Research Studies and Clinical Trials

• Research is vital to individuals with X and Y chromosome variations.
• Research provides answers to unanswered questions.
• Research discovers effective treatments and therapies.
• And, perhaps most important, research raises awareness and promotes early diagnosis.

If you want to know more about individual studies, scroll down the page and find an “I’m Interested” button and read the study description…

KS&A launched its first-ever partnership between a nonprofit organization and Private Access, Inc.—a partnership that will revolutionize our ability to connect researchers with individuals who are willing to participate as research subjects.  PrivateAccess™ is a web-based application that gives individuals the ability to share information about themselves while providing unprecedented privacy and security.  Meanwhile, researchers may use a companion application called RecruitSource™, a tool that allows them to find prospective candidates through a “blind,” secure connection to “de-identified” candidates. For now we are recruiting participants for XXY only, but soon we will begin recruiting for Trisomy X and XYY. If you want to know more about PrivateAccess™,  read on..

If you are ready to register for Private Access, click on the button below to get started now…

Below is a list of research studies that KS&A is aware are currently recruiting:

• TRISOMY X SURVEY ANNOUNCEMENT
  
  Description:
  Educational Needs Assessment of Women and Young Women with Trisomy X and Their Parents: Creation of Materials for Girls and Young Women First Learning about Their Trisomy X Diagnosis
  
  We invite you to participate in a research study that is being done by KS&A in conjunction with Kathleen Erskine, a graduate student in the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College.  The purpose of this study to identify the important aspects of 47, XXX/ 3X/ Triple X/ Trisomy X to discuss with girls when they first learn about their Trisomy X diagnosis.  The end result of this study will be an educational booklet for parents to give their daughters when they first tell her about Trisomy X.
  
  This survey is open to: - parents who have told their daughters about their Trisomy X diagnosis - parents who have not yet told their daughters about Trisomy X - Women who have Trisomy X and are over the age of 18 - Young women who have Trisomy X and are between the ages of 14 and 17 (with parental permission)
  The survey should take approximately 30-40 minutes to complete and will ask questions about specific aspects of Trisomy X that may be included in the first discussion about Trisomy X as well as some questions about your experiences or concerns regarding this first Trisomy X discussion.  The survey will be done online and is anonymous.  We will not ask for your name or other personal identifiers and will not be able to link you to your responses.
  
  Your participation is entirely voluntary and you will not be paid for completing the survey. 
  
  If you are a parent who has told your daughter about her Trisomy X diagnosis, please click here to learn more about the survey and to participate:
  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MVLSF5B
  
  If you are a parent who has not yet told your daughter about Trisomy X, please click here to learn more about the survey and to participate:
  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MVBZ9DL
  
  If you yourself have Trisomy X and are over 18 years of age, please click here to learn more about the survey and to participate:
  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M7XVHZF
  
  In order to assure that teens aged 14-17 have parental consent to complete the survey, access to their survey requires a password.  If you are a parent and have a daughter with Trisomy X who is between 14-17 years old and who may want to participate in the survey, please contact Kathleen Erskine at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 914-361-9093 for the web address and password for the survey.  After this communication, any voicemails or email communication will be deleted and will not be tied to your daughter’s responses.
  
  Thank you for your time and interest!
  
  If you have any questions, please contact Kathleen Erskine at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 914-361-9093.
  
  
• Living with 47XXY
  
  This study is completed:
  To view a preliminary report from the researcher, click here.
  
  Contact:

  Amy Turriff, BS, Associate Investigator   Barbara Biesecker, MS, Principal Investigator   National Human Genome Research Institute   National Institutes of Health   Building 31, Room B1B36C   31 Center Drive MSC 2073   Bethesda, MD 20892-2073   Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

  
  
  

   

• Cognitive, Physical, and Genetic Aspects of Klinefelter Syndrome and 47,XYY
  
  
  
  Description:

  
  

  Dr. Judith Ross, a pediatric endocrinologist at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, and Dr. Andrew Zinn, a geneticist from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, are currently recruiting subjects for a study focusing on children and adolescents with an extra X (47,XXY) or Y chromosome (47,XYY).  The overall goal of this study is to learn more about the physical, learning, and genetic aspects of Klinefelter’s syndrome and 47,XYY.  The study seeks to determine how chromosome variations influence the way boys and men with 47,XXY and 47,XYY grow and learn.  The study is free, including travel and hotel, and a detailed summary of the learning evaluation will be sent to the participating families.  Boys ages 4-19 years are eligible.

  
  

  
  Contact:

   

  Judith L. Ross, M.D.   Professor, Department of Pediatrics   Thomas Jefferson University   1025 Walnut St., Suite 726   Philadelphia, PA 19107   Phone: (215) 955-1648   Facsimile: (215) 955-1744   Email:  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

  I’M INTERESTED

  
  Deadline: Open

• Early Androgen Treatment in 47,XXY
  
  Description:
  Dr. Judith Ross (see above description) is also currently recruiting subjects for an NIH-funded research study involving the use of physiologic doses of androgen replacement in 47,XXY boys between the ages of 4 and 12.  The purpose of this placebo-controlled study is to learn how treatment with oral testosterone will impact on cognitive and behavioral characteristics, brain structure and function in boys with XXY. Participation involves an interview, blood test, comprehensive psychological and cognitive evaluation, comprehensive physical examination, and evaluation of sensory and motor function.  Parents will receive a report summarizing these findings. The study is free to research subjects, will take place in Philadelphia, and includes transportation and hotel costs.
  
