{"id":101,"date":"2019-01-08T10:51:49","date_gmt":"2019-01-08T15:51:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/beacon\/?page_id=101"},"modified":"2026-01-02T13:49:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T18:49:42","slug":"current-research-projects","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/beacon\/studies\/current-research-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"Current Research Projects"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Contraceptive Clinical Trials Network (CCTN) Studies:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The BEACON Research Team is an active site within the NIH Contraceptive Clinical Trials Network (CCTN). This nationwide network <span>conducts clinical trials of new contraceptive drugs and devices to develop novel female and male contraceptive methods. We are currently involved in two of these trials:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>A Phase I study to evaluate the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of intramuscular or subcutaneous injections of levonorgestrel butanoate (LB) for female contraception (Not Recruiting)<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>We are participating in a study of a new injectable birth control method.<\/li>\n<li>Patients have weekly visits in the clinic, and have blood drawn and vaginal ultrasound exams at most visits. They would be in the study for up to 6 months and receive up to $2355 in compensation for time and effort if all the study visits are completed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>A Single Arm, Open-Label Pivotal Contraceptive Efficacy Study of Ovaprene (Not Recruiting)<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>We\u2019re investigating a potential new monthly, <u><i>non-hormonal <\/i><\/u>birth control<\/li>\n<li>Participation is 12-14 months, with up to 8 visits to BMC. Compensation is up to $400.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cervical Dilation (Actively Recruiting):<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The BEACON team at Boston Medical Center is recruiting participants for a study investigating how a person\u2019s cervix changes over the menstrual cycle.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In this study subjects will:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Study duration: 1 menstrual cycle (~1 month)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Come to BMC for 5 visits (~1-1.5 hours each) over the course of your menstrual cycle:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The first visit will focus on informed consent and completing a personal and medical history questionnaire. The next four visits will consist of a speculum exam and perform an assessment of the dilation of your cervix.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Visit times will occur as follows:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Visit 2 (cycle days 1-3)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Visit 3 (cycle days 7-9)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Visit 4 (cycle days 12-16)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Visit 5 (cycle days 21-24)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">*Visits 1 and 2 can occur on the same day<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Total compensation for participating in the study is $200 if you complete all five study visits.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You will receive $40 after completing each study visit.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Eligibility:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Aged 18 years or older<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">English speaker<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Has a cervix and uterus<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Has been pregnant in the past and had a vaginal delivery<\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Has menstrual cycles that are not suppressed (stopped) by any hormonal birth control or medication<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Can return to the hospital multiple times for study visits over the course of a single menstrual cycle<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Not currently incarcerated<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Not currently pregnant\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Interested in Participating?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Vaginal Lactic Acid: Actively Recruiting<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559731&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335562764&quot;:2,&quot;335562765&quot;:1,&quot;335562766&quot;:4,&quot;335562767&quot;:6,&quot;335562768&quot;:4,&quot;335562769&quot;:0}\"><span>Researchers at BMC are helping to <\/span><span>develop a new BV treatment. In this study, <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW20901561 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Bullet (listing)\" data-ccp-parastyle-defn=\"{&quot;ObjectId&quot;:&quot;fc10f5e7-5499-5d48-81dc-66ab8f25471d|1&quot;,&quot;ClassId&quot;:1073872969,&quot;Properties&quot;:[469777841,&quot;Calibri&quot;,469777844,&quot;Calibri&quot;,469769226,&quot;Calibri&quot;,268442635,&quot;22&quot;,335559740,&quot;274&quot;,201341983,&quot;0&quot;,469777842,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,469777843,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,469775450,&quot;Bullet (listing)&quot;,201340122,&quot;2&quot;,134233614,&quot;true&quot;,469778129,&quot;Bulletlisting&quot;,335572020,&quot;99&quot;,335559685,&quot;360&quot;,335559991,&quot;360&quot;,469777462,&quot;360&quot;,469777927,&quot;0&quot;,469777928,&quot;8&quot;,335559738,&quot;120&quot;,469778324,&quot;Normal&quot;]}\">we will\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW20901561 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Bullet (listing)\">determine<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW20901561 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Bullet (listing)\">\u00a0how much lactic acid leaves the vagina (in normal discharge), in the settings of both BV and non-BV.