetes cure
Type 1 diabetes patient

Nine-year-old Paxton was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was just five years old. He showed the classic symptoms: extreme thirst, frequent urination, unintentional weight loss, and behavioral changes.  Both of his parents have health education backgrounds, so they immediately feared it was Type 1 diabetes. A trip to the pediatrician confirmed it. 

Type 1 diabetes is very different from Type 2 diabetes. Children who have Type 1 diabetes can’t produce the important hormone, insulin. Type 2 diabetes is typically a result of lifestyle factors, such as being inactive and carrying excess weight. 

Type 1 diabetes has a significant impact on Paxton and his family. He must check his blood sugar levels multiple times a day and must calculate how much insulin he needs. He (& his family) don’t sleep through the night because every morning at about 2am, his mom or dad checks his blood sugar levels because they typically plummet at that time. If it gets too low, Paxton could die. He is currently home-schooled because he was missing important class time due to treating blood sugar highs and lows in the nurse’s office. 

For these reasons, he’s participating in a new clinical trial at Texas Diabetes looking at special sensors and insulin pumps that make automatic adjustments to help people like Paxton stay in a more normal, healthy blood glucose range.  

“Ultra-rapid insulins being approved in pumps, including pumps with the automated features “closed loop pumps, is extremely exciting when it comes to treating patients with Type 1 diabetes”, says board certified endocrinologist, Dr. Lindsay Harrison and one of the investigators in the study.

Paxton must go to Texas Diabetes every two weeks and then eventually, it will be monthly for a total of four months. When he’s not there, he downloads his pump data and researchers access it in a cloud to watch his blood glucose levels. He must also log his food, exercise activity, and ketone levels.

This is Paxton’s third time participating in a clinical trial at Texas Diabetes. “I want to help out so other people can benefit from new technologies for Type 1,” explains Paxton. Paxton likes to explain to people exactly what Type 1 diabetes is, what the signs and symptoms are, and how it impacts his life.  He’s even recorded videos about it to share on social media.

Paxton still tries his best to live like a normal nine-year-old kid by playing with his friends and staying active through taekwondo.  

Clinical Trials at Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology

Texas Diabetes is one of the top endocrine research sites trusted worldwide in conducting investigational studies for the development of new medications and devices to help treat and prevent a wide range of endocrine diseases.

For more information on clinical research at Texas Diabetes, contact our research department here.

And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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