Charles (Chip) Hawkins, Jr.
Lab Manager, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland
Speaking Out
For me, clinical trials provide an opportunity to play a part in finding new treatments that will help me feel better. I believe that all people with CF should participate in trials if they are able. If people with the disease do not help with the research efforts, new drugs cannot be tested.
With all of the safeguards that have been put into place to monitor participants, the risk associated with participation is very small. I have participated in several clinical trials, and all of them have included constant and intense monitoring, which makes me feel safe. Knowing that I am safe and that my participation is making an actual difference makes it a simple decision to participate. I know that clinical trials represent the only avenue to new treatments and eventually a cure for this disease. I just think about how awful it would be if the best treatment for CF was shelved by a pharmaceutical company due to a lack of patient involvement. To prevent this, I will continue to do my part and participate.
Get Involved
The CF Foundation invites all people with CF and their families to learn more about clinical research, ask their doctors and CF care center staff for information about clinical trials and join in the development of new treatments by volunteering for clinical trials. The CF Foundation encourages people with CF and their families to inquire about clinical trial opportunities in their area and get involved. Your CF center staff can provide information about research being conducted within the center or at other research centers nearby.
Up-to-date information about CF clinical trials can be found on www.cff.org by clicking on the clinical trials and studies quick links on the home page or by calling the toll-free clinical trials hotline at (877) 8CF-JOIN.
We Need Your Help
The following large-scale trials are currently recruiting patient participants at multiple sites across the country.
- Phase 3 trial of denufosol, for mucus clearance, (Inspire Pharmaceuticals) now enrolling 350 patients at approximately 70 sites.
- Observational study on antimicrobial resistance in CF now enrolling 520 patients at more than 40 sites.
- Phase 3 trial comparing tobramycin inhalation powder to TOBI® now enrolling 500 patients at 90 sites.
- Phase 3 trial of aztreonam, an antibiotic, (Gilead Sciences) now enrolling 250 patients at more than 75 sites.
- Follow-up study on the effects of azithromycin on children ages 6 to 18 years with CF who are not infected with P. aeruginosa now enrolling 300 patients at 33 sites.
- Phase 3 study of intermittent antimicrobial therapy for new onset P. aeruginosa now enrolling 300 patients at 57 sites.
