Clinical Trials & Research Studies

Our team is involved in numerous clinical trials and research studies focused on understanding antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and lupus, and developing new, personalized treatment options. We are also involved in COVID-19 research.


ANSWERS Study
This observational study is being conducted with the goal of developing better treatments, and ultimately a cure, for APS. Individuals who agree to participate will have the opportunity to donate blood for cutting-edge genetic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses. Participants will also be kept up-to-date on all the newest APS advances and research at University of Michigan.
Questions: michiganANSWERS@med.umich.edu or 734-647-3949
Principal Investigator: Jason S. Knight, MD, PhD

APS ACTION International Clinical Database and Repository
This is a multi-center collaborative effort to maintain a secure, web-based clinical database of persistently antiphospholipid antibody-positive individuals so that the natural course of these patients can be followed over the next 10 years.
Questions: michiganANSWERS@med.umich.edu or 734-647-3949
Site Principal Investigator: Jason S. Knight, MD, PhD

DARE APS
This is a multi-center, innovative clinical trial investigating the use of daratumumab (Darzalex®) in patients with APS. The drug is already FDA-approved and in use for other diseases, and so the role of this trial is to ensure its safety in APS patients and assess how well it decreases levels of antiphospholipid antibodies over time. We are recruiting patients with APS between the ages of 18-70 who have high levels of antiphospholipid antibodies and no diagnosis of lupus to potentially participate in this trial.
Questions: michiganANSWERS@med.umich.edu or 734-647-3949
Site Principal Investigator: Jason S. Knight, MD, PhD

Endothelial Cells and the Origins of Antiphospholipid Vasculopathy
This study is being conducted with the goal of developing more precise and individualized treatments for APS. We are isolating endothelial (blood vessel) cells from the skin of APS patients to characterize the gene expression and function of APS endothelial cells. The hypothesis is that APS endothelial cells, under constant attack from antiphospholipid antibodies in the blood, are key orchestrators of blood vessel failure over time.
Questions: michiganANSWERS@med.umich.edu or 734-647-3949
Principal Investigator: Jason S. Knight, MD, PhD 

IMPACT (IMProve Pregnancy in APS with Certolizumab Therapy) Study
This treatment trial evaluates the addition of an anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha drug, certolizumab, to usual treatment (a heparin agent and low-dose aspirin) in pregnant women with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and repeatedly positive tests for lupus anticoagulant (LAC) to determine if this regimen will improve pregnancy outcomes.
Questions: michiganANSWERS@med.umich.edu or 734-647-3949
Site Principal Investigator: Jason S. Knight, MD, PhD

Phenotyping Endothelial Cells in APS

This study is being conducted with the goal of developing more precise and individualized treatments for APS. Specifically, we are isolating endothelial (blood vessel) cells from the skin of APS patients to determine why these cells do not function normally. We are especially interested in studying patients with livedo reticularis, a common APS-associated skin rash caused by slow-moving blood flow in vessels near the surface of the skin.

Dipyridamole to Prevent Coronavirus Exacerbation of Respiratory Status (DICER) in COVID-19

The most severe manifestations of COVID-19 include respiratory failure, coagulation problems, and death. Inflammation and blood clotting are believed to play an important role in these manifestations. Research in humans has shown that dipyridamole can reduce blood clotting. This research study was conducted to learn whether 14 days of treatment with dipyridamole will reduce excessive blood clotting in COVID-19. Learn more.