Research Projects & Grants

• Extension Study: Use of Motor Unit Number Estimates to Quantitate the Effectiveness and Localize the Site of Action of Recombinant Human Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor (rhCNTF) in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Role: Investigator, (06/1994 - 06/1995) Status: Completed

For Profit Organization

• A Phase I, Randomized, Open-Label, Active Controlled, Multi-Center Pilot Study to Compare Reference to Reference Pharmacodynamics of BOTOX® (onabotulinumtoxinA) in Healthy Subjects. Protocol: MR 103A-0I-IPS-1001. lnformed Consent Form Version Dated 25 November 2022., Role: PI, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, (11/2023 - 03/2024) Status: Completed
• Evaluation of the safety and pharmacodynamic effect of AGN-151607 by measuring the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of the extensor digitorum brevis ( EDB) muscle following a single injection in healthy subjects. Protocol 1925-101-008, dated 18 August 2017. Informed consent form version dated 30 August 2017, Role: PI, Allergan Inc., (08/2018 - 08/2019) Status: Completed
• Botulism antitoxin effects on paralysis induced by type A and type B botulinum neurotoxins in the extensor digitorum brevis muscle. Protocol number BT-002, version 3.0, dated October 07, 2008. Investigator's brochure edition #4.0, dated 11/2007., Role: PI, Cangene Corporation, (10/2009 - 10/2010) Status: Completed
• A multi-center, double-blind, randomized, active-controlled study to evaluate two formulations of BOTOX (Botulinum Toxin Type A) Purified Neurotoxin Complex (9525X and 9060X) by measuring the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of the Extensor Digitorum Brevis (EDB) muscle in response to a single intramuscular injection of varying doses in the EDB muscle of healthy volunteers (Protocol Number: 191622-051), Role: PI, Allergan Inc., (02/2005 - 02/2006) Status: Completed
• A multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, to assess the compound muscle action potential of the extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) muscle and adjacent small foot muscles in response to varying doses of a single treatment of intramuscularly injected BOTOX (Botulinum Toxin, Type A) purified neurotoxin complex into the EDB muscle of healthy volunteers. Protocol Number: 191622-050, Role: PI, Allergan Inc., (12/2004 - 12/2005) Status: Completed
• The clomethizole acute stroke study in acute ischemic stroke (class-I): a double blind, parallel group, multinational, multicenter study of the efficacy and safety of i.v. clomethiazole compared to placebo in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Study code: SA-CMZ-0009 (Protocol dated 08/21/97 and Amendment No. 1 dated 06/23/98)., Role: Investigator, ASTRA (USA), (07/2000 - 07/2001) Status: Completed
• Titration to response: Analysis of individualized therapy study (TRAITS) Protocol Capss -048, Role: Investigator, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, (06/1999 - 06/2000) Status: Completed
• Open-label study to identify the reasons for TASMAR dosage regimen changes in fluctuating Parkinson's disease patients, with follow-up extension, Role: Investigator, Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., (08/1998 - 08/1999) Status: Completed
• A phase III, multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a 24-hr infusion of Cervene in patients with acute ischemic stroke, Role: Investigator, Baker Norton Pharmaceuticals, (06/1997 - 06/1998) Status: Completed
• Clinical experience and use of sabril in patients with partial seizures, Role: Investigator, Marion Merrell Dow, (01/1996 - 01/1997) Status: Completed
• A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Assessing the Efficacy of Gabapentin in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Role: Investigator, Warner Lambert, (10/1995 - 10/1996) Status: Completed
• The BETASERON Patient Experience Study, Role: Investigator, National Medical Research Corp., (06/1995 - 06/1996) Status: Completed
• A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled four week pilot study, with a 57-week blinded extension to evaluate the neurophysiological response of the extensor digitorum brevis muscle to varying doses of intramusculaly injected BOTOX (botulinum toxin, type A purified neurotoxin complex) in healthy volunteers, Role: PI, Allergan Inc., Status: Completed

