OMRF is looking for adults who have been treated for the bacterial infection clostridium difficile, or C. diff, to participate in a research study. OMRF is also seeking healthy volunteers to serve as controls for the study.
C. diff is a bacteria that can cause serious diarrhea and life-threatening inflammation of the colon. If it enters the bloodstream, the germ can lead to sepsis, a deadly form of blood poisoning.
“We hope the results from this study will provide us with a better understanding of how the body’s immune system responds to C. diff infection,” said study leader Judith James, M.D., Ph.D., who holds the Lou C. Kerr Endowed Chair in Biomedical Research at OMRF.
Individuals aged 20 to 90 with a history of treated C. diff infection may be eligible to participate in the study. OMRF is also seeking healthy individuals with no history of the disease for the study; researchers will compare their blood samples with those of the C. diff volunteers.
Those selected for participation will come to OMRF in Oklahoma City once to have 3-4 tubes of blood drawn and will receive compensation to offset expenses.
To learn if you qualify for the study, contact Ginger Roberts at robertsv@omrf.org or (405) 271-7221.