Clinical Virology Programs

Our mono treatment study has reached its enrollment goal and as of May 19, 2009 is closed to enrollment. We successfully enrolled 23 patients and will begin data analysis on those who have completed their treatment. The Clinical Virology Programs staff will be busy for the next several months with continuing follow up.

We’d like to thank our partners, Boynton Health Service, for their assistance with recruiting potential subjects. Continue to check back here for research updates and new studies.

Starting today, if your symptoms started within the last 2 weeks, you may now be eligible to enroll in Mono 6. Previously the window was 1 week.

Over the last year, up to 30 people were unable to enroll in the study because we just missed their onset of symptoms by a few days. Many had symptoms for 8-10 days and were just barely outside the window. We still want more subjects, so we’ve broadened that window to 2 weeks in hopes of making more people eligible to participate.

If you are over the age of 15 and have had symptoms of severe sore throat, swollen glands, headache and loss of appetite, and the symptoms started within the last 2 weeks, please call us at 612-625-1462 so we can determine whether or not you are eligible for the study. Study participants receive a $20 gift card for each study visit.

The campus at the University of Minnesota is bustling with activity as students begin their second full week of classes. That means that the Clinical Virology Programs staff is also busy with our Mono 5 study as roughly 100 of those same students come in for their first appointment of the semester.

Mono 5 is designed to follow University of Minnesota freshmen that have never been infected by EBV for as long as 4 years to learn why some students get mono whereas others become infected by EBV but never get sick, and others never get infected. The point is to discover risk factors for severity, so that those who most need treatment are identified quickly and managed appropriately.

To date our Mono 5 participants have made over 1,200 clinic visits over the course of two years. That’s a mountain of data. We’re already learning new information about mononucleosis, but there’s a lot more work to be done.

Not only that, but last fall we opened a treatment study called Mono 6. In Mono 6 we’re testing a new, experimental drug to see how effective it is against the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), the virus that causes mono. Participants will receive either the drug or placebo for three weeks. We’re looking to see if the drug makes students with mono better faster by reducing the amount of EBV they carry. This study is currently open for enrollment. If you are over the age of 15 and have had symptoms of severe sore throat, swollen glands, headache and loss of appetite, and the symptoms started within the last week, please call us at 612-625-1462 so we can determine whether or not you are eligible for the study. Study participants receive a $20 gift card for each study visit.

There are some indications in the community that suggest we’re going to see more cases of infectious mono this year than last year, but no one knows for sure. These two studies are part of our ongoing effort to study this disease; it’s effects, risk factors and possible treatment. Stay tuned to our website for more updates as the season progresses.

On September 24th, Dr. Balfour will be inducted into the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center (AHC) Academy for Excellence in Health Research, which is intended to serve as the highest recognition of excellence in research by AHC faculty. Those selected have contributed to the quality of the University of Minnesota through sustained, nationally and internationally- recognized health-related research in their field.  A ceremony will be held on the second floor of Moos Tower in front of the wall plaque that commemorates the Academy members.  Dr. Balfour’s inscription will read: “Henry Balfour, Jr., world-renowned leader in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of viral diseases, has shaped the standard of care for patients infected with HIV, and herpesviruses, especially Epstein-Barr virus.”

School’s out for the summer but mono never takes a break. Cases of mono do occur in the summer as well as during the school year. We have a surveillance study (Mono 5) AND a treatment study (Mono 6) going year round. Please let us know if you or anyone you know has several of these symptoms: a very sore throat, swollen or tender neck glands, poor appetite and a headache. Call us at 612-625-1462. One of us is always available to field your calls. We want to hear from you.

It’s hard to believe it, but finals are just around the corner. That means that participants in our Mono 5 study will soon be coming in for their final visits for the 2007-2008 academic year. We’ll continue to monitor their health over the summer in case anyone comes down with mono, but for the most part we won’t see them again until classes begin for the 2008-2009 academic year.

It’s been an impressive year for the study and we want to send a heartfelt thanks to our Mono 5 study participants. We’ve amassed a small mountain of data as 148 University of Minnesota students have made more than 1,000 clinic visits since the study opened in the fall of 2006. The information we’ve gathered comes in the form of blood samples, oral washes, symptoms and lifestyle surveys that will eventually help us identify risk factors for contracting infectious mononucleosis.

We’re still open for business over the summer, however. We’re still recruiting for our Mono 6 protocol where we offer a new experimental treatment for mono that we hope will have an effect on the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)–the virus that causes mono–and alleviate the symptoms of the illness and help folks feel better, sooner. If you or anyone you know has a very sore throat, swollen or tender neck glands, poor appetite and headache, please call us at 612-625-1462. We want to hear from you.

A while back Dr. Balfour spoke on WCCO radio about our new mono study (Mono 6). Click on the player above to hear Dr. Balfour speak about the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), the virus that causes mono, as well as information about the new study.

We sincerely hope you have a fantastic Valentine’s Day. Just remember that mono really is the kissing disease.

If Valentine’s Day is painful for any reason, we’re very sorry. If it’s painful because you have a bad sore throat, swollen or tender neck glands, bad appetite and headache, we want to talk to you. If you have any combination of the above symptoms, give us a call at 612-625-1462.

We’re testing a new, experimental drug to see how effective it is against the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), the virus that causes mono. Participants will receive either the drug or placebo for three weeks. We’re looking to see if the drug makes students with mono better faster by reducing the amount of EBV they carry. This study is currently open for enrollment. If you are over the age of 18 and have had any of the symptoms noted above, and the symptoms started within the last week, please call us at 612-625-1462 so we can determine whether or not you are eligible for the study. Study participants receive a $20 University of Minnesota gift card for each study visit.

DO YOU HAVE A SORE THROAT?
SWOLLEN OR TENDER NECK GLANDS?
APPETITE OFF?
HEADACHE?

IF SOME OR ALL OF THESE SYMPTOMS STARTED LESS THAN A WEEK AGO, WE WANT TO KNOW.

You might have Mono and could join a research study to treat it.

Call us at (612) 625-1462 for a free screening.
$20 Bookstore gift card for each clinic visit!

This is a joint research project by the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center and the Boynton Health Service.

Mono 5, a study of the risk factors for severity of infectious mononucleosis (mono), completed the antibody testing phase (Step 1) in the Super Block last month.  Nearly 300 students were screened and 86% of those eligible have volunteered to continue with us in the surveillance program (Step 2) .  Thanks a million to all of the student volunteers, health advocates, housing and residential life staff, and BHS personnel for their phenomenal support of this important medical research.  We shall periodically report on the progress of the research as it continues during the next 4 years.