There are many reasons to participate in clinical trials, from gaining access to new treatments to advancing care for future generations.<\/p>\n
Another reason? Getting screened for a study might just uncover a condition you never knew you had.<\/p>\n
That was the case for Jon Chandler. While undergoing screening for a clinical trial offered through the MultiCare Institute for Research and Innovation*, he discovered he had atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that, left untreated, can cause life-threatening complications.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it hadn\u2019t been for the trial, I might never have known that I had atrial fibrillation until it caused a stroke or a heart attack,\u201d Chandler says.<\/p>\n
Chandler describes his partner of more than 20 years, Eric Thompson, as \u201cthe kind of person who acts like they know everything \u2014 because they actually do.\u201d Chandler credits his partner for finding the clinical trial where his atrial fibrillation was discovered.<\/p>\n
Thompson keeps an eye out for phase 3 clinical trials that he and Chandler, who lives with heart failure, may qualify for and benefit from. Clinical trials have different phases, and each one has a specific purpose. Phase 3 trials test how safe and effective a new treatment is compared to the current standard treatment<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a big believer in the power of seeking clinical trials when the standard of care isn\u2019t getting you where you want to be,\u201d Thompson says. \u201cPlus, everybody benefits from clinical trials, so it\u2019s a way to give back.\u201d<\/p>\n When Thompson came across a phase 3 trial at the MultiCare Institute for Research and Innovation that was evaluating a drug called Tirzepatide, he thought it might be a good fit for Chandler.<\/p>\n \u201cTirzepatide is a medication used in the treatment of diabetes, and it has the added benefit of helping with weight loss,\u201d says Ahmad Slim, MD, principal investigator of the trial.<\/p>\n Dr. Slim, who is also a cardiologist and regional chief medical officer with MultiCare\u2019s Pulse Heart Institute<\/a>, continues, \u201cThe clinical trial is testing how well Tirzepatide improves heart failure symptoms and outcomes for people with a certain type of heart failure as well as obesity.\u201d<\/p>\n It was the weight loss benefit of Tirzepatide that first caught Thompson\u2019s attention. He and Chandler are avid travelers, and lately Chandler had trouble keeping up during their adventures.<\/p>\n \u201cWe spent the winter of 2020-21 in Mexico, and Jon was frequently having to stop and rest when we went for walks,\u201d Thompson says. \u201cFor the first time, he also needed a wheelchair in the airport. I chalked it up to inactivity and weight gain during the pandemic and thought this trial could help him lose weight and start feeling better.\u201d<\/p>\n Every patient who participates in a clinical trial undergoes a screening visit with the trial team to ensure they qualify from a medical perspective. As part of this process, Chandler received an electrocardiogram (EKG), which measures the electrical signals in the heart. The results of this test were not what he nor Thompson expected.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Dr. Slim told me I was in atrial fibrillation, it was a shock,\u201d Chandler says. \u201cAnd while the diagnosis meant that I couldn\u2019t participate in the study at that time, Dr. Slim took me on as a patient. I like to joke that this might be the fastest way to get a cardiologist.\u201d<\/p>\n Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm that begins in the top chamber of the heart. Many people with this condition experience palpitations, a rapid or pounding heartbeat or fluttering sensation in the chest. But some people, like Chandler, don\u2019t experience those symptoms, and so the condition may go undetected until it causes a serious or fatal health event.<\/p>\n \u201cIn Jon\u2019s case, atrial fibrillation was actually driving his heart failure, which likely led to some of the fatigue and shortness of breath he\u2019d been experiencing,\u201d Dr. Slim says. \u201cThe main concern with atrial fibrillation is the increased risk of stroke. The erratic rhythm causes blood to pool in the heart, forming clots that can then travel to the brain.\u201d<\/p>\n Together, Chandler and Dr. Slim began a course of treatment that included medications and three electrical cardioversions, a procedure where the heart is painlessly shocked back into normal rhythm while a patient is under sedation. Chandler initially felt better after these procedures, but ultimately the atrial fibrillation returned.<\/p>\n \u201cYou could tell by looking at his face when he was in normal rhythm versus when he was out \u2014 his skin was pinker and he just looked more alive,\u201d Thompson says. \u201cThe difference in the amount of aerobic activity he was able to do was also stark.\u201d<\/p>\n In the fall of 2022, Chandler underwent a procedure known as a cardiac ablation with the hope that it would provide more long-lasting relief. This same-day procedure creates a small amount of scar tissue around the area of the heart where irregular heartbeats begin. By isolating the source of the irregular beat, normal rhythm is restored.<\/p>\n \u201cDr. Slim, and really everybody we have dealt with in the cardiac procedures unit at Tacoma General, has just been fantastic,\u201d Chandler says. \u201cThey\u2019ve been super nice and respectful of our time. They also put us at ease, understanding that something that was routine for them was frightening and new for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Now Chandler is feeling more energetic, and once his condition is fully stabilized, he plans to re-screen for the Tirzepatide clinical trial. Until then, he and Thompson are back to their usual travels, currently roaming the Pacific Ocean on a cruise.<\/p>\n \u201cThese days, the only thing that makes Jon\u2019s heart skip a beat is me,\u201d Thompson says.<\/p>\n *The MultiCare Institute for Research & Innovation closed in November 2025. However, MultiCare continues to conduct research at\u00a0<\/em>Pulse Heart Institute<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0<\/em>MultiCare Cancer Institute<\/a><\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/em>MultiCare Mary Bridge Children\u2019s<\/a><\/em>, among other areas within our organization. To learn more about clinical trial opportunities, talk to your provider or visit\u00a0<\/em>ClinicalTrials.gov<\/a><\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There are many reasons to participate in clinical trials, from gaining access to new treatments to advancing care for future generations. Another reason? Getting screened for a study might just uncover a condition you never knew you had. That was the case for Jon Chandler. While undergoing screening for a clinical trial offered through the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":367,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[63,79,103],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-heart-health","category-profiles-stories","category-research"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nA surprise result<\/h2>\n
The road back to a normal rhythm<\/h2>\n