Sleep Apnea Clinical Trials in Miami, FL
PharmaDev Clinical Research Institute is enrolling adults with obstructive sleep apnea in clinical research studies at our Miami office. The studies below fall into two groups: investigational medicines taken by mouth, and device studies, including an implanted nerve-stimulation system and a study of a wearable sensor. Several enroll people who have stopped using positive airway pressure or were never able to tolerate it.
Every study is reviewed by an Institutional Review Board and conducted under the direct supervision of Edward Mezerhane, MD, triple board certified in internal medicine, sleep medicine and obesity medicine. Study-related care is provided at no cost and taking part is voluntary at every stage.
Studies open now · 4 studies
Each study below is running at our Miami office. Open one to see what taking part involves, who may be able to join, and to apply.
Does any of this sound familiar?
- Loud snoring, most nights
- A partner noticing that you stop breathing, gasp or choke in your sleep
- Waking with a dry mouth, a sore throat or a morning headache
- Waking repeatedly through the night without knowing why
- Dozing off while reading, watching television or driving
- Having tried CPAP and not been able to tolerate it
These are things people with this condition often describe — they are not a diagnosis. Whether a study is a fit is confirmed at a screening visit with our physician, provided at no cost to you.
About this condition
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
In obstructive sleep apnea the muscles around the upper airway relax during sleep until the airway narrows or closes, interrupting breathing. Each pause ends in a brief awakening that restores breathing but fragments sleep, and the cycle can repeat dozens of times an hour without the sleeper being aware of it.
Common signs are loud snoring, breathing pauses noticed by a bed partner, waking unrefreshed, morning headache and daytime sleepiness. Severity is measured during a sleep study by the apnea-hypopnea index, the average number of breathing events per hour. Untreated, it is associated with high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Positive airway pressure therapy is the standard treatment, though not everyone can tolerate it.
Common questions
Can I take part if I cannot tolerate CPAP?
In many cases yes. Several protocols are designed specifically for adults who have stopped positive airway pressure therapy or were never able to use it, and some require that you are not currently using it. Tell the coordinator what you have tried and for how long — it often determines which study fits.
Do I need a recent sleep study?
A prior sleep study confirming obstructive sleep apnea is usually required, and most protocols also perform their own sleep study at screening to measure severity in a standardized way. That testing is arranged and paid for by the study.
What is the difference between the device studies and the medication studies?
A medication study evaluates an investigational drug taken by mouth, with clinic visits and sleep testing to measure its effect on breathing during sleep. A device study evaluates hardware — in one case a stimulation system placed during a surgical procedure, in another a sensor worn during sleep. The visit schedule and what is asked of you differ considerably, so each listing sets out its own.
Do I have to stop using my CPAP to join?
That depends entirely on the protocol, and it is never a decision to make on your own. Some studies require a period without PAP therapy under medical supervision; others let you continue. The study physician reviews this with you before you consent.
Is snoring on its own enough to qualify?
No. Studies enroll people with obstructive sleep apnea confirmed by sleep testing, not snoring by itself. If you snore, wake unrefreshed, or have been told you stop breathing in your sleep but have never been tested, call us and we will explain how testing works.
Further reading
Struggling with CPAP is common and it is not a personal failure. Most of the reasons people stop have a name and a fix.
A sleep study sounds more daunting than it is. Here is what is measured, why, and what the numbers mean afterwards.
Clinical trials are more structured and more supervised than most people expect. Here is the whole sequence.
Other conditions we study
See if you may be able to take part
Complete the form and a research coordinator will contact you within 24 hours. Se habla español.
Study visits take place at our office in the Kendall area of Miami, with parking on site.
Participants may be compensated for their time and travel. Compensation varies by study and is explained in full before you decide to take part.
Prefer to talk? Call (305) 420-5636 — Se habla español.