Featured PAD Trials
Explore real clinical trials and research opportunities focused on improving treatment options for peripheral artery disease.
All studies are reviewed and clearly labeled so you understand what type of research they represent.
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The listings below are not exhaustive.
For additional trials and geographic locations for each study, search the trial map for what PAD trials are near you.
PAD Trials was designed to serve the full ecosystem involved in peripheral artery disease care and research.
🧾 PROMISE III — Deep Vein Arterialization (LimFlow)
Who it’s for:
Patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) facing amputation with no other revascularization options
What it’s studying:
A minimally invasive device that reroutes blood flow through veins to restore circulation to the foot
👉 This is one of the most advanced limb-salvage approaches currently being studied
🧾 BGC101 Cell Therapy (Autologous Stem Cells)
Who it’s for:
Patients with CLI who have failed or are not eligible for revascularization
What it’s studying:
Using a patient’s own cells to stimulate new blood vessel growth
👉 Focused on “no-option” patients where traditional treatments are limited
You and your doctor decide together
Every study has specific requirements, including age, symptoms, previous treatments, and other conditions. Our tools and explanations help you understand whether a trial may be a fit before taking the next step.
🧾 SELUTION4BTK — Drug-Eluting Balloon
Who it’s for:
Patients with below-the-knee arterial disease and CLTI
What it’s studying:
A sirolimus drug-coated balloon vs standard angioplasty to improve outcomes in complex PAD
👉 FDA Breakthrough Device trial with global enrollment. Call the Global PAD Association's Leg Saver Hotline for information on participating sites near you at 1-833-PAD-LEGS.
🧾 AMBITION BTK — Laser Atherectomy
Who it’s for:
Patients with below-the-knee PAD and limb-threatening symptoms
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What it’s studying:
Laser-based plaque removal combined with angioplasty
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👉 Designed to improve outcomes vs standard balloon treatment. Call the Global PAD Association's Leg Saver Hotline for information on participating sites near you at 1-833-PAD-LEGS.
🧾 Esprit BTK — Dissolving Stent Study
Who it’s for:
Patients with CLTI receiving treatment below the knee
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What it’s studying:
A stent that dissolves over time after restoring blood flow
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👉 First FDA-approved dissolving stent for PAD. Call the Global PAD Association's Leg Saver Hotline for information on participating sites near you at 1-833-PAD-LEGS.
🧾 LEADER-PAD — Low-Dose Colchicine
Who it’s for:
Patients with symptomatic PAD and cardiovascular risk
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What it’s studying:
Anti-inflammatory therapy to reduce heart and limb events
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👉 Focus on reducing major events like heart attack, stroke, and amputation
🧾 ATTAIN-PAD — Oral GLP-1 Therapy
Who it’s for:
Patients with intermittent claudication
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What it’s studying:
Whether GLP-1 medications can improve walking distance and vascular function
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👉 Connects metabolic health to PAD outcomes
🧾 INTERCEDE Trial — Compression + Walking
Who it’s for:
Patients who struggle with walking due to PAD
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What it’s studying:
Whether compression therapy improves walking endurance
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👉 Led by one of the top PAD exercise researchers in the US. This is located in Chicago ONLY. Call the Global PAD Association's Leg Saver Hotline at 1-833-PAD-LEGS for an introduction to the trial PI.
🧾 IMPACT PAD - Supervised Exercise Therapy (SET)
Who it’s for:
Patients with claudication
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What it’s studying:
Structured walking programs (Medicare-covered)
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👉 Proven first-line therapy for improving walking and quality of life. This is located in Chicago ONLY. Call the Global PAD Association's Leg Saver Hotline at 1-833-PAD-LEGS for an introduction to the trial PI.
Walking is the best medicine for PAD
🧾 BEET PAD Trial — Beetroot Juice
Who it’s for:
Patients with PAD and walking limitations
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What it’s studying:
Whether dietary nitrates improve blood flow and walking performance
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👉 Targets nitric oxide pathways and muscle function. Call the Global PAD Association's Leg Saver Hotline at 1-833-PAD-LEGS for an introduction to the trial PI.
Food As
Medicine
Trials
We Currently have studies in the NHS & Quebec
🧾 DUSTER feasibility RCT | NHS
Who it’s for:
Patients with peripheral artery disease who have had an angiogram or are having one in the near future.
