Culmore Clinic Selected as Clinical Site for Chagas Disease Study

Clinic Trial Poster Presentation (displayed at the 2023 Open House) 

Culmore Clinic has been selected to be a clinical site for a study of Chagas Disease. Chagas is a disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (aka T Cruzi). It is transmitted to animals and people by insect vectors and is currently only found in rural areas of Latin America where poverty is widespread. Within the Culmore Clinic community are many individuals who have immigrated from these regions thus are uniquely positioned to screen and recruit for this Phase 1 trial. Participants do not need to be Culmore Clinic patients and testing is free.

It is estimated that as many as 8 million people in Mexico, Central America, and South America have Chagas disease, most of whom do not know they are infected. If untreated, infection is lifelong and can be life threatening. Currently, there is no treatment for adults with Chagas. The only treatment available is for children ages 2-12. 

Our Medical Director Dr. Charles Sneiderman will act as Principal Investigator alongside our Clinical Director Maria Obeid who will serve as Sub-Investigator. 

“We’re pleased to take part in this study not only because it’s important to find treatment and learn more about the disease,” Obeid says, “ but because people of color, older individuals, and people below the poverty line remain underrepresented in clinical trials in general. We’re excited to help correct for this gap.” 

Participant safety is vital and there are several steps in place to protect the volunteer patients including informed consent and institutional review boards (IRBs). Culmore Clinics already established interpretive services and culturally-sensitive healthcare practices allow for these steps to be implemented smoothly.  

If you would like to get screened or would like to refer someone, please call Maria Obeid, DNP at 571 380-4166.