Studies and Clinical Trials

Risk Factors For Acute Idiopathic Transverse Myelitis

Johns Hopkins is currently enrolling new and recently diagnosed patients with idiopathic acute transverse myelitis (IATM) to study risk factors for the disease. This is a study conducted in collaboration with investigators at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins Transverse Myelitis Center, under the auspices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In this exploratory study, patients will be asked to complete a questionnaire detailing demographic, socioeconomic data, information regarding illness and underlying diseases, medications, immunizations, travel history and other physician visits in the preceding 24 months prior to the onset of idiopathic acute TM.

Interested patients should contact the study coordinators: Yandong Qiang (410-955-2955), Chitra Krishnan (410-955-3129), Rosanna Setse (410-614-7797), Megan Quigg (410-955-3129), Doug Kerr (410-955-3129), Neal Halsey (410-955-6964).

The Use of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Cytokine Measurements to Investigate Depression in Autoimmune Neurologic Diseases

Johns Hopkins is currently enrolling TM, MS and non-autoimmune myelopathy patients in a prospective study (6 months follow-up) to investigate the epidemiology of cytokine-mediated depression and cognitive impairment in TM subjects compared to MS and non-autoimmune myelopathy controls.

Subjects will be followed longitudinally to determine if changes in cytokine levels and brain metabolites parallel changes in mood, cognition and neurologic outcomes. Acute new onset TM and MS patients between the ages of 18-65 years will be enrolled in this study.

Interested patients should contact the study coordinator, Carrie Trecker, at 410-502-2574 for more information.

Principal Investigator: Adam Kaplin, MD/PhD
Registered Protocol Number: 03-07-03-09

Research Volunteers needed for a pain study

We are seeking individuals with pain following spinal cord injury for a research study of an investigational medication being conducted at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

You may be eligible if you are:

- 18-55 years old
- Have been diagnosed with a Spinal Cord Injury or Disease
- Have had chronic neuropathic pain for at least 3 months

For more information please call 617-525-PAIN (7246), or email paintrials@partners.org

Recruiting for ACP Study: Help us to Find the Causes and Cures for TM, ADEM, NMO, MS and the other Neuroimmunologic Disorders

Johns Hopkins University is working in conjunction with the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis (ACP) to conduct a large scale research study which will play an important role in determining significant causal factors and disease trends for demyelinating disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Transverse Myelitis (TM), Optic Neuritis (ON), Devic’s Syndrome (NMO), Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and other related diseases.

Several major academic centers located throughout the country will serve as coordinating project sites, creating a national network of collection sites. Study enrollment is targeted at 10,000 subjects over ten years. Enrolled subjects will be asked to contribute personal data (such as medical history and family information) and biological samples. The personal data collected from all subjects will be combined into a single database while the biological samples will be processed at a central laboratory and stored. The complete anonymity of study participants will be protected. The result will be the creation of a comprehensive information system and specimen repository from which researchers can request samples to conduct in-depth analyses on various disease aspects. This study will play an important role in increasing the current knowledge of demyelinating diseases and therefore aid researchers in the development of better diagnostic techniques and cures for these diseases.

Now this is your chance to help! We are enrolling patients with multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, optic neuritis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, neuromyelitis optica (Devic’s) or clinically isolated syndromes (one demyelinating attack, but not fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for MS). Those who are currently patients at Johns Hopkins will be able to join the study without a referral from their physician, and will just need to contact the Johns Hopkins project coordinator for study enrollment information. Johns Hopkins patients who are aware of their next scheduled clinic date may get in touch with the project coordinator beforehand in order to schedule a study meeting during this clinic visit. Subjects participating at Johns Hopkins will be offered a $25 check to compensate for lunch and parking on the day of the visit, but will not be reimbursed for any travel expenses. At this time, patients receiving care outside of Johns Hopkins may be subject to additional enrollment requirements.

Please note, the enrollment requirements and participant compensation may vary by study site. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact your nearest participating center for further information regarding the enrollment process.

In addition to enrolling subjects with one of the specified demyelinating diseases, we are asking participants to refer affected and unaffected relatives as well as unaffected matched “controls” (such as a childhood friend who grew up in the same area as you or a spouse) for participation in the study.

This is a very exciting opportunity for both patients and researchers around the country to take part in a large-scale dynamic project that will work to improve our knowledge about demyelinating diseases. We welcome enthusiasm and positive attitudes! By volunteering your time and effort to this project, you will be making a significant contribution to the development of new treatments, and ultimately a cure, for these diseases.

Participating Centers

Johns Hopkins Medical Institution (Baltimore, MD)
Jana Goins
jgoins3@jhmi.edu
(410)502-6160

UMass Memorial (Worcester, MA)
Janice Weaver
weavej01@UMMHC.ORG
(508)793-6562

Shepherd Center (Atlanta, GA)
Elizabeth Iski
Elizabeth_Iski@shepherd.org
(404)350-3116

University of Texas Southwestern (Dallas, TX)
Gina Remington
Gina.Remington@utsouthwestern.edu
(214)645-0560

Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York (New York, NY)
Emily Denicore Eisenberg
edenicore@imsmp.org
(212)265-8070

Study Sponsor

Accelerated Cure Project
Sara Loud
sloud@acceleratedcure.org
(781)487-0032
www.acceleratedcure.org

Neuroimmunologic Disorders Sample Respository:
http://www.acceleratedcure.org/curemap/tissuebank.php