  Contact:

   

  Judith L. Ross, M.D.   Professor, Department of Pediatrics   Thomas Jefferson University   1025 Walnut St., Suite 726   Philadelphia, PA 19107   Phone: (215) 955-1648   Facsimile: (215) 955-1744   Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

  I’M INTERESTED

  
  Deadline: Open

• Psychological and Motor Effects of Testosterone Therapy in Adolescents
  
  Description:
  Dr. Nicole Tartaglia, a pediatrician at The Children’s Hospital in Denver, is conducting a study in adolescent and young adult males with 47XXY, 48XXXY, 48XXYY, and 49XXXXY on the psychological and motor effects of testosterone therapy during puberty.  Males who are beginning testosterone therapy will be evaluated to determine changes in learning, behavior, emotions, and motor skills before and after testosterone therapy. The study will also evaluate genetic factors that influence the features of the X and Y chromosome variations, and how genetic factors may influence the response to testosterone therapy.  The study is recruiting adolescent males with 47XXY, 48XXXY, 48XXYY, and 49XXXXY who are starting on testosterone therapy.  Assessments will be made before each adolescent begins therapy, and then again one year after therapy was begun. 
  
  During the year, families and patients will complete behavioral questionnaires at 3 and 6 month intervals.  Testosterone replacement can be prescribed by the clinic, or by an outside endocrinologist (as long as it is possible to obtain medical records).  Blood draws will also be required as part of the study to conduct genetic studies, to measure testosterone and LH levels. Children with received a $10 gift card for each study visit.  Assessments will take place at Children’s Hospital.
  
  Contact:
  

   

  Susan Howell, Clinic Coordinator   University of Colorado at Denver   Health Sciences Center   Child Development Unit   The Children’s Hospital   13123 East 16th Avenue, B140   Aurora, CO 80045   Phone: (720) 777-8361   Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

  I’M INTERESTED

  
  Deadline: Open

• Brain development and Learning Differences in XXY and Triple X
  
  Description:
  Dr. Tony Simon and Dr. Nicole Tartaglia are conducting an NIH-funded study that seeks to learn more about brain development and learning differences in XXY and Triple X.  Dr. Simon is a cognitive neuroscientist at UC-Davis and Dr. Tartaglia is a developmental-behavioral pediatrician with expertise in X&Y chromosome variations at University of Colorado.  Many children with XXY and Triple X score lower on language-based tasks compared to visuospatial or math skills, and this study evaluates the function and structure of the brain to determine how it produces this pattern of strengths and weaknesses.  Once more is known, interventions to reduce the learning problems can be developed. 
  
  The study takes place at the UC-Davis MIND Institute in Sacramento, California.  Children ages 7-14 with XXY and XXX are invited to participate.  Children who take part in the study will play computer games, do paper and pencil tests, and have pictures taken of their brain using an MRI machine. For additional information, please click here see the XXY and XXX Brain Development Study flyer and contact Marisol Mendoza.
  
  Contact:
  

   

  Marisol Mendoza   The University of California   Davis M.I.N.D. Institute   Phone: (916) 703-0408   Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

  I’M INTERESTED

  
  Deadline: Open

• UCLA Study Concerning the Effect of the X-Chromosome on Determining Sexual Orientation
  
  Description:
  Dr. Eric Vilain, Director of the UCLA Center for Gender-Based Biology, leads an interdisciplinary team of biologists and psychologists who are seeking to better understand the role that parental origin and skewed inactivation of the X chromosome may play in determining sexual orientation.  This study seeks to correlate the parental origin and X-inactivation profile of the X chromosomes with the sexual orientation of the individual, and specifically to compare the genotype and X-inactivation profile of homosexual men with heterosexual men. Dr. Vilain and his staff are currently recruiting adults (18 and over) who are 47,XXY or 48,XXYY (either heterosexual or homosexual) to participate in this research project.
  
  Participation involves each subject completing a confidential questionnaire and providing a saliva sample. If possible, and with the express approval of the subject, a second saliva sample may be requested from the subject’s parents. Collection packets will be shipped to any location without expense to participants, and participants will be compensated for their time.
  
  Contact:
  

   

  Eric Vilain, M.D., Ph.D.   Director, Center for Gender-Based Biology   Professor of Human Genetics, Pediatrics and Urology   David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA   Gonda Center, Room 5506   695 Charles Young Drive South   Los Angeles, CA 90095-7088   Phone: (310) 267-2455   Facsimile: (310) 794-5446   Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

  I’M INTERESTED

  
  Deadline: Open

• Renewed Call for Study Participants
  CCUMC Cohort Study of boys between the ages of 8 and 18 years
  
  Description:
  The Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at Columbia University Medical Center continues to seek boys with KS (47, XXY)  between the ages of 8 and 18 years for a study on growth & development, body composition, hormones, metabolic and psychosocial health factors. To be eligible, boys must be between the ages of 8-18 years, be English-speaking and able to read at the first grade level. In the event an affected (47 XXY) boy is unaware of his diagnosis, non-disclosure will be maintained as per the parent wishes. Since we are measuring affected and non-affected boys, participants may not be aware of whether or not they are affected.
  
  Each participant will receive a free medical exam, blood tests and a $25 American Express gift card for his participation. Parking will also be paid by the study. This study is currently underway. For more information, please visit our study website: http://www.47xxyklinefelteryouth.com or contact Sharron Close at 914-420-4508 for enrollment or for more information about this research opportunity.
  Contact:
  

   

  Sharron Close, PhD (c), MS, RN, CPNP-PC   Co-Principal Investigator   Irving Pediatric Clinical Research Center   Columbia University Medical Center   New York City, NY   Phone: (914) 420-4508   Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

  I’M INTERESTED

  
  Deadline: Open

How to Post Information About Other Studies to Our Website


If you are the Principal Investigator or other responsible person for a study that you believe may be applicable to one or more of the X and/or Y chromosome aneuploidy population that KS&A serves, we would be happy to post information concerning your research on our website.  Click here for more information.