<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW20901561 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Bullet (listing)\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW20901561 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Bullet (listing)\">Participants will first wear panty liners for 24 hours<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW20901561 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Bullet (listing)\">, that<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW20901561 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Bullet (listing)\">\u00a0the research team will collect to quantitate how much lactic acid is lost from the vagina. We will then use vaginal lavage (washing) to\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW20901561 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Bullet (listing)\">determine<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW20901561 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Bullet (listing)\">\u00a0the amount of lactic acid in the vagina before and at intervals after applying a commercially available lubricant\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW20901561 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Bullet (listing)\">containing<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW20901561 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"Bullet (listing)\">\u00a0lactic acid.<\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559731&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335562764&quot;:2,&quot;335562765&quot;:1,&quot;335562766&quot;:4,&quot;335562767&quot;:6,&quot;335562768&quot;:4,&quot;335562769&quot;:0}\"><span>Eligibility Criteria<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559731&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335562764&quot;:2,&quot;335562765&quot;:1,&quot;335562766&quot;:4,&quot;335562767&quot;:6,&quot;335562768&quot;:4,&quot;335562769&quot;:0}\"><span>Age 18-45\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559731&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335562764&quot;:2,&quot;335562765&quot;:1,&quot;335562766&quot;:4,&quot;335562767&quot;:6,&quot;335562768&quot;:4,&quot;335562769&quot;:0}\"><span>Not pregnant<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559731&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335562764&quot;:2,&quot;335562765&quot;:1,&quot;335562766&quot;:4,&quot;335562767&quot;:6,&quot;335562768&quot;:4,&quot;335562769&quot;:0}\"><span>In general good health<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559731&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335562764&quot;:2,&quot;335562765&quot;:1,&quot;335562766&quot;:4,&quot;335562767&quot;:6,&quot;335562768&quot;:4,&quot;335562769&quot;:0}\"><span>Participation involves 2 study visits and <\/span><span>speculum exams. Compensation up to $400.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Contact:\u00a0<\/strong><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Email: alana.martinusen<\/span><a href=\"mailto:pauline.yang@bmc.org\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">@bmc.org<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Phone: (617)-383-3500<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/beacon\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/beacon\/files\/2019\/03\/BEACON-final-png-HD-636x136.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-415\" width=\"206\" height=\"44\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/beacon\/files\/2019\/03\/BEACON-final-png-HD-636x136.png 636w, https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/beacon\/files\/2019\/03\/BEACON-final-png-HD-768x164.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/beacon\/files\/2019\/03\/BEACON-final-png-HD-1024x218.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 206px) 100vw, 206px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">OB\/GYN Clinic, <span> Yawkey Ambulatory Care Center<\/span>, 6th Floor, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Boston Medical Center, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\">850 Harrison Avenue, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Boston, MA 02118 <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span>\u2328<\/span> <span>dg-BEACON_Research@bmc.org<\/span><a href=\"mailto:dg-infofp@bmc.org\"><\/a> | <span>\u260f<\/span> <\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\">617-383-3500<\/span><span><\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Contraceptive Clinical Trials Network (CCTN) Studies: The BEACON Research Team is an active site within the NIH Contraceptive Clinical Trials Network (CCTN). This nationwide network conducts clinical trials of new contraceptive drugs and devices to develop novel female and male contraceptive methods. We are currently involved in two of these trials: A Phase I study [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13451,"featured_media":0,"parent":26,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/beacon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/101"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/beacon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/beacon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/beacon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13451"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/beacon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/beacon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":696,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/beacon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/101\/revisions\/696"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/beacon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/beacon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}