Winthrop-University Hospital’s Clinical Trials Center and Nicholas Berbari, MD, Attending Physician in the Division of Internal Medicine at Winthrop, are seeking volunteers for a clinical research study of an investigational medication to treat the herpes zoster virus known as shingles.

Shingles is an infection of the nerve roots. It causes pain and often a rash on one side of the body, which appears in a band, strip or small area. It is most common in older adults and people who have weak immune systems because of stress, injury, certain medicines, or other reasons.

To be eligible for the study, participants must be 50 years of age or older and have a diagnosis of herpes zoster (shingles). They must experience pain, have a rash for less than 72 hours, and must not have already taken an antiviral. Eligible participants will receive study-related medications and medical care at no cost to them, and do not need health insurance to participate.

For further information about volunteering for this study, please call the Winthrop-University Hospital Clinical Trials Center at (516) 663-9582 or e-mail clinicaltrials@winthrop.org.