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What it’s studying:
Examines the role of ultrasound surveillance after lower limb endovascular interventions in preventing major limb amputation.
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👉 Mid and South Essex Hospitals
🧾PLACEMENT Trial | NHS
Who it’s for:
To be eligible for this specific PLACEMENT study, you generally must:
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Age: 18 years or older.
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Condition: People with Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) or complications from diabetes.
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Procedure: Those scheduled for a major lower limb amputation (above or below the knee).
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What it’s studying:
Currently, when a surgeon performs an "endovascular" procedure (like using a balloon or stent to open an artery), they mostly rely on an X-ray (angiogram) to see if the vessel looks open. However, "looking open" on an X-ray doesn't always mean the blood flow has actually returned to normal.
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The Goal: The study uses a specialized pressure wire (a very thin wire inserted into the artery) to measure the actual blood pressure and flow resistance across the blockage before and after it is cleared.
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The Benefit: Researchers want to see if these precise measurements can help doctors predict which patients will have a successful long-term recovery and who might need further treatment immediately.
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👉 NHS Vascular Units (UK-wide)
🧾 HAMLET Trial | NHS
Who it’s for:
Patients who are aged 18 years or older and requiring unilateral MLLA will be screened for eligibility and invited to take part in the study.
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What it’s studying:
HAMLET is a multicentre, two-arm, non-blinded, pragmatic, parallel group, randomised controlled superiority trial with the aim of assessing the clinical and cost effectiveness of TKA compared to AKA in patients requiring MMLA, but who are unsuitable for a BKA.
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👉 Sponsored by Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Adult patients who are unable to have a below knee amputation will be invited to participate from hospitals across the NHS in the UK that both provide MLLA care and have the facilities to support research activity. All participating hospitals will have the necessary resource and capability to perform both AKA and TKA surgery.
🧾 ESTABLISH | NHS
Who's it for:
People with Acute Limb Ischaemia (ALI) will be invited to take part in this study from 30 NHS hospitals; we will recruit 470 participants. Those who take part will be followed-up for six months over two-visits.
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What it’s studying:
Assessing the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of endovascular strategy compared to surgical strategy for the treatment of acute limb ischaemia. Does open surgical revascularisation strategy have a better/superior amputation free survival rate at six months when compared to endovascular revascularisation strategy for people with acute limb ischaemia and is it more cost-effective?
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👉 Sponsored by Newscastle University
🧾 KID TRIAL | NHS
Who's it for:
Patients over 18 with Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) and existing Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) who are scheduled for a procedure to open up blocked arteries.
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What it’s studying:
The trial is investigating whether using Carbon Dioxide ($CO_2$) as a contrast agent (the dye used to see blood vessels on X-rays) is safer for the kidneys than the standard iodinated (iodine-based) contrast.
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The Problem: Iodine-based dye can be "nephrotoxic," meaning it can cause Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), especially in patients who already have some stage of kidney disease.
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The Goal: To see if using $CO_2$ (which the body breathes out naturally) reduces the risk of kidney damage for patients undergoing vascular surgery (specifically endovascular revascularisation for Peripheral Arterial Disease)
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👉 Sponsored by University of Leicester. If you want to look it up for technical details or to show a clinician, you can search for the registration number: ISRCTN23564393.
Locations:
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University Hospitals of Leicester (Lead site)
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St George’s University Hospitals (London)
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Guy’s and St Thomas’ (London)
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Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
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Hull University Teaching Hospitals
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University Hospitals of North Midlands
Who is it for:
The study is generally looking for adults (18+) who have symptomatic PAD, which might include:
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Pain when walking (claudication) with an ABI of 0.90 or lower.
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A history of leg bypass surgery or stenting.
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Rest pain or previous amputation due to arterial issues.
Exclude: pregnant/breastfeeding, current use of cyclosporine, verapamil, HIV protease inhibitors, azole antifungals.
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What it’s studying:
Low-Dose Colchicine for PAD Vascular Event Prevention. Randomized pilot trial testing colchicine 0.5mg daily vs. placebo to prevent major cardiovascular and limb events (MI, stroke, cardiovascular death, acute limb ischemia, vascular amputation) in symptomatic PAD patients. Vanguard phase enrolling 150 patients to test feasibility before a larger trail.
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👉 Montreal, QC. If you are visiting a vascular specialist at Sacré-Cœur, you can ask them directly about the "Colchicine PAD study" or reference the ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04774159.