Research
The Department of Neurology is active in clinical research. Dr. Zimmerman is Director of the Neurosciences Imaging Research Center, which houses a GE 3T MRI research Magnet. A special coil for small animals to allow for animal imaging is in the process of installation. Brain MRI and fMRI with EEG/EP has been installed and programs are being tested. Spectroscopy is also well underway. Several studies regarding iron, volume changes and spectroscopy in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are ongoing.
The Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, directed by Eric Molho, M.D., Riley Family Chair in Parkinson's Disease, sustains an active specialized clinical practice along with a growing participation in single site and multi-center clinical trials. Clinical research currently addresses the treatment of Parkinson's disease, cervical dystonia, Tourette syndrome and Huntington's disease. In addition, collaborations with the New York State Department of Health investigate genetic/environment interactions in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and the relationship between exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and disorders of basal ganglia function. Upcoming trials will incorporate the expertise of faculty in Nuclear Medicine and Gastroenterology. An active fellowship program provides trainees with a comprehensive exposure to the diversity of movement disorders, their management as well as experience in the conduct of clinical research.
Dr. Neil Lava is a member of the NY State Multiple Sclerosis Consortium and is a participant in the multicenter study of long acting tizanidine in spasticity. In addition, he is studying human cutaneous nerve receptors in normals and patients with peripheral neuropathies.
Dr. Gary Bernardini's research interests include studies on novel treatments for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), including GDC embolization, predictive risk factors for development of symptomatic vasopasm after SAH, neuropsychological outcomes in patients after SAH, emergent treatment for acute ischemic stroke, management of intracerebral hemorrhage, effective sedation in the neurological intensive care unit, cardiac and pulmonary complications of cerebrovascular disease.
Dr. Koeppen, chief of the neurology service at the Samuel S. Stratton Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center has several research interests, including hereditary ataxia, hemorrhagic stroke, leukodystrophy due to x-linked proteolipid protein deficiency and superficial siderosis of the CNS.