Internal

• Nerve conduction interest study (NCIS), Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Neurology, (06/2024 - 06/2025) Status: Approved
• Electrodiagnostic findings in patients with botulism: A university medical center experience, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Neurology, (03/2025 - 03/2026) Status: Approved
• Correlation of electrophysiological and mechanical measurements of the muscle, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Neurology, (12/2024 - 12/2025) Status: Approved
• Botulinum toxin and fibrillation potentials, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Neurology, (12/2024 - 12/2025) Status: Approved
• Sequential studies in radiculopathy with conduction block, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Neurology, (01/2020 - 04/2020) Status: Completed
• Sequential nerve conduction studies following clinically successful carpal tunnel release, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Neurology, (05/2019 - 05/2020) Status: Completed
• The effect of prior muscle activation on compound muscle action potential, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Neurology, (04/2019 - 04/2020) Status: Completed
• The effect of prior muscle activation on the Compound Muscle Action Potential (CMAP) - implications for routine nerve conduction studies and serial nerve conduction studies, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Neurology, (03/2019 - 03/2020) Status: Completed
• Strain gauge assessment and correlation with compound muscle action potential and surface electromyogram parameters before and after a single intramuscular injection of botulinum toxin type A into extensor digitorum brevis muscle, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Neurology, (06/2016 - 06/2017) Status: Completed
• Clinical outcomes of patients who undergo electrodiagnostic testing for carpal tunnel syndrome, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Neurology, (08/1999) Status: Completed
• Use of Motor Unit Number Estimates to Quantitate the Effectiveness and Localize the Site of Action of Recombinant Methionyl Human Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Neurology, (11/1996 - 11/1997) Status: Completed
• A study of midodrine in patients with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension. Protocol #20.762-999A, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Neurology, (07/1996 - 07/1997) Status: Completed
• Randomized and placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effect of Magnesium sulfate on intraoperative neuromonitoring, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Anesthesiology, (04/2025 - 04/2026) Status: Approved

Other Research

• Sequential Nerve Conduction Studies Following Clinically Successful Carpal Tunnel Release. Sub-Investigator: Tsao BE Sub-Investigator: Tsao BE. This is study to serially evaluate the results of nerve conduction studies in a subject who had clinically successful carpal tunnel release. One of the objects is to follow the time-sequence of anticipated improvement of the nerve conduction study results. (10/2008 - 12/2009)
• Evaluation of the Effect of Botulinum Toxin Via Needle Electromyogram and Nerve Conduction Studies. Sub-Investigators: Tsao BE, Swope DM. Sub-Investigators: Tsao BE, Swope DM. This project is to evaluate the time course of the development and disappearance of fibrillation potentials in the extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) muscle following a single intramuscular injection of Botulinum toxin into the EDB muscle and if fibrillation potentials are seen in the EDB muscle at more than 3 weeks, to also evaluate other muscles via needle EMG testing. (11/2007 - 12/2009)
• Botulinum Toxin and Fibrillation Potentials. Sub-Investigators: Tsao BE, Swope DM. Sub-Investigators: Tsao BE, Swope DM. This pilot project is to determine if fibrillation potentials are reliably present when tested via needle EMG examination performed daily or almost-daily of the extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) muscle after intrmuscular injection of Botulinum toxin into the EDB muscle in healty volunteers. This study is also to determine when the fibrillation potentials begin to appear, when they are most dense, and when they diminish in density. (07/2007 - 12/2009)
• The Effect of Prior Muscle Activation on Compound Muscle Action Potential.  Co-Investigators: Griffin* C (Resident Physician), Brandstater ME, Nist LD, Al-Sayed* F (Resident Physician). Co-Investigators: Griffin* C (Resident Physician), Brandstater ME, Nist LD, Al-Sayed* F (Resident Physician). This is a study to evaluate the effect of prior activation of a muscle on the size of the compound muscle action potential which can be recorded following electrical stimulation of the nerve. This has specific implications for projects which try to quantify--especially with serial electrophysiologic studies--the effect which an agent may have on the muscle or neuromuscular junction. (09/2002 - 12/2009)