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Current Clinical Trials

Clinical research is a vital part of advancing veterinary medicine and improving the lives of animals living with chronic diseases. At the Harris Laboratory, we are committed to conducting ethical, impactful clinical trials that expand our understanding of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and contribute to better diagnostics and treatments for our companion animals.

We are currently enrolling patients in a number of clinical trials focused on various aspects of CKD, including early detection, disease progression, and novel therapeutic approaches.

If you are a pet owner or referring veterinarian and would like to learn more about enrolling an animal with CKD in one of our studies, please contact the Harris Laboratory. Participation may offer access to advanced diagnostic tools, cutting-edge therapies, and expert care—all while contributing to meaningful scientific progress.

Click the links below to learn more about our currently enrolling clinical trials, including eligibility requirements, study goals, and how to get involved.

Frequently Asked Questions about Clinical Trials Participation:

Clinical trials are carefully designed research studies that explore new ways to prevent, diagnose, or treat diseases. In veterinary medicine, clinical trials often evaluate new or existing treatments, diagnostic tools, or management strategies in animals with naturally occurring diseases—such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). These studies help researchers answer important questions about safety, effectiveness, and potential benefits of new medical approaches.

Before reaching clinical trials, a treatment or diagnostic test goes through extensive laboratory research. While lab studies provide essential data, they cannot fully predict how real patients will respond—especially when it comes to complex diseases like kidney disease. Clinical trials in animals are essential to understand how treatments perform in real-world cases, helping to improve care for future patients. Many veterinary trials are based on therapies already proven safe in humans, but species differences make animal-specific trials crucial.

  • Access to advanced diagnostics or treatments that may not yet be available to the general public.
  • Expert veterinary care and close monitoring from specialists involved in the study.
  • Potential financial support, including coverage of diagnostics, medications, or treatments related to the study.
  • Helping advance veterinary medicine by contributing valuable information that can benefit future patients and improve clinical care.
  • As with any medical treatment, there may be risks. These can include:
    • The treatment might not work as hoped.
    • There may be side effects or unexpected outcomes.
    • Participation may require additional veterinary visits or tests compared to standard care.
  • All potential risks and requirements are outlined in an Informed Consent document, which you will review and sign before joining a study. Importantly, participation is completely voluntary, and you may withdraw your pet at any time without penalty.
  • To protect the safety and well-being of all animal participants, every clinical trial conducted through the Veterinary Teaching Hospital is reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at North Carolina State University.

Each study has its own eligibility criteria based on the animal’s species, age, medical condition, and treatment history. To learn more about available trials and whether your pet may qualify, please contact the Harris Laboratory directly. We’re happy to review current studies with you and answer any questions you may have.

Click the links below to learn more about our currently enrolling clinical trials, including eligibility requirements, study goals, and how to get involved.

Contact Us

Email

harrislab-clinicaltrials@ncsu.edu

Hours

Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm EST

Currently Enrolling:

Effect of Iron Supplementation on the response to Varenzin-CA1 in Cats with CKD and Anemia

Anemia is common in feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) and several options are available for treatment including the medication Varenzin CA-1®. Iron supplementation is an important part of the treatment of anemia in some patients with CKD, and is given as standard of care when the anemia medication Darbepoetin alpha is prescribed. Alternatively, Varenzin CA-1® has been shown to mobilize iron stores and upregulate intestinal absorption of iron, so the need for additional iron supplementation when this medication is prescribed is unclear. The aim of this study is to compare degree of response to Varenzin CA-1® with and without iron supplementation.

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REVERSE CKD Study: A blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled clinical trial of a novel veterinary product for the management of CKD in cats

Evidence exists to suggest that aging of the kidney may contribute to the onset and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Sirolimus (Felycin® CA-1*) is a drug that is a known modulator of the aging process and additionally may decrease the formation of fibrosis (scarring) in the kidney. A feline formulation of the drug is available and the purpose of this study is to assess the potential benefit of the drug in cats with CKD.

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Ammonia Excretion, A Novel Biomarker and Therapeutic Target for Feline CKD.

Metabolic acidosis (high amount of acid in the body) commonly occurs in feline chronic kidney disease (CKD), leading to worsened clinical signs at home, and plays a role in the progression of kidney disease. However, the early diagnosis of metabolic acidosis in cats with CKD remains a challenge. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate a novel biomarker’s (ammonia excretion) ability to predict cats at risk of developing acidosis and poor kidney disease outcomes that could benefit from alkali therapy.

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Novel Biomarker and Therapeutic Target for CKD in Dogs.

Metabolic acidosis (high amount of acid in the body) commonly occurs in canine chronic kidney disease (CKD), leading to worsened clinical signs at home, and plays a role in the progression of kidney disease. However, the early diagnosis of metabolic acidosis in dogs with CKD remains a challenge. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate a novel biomarker’s (ammonia excretion) ability to predict dogs at risk of developing acidosis and poor kidney disease outcomes that could benefit from alkali therapy.

Read more

Clinical Trials Coming Soon!

Efficacy of Potassium Citrate as a Treatment for Metabolic Acidosis in Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease

Hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood) and metabolic acidosis (high amount of acid in the body) are two very important consequences of chronic kidney disease (CKD), leading to worsened clinical signs at home. Metabolic acidosis plays a role in progression of CKD and its treatment has been shown to improve long-term outcome in human patients with CKD. However, the treatment of metabolic acidosis in cats with CKD remains a challenge, with very few options available. Potassium citrate is a medication normally used to supplement potassium that also has alkalinizing properties which allow it to correct metabolic acidosis with minimal side effects. However, there is very little information available in veterinary medicine regarding the efficacy of potassium citrate as a treatment for metabolic acidosis. Therefore, the purpose of this study to evaluate whether potassium citrate can effectively improve metabolic acidosis in cats with CKD.