Working Group on Clinical Research
The Working Group on Clinical Research (formerly Working Group on Clinical Trials) was established in 1988 as a forum for investigators to present preliminary protocols for proposed studies. The Working Group meets to discuss clinical research at all stages of development, from concept formation to presentation of results. After a brief presentation, the majority of the meeting is spent in interactive and lively discussion of methodological and statistical issues.
Steering Committee
- David Adler, MD, MPH
- Ania Busza, MD, PhD
- Robert Griggs, MD
- Monica Javidnia, PhD
Typical Working Group sessions address questions including (but not limited to):
- What study design is best suited to answer the proposed research questions?
- What will make this grant proposal as competitive as possible for NIH funding?
- How do I increase recruitment for my ongoing study?
- How should I address reviewer comments on a grant or manuscript?
In addition to preliminary protocols, many other topics are appropriate for discussion at the meetings and include but are not limited to data management techniques, patient recruitment, rating scale development, reliability measurement, epidemiologic surveys, ethical issues, grant preparation strategies, trial monitoring, academia/industry relationships in medical research, innovative statistical methods, and presentation of interesting trial updates or results. Clinical research studies in development, as well as completed studies with lessons learned are welcome for presentation.
Regular attendees include members of the Department of Neurology, Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, and the Department of Public Health Sciences, as well as other disciplines. All are welcome to attend.
Please contact Jessica Cruz (275-6412) with questions or to arrange a time to present. The Working Group meets bi-weekly on Friday mornings, 7:45-8:45am.
Below is the current schedule for the WGCR 2019-2020 Schedule.
WGCR 2019-2020 Schedule
| Date | Speaker | Talk Title | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 26, 2019 | Kevin Mazurek, PhD | Understanding how neural reorganization after stroke leads to regained motor function | SRB 1404 |
| October 4, 2019 | Katherine Sharkey, MD, PhD | Strategies for Assessing Sleep and Behavior in Children of Mothers with Perinatal Mood Disorders | SRB 1402 |
| October 18, 2019 | Daniel J. Correa, MD | Public engagement in anti-epileptogenesis clinical research: A discussion of opportunities, needs, and challenges | SRB 1412 |
| October 25, 2019 | Tirisham Gyang, MD | Targeted dance program for increased motor function, brain connectivity, and wellness in multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled trial | SRB 1406 |
| November 8, 2019 | Karlo J. Lizarraga Mendoza, MD, MSc | Multichannel EMG-guided endplate targeting versus auditory EMG-guided botulinum toxin injections for torticollis-predominant cervical dystonia | SRB 1404 |
| November 22, 2019 | Jennifer Gewandter, PhD, MPH | Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for peripheral edema: Designing a pilot trial based on anecdotal evidence. | SRB 1406 |
| December 6, 2019 | Patrick Bolger, RPh, MBA and Cornelia Kamp, MBA | Study Drug Formulation and Supply Issues | HWH (Helenwood Hall) 1W-501 Fiaretti Classroom |
| December 20, 2019 | Robert C. Griggs, MD Robert Holloway, MD, MPH Ania Busza, MD, PhD |
New Initiatives & Opportunities in the Experimental Therapeutics of Neurologic Diseases Training Program | SRB 1416 |
| February 24, 2020 | URMC Batten Group | Bioethical considerations in research - Returning individual data back to research participants | 1.9525 & 1.9535 Northeastern Room |
| February 28, 2020 | John Foxe, PhD | The search for neuromarkers of neurological & neuropsychiatric disease | SRB 1412 |
| May 8, 2020 | David H. Adler, MD, MPH | Increasing Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake Among Emergency Department Patients | Zoom |
| June 5, 2020 | Petra Kaufmann, MD | Academic/Industry collaboration towards developing treatment for rare diseases | Zoom |
| June 12, 2020 | Usman Shehzad, MD | Serum Neurofilament Light Chains as a Pre-Imaging screen for Possible TIA Patients | Zoom |
| July 24, 2020 | Benjamin Stecher | A wishlist for neurodegenerative disease research | Zoom |
| July 31, 2020 | Mary Reilly, MD | Approach to treating a rare disease | Zoom |
| August 14, 2020 | Ríona McArdle, PhD |
Applications of gait analysis and wearable technology in differential dementia diagnosis: early evidence and future challenges |
Zoom |
| August 28, 2020 | Michelle Powell Kvalsund, DO, MS | Neuromuscular Disease Research in Global Health: Prospects for Science, Surveillance and Scalable Solutions | Zoom |
| September 25, 2020 | Ganesh M. Babulal, PhD, OTD | Intersectionality: Social determinants of health, aging, and Alzheimer's disease across race and ethnicity | Zoom |
| October 2, 2020 | Mathula Thangaraj, MD | Advancing Technology-Enabled Cognitive Outcome Measures for DMD | Zoom |
| October 9, 2020 | Frank Sasinowski, JD | Trainee session | Zoom |
| October 16, 2020 | Evan Noch, MD, PhD | Leveraging synergistic metabolic therapies in glioblastoma: PI3K inhibitors and the ketogenic diet | Zoom |
| October 30, 2020 | Megan Zuelsdorff, PhD | Stress, buffering, and the brain: Utility and challenges of a multilevel approach to cognitive health disparities | Zoom |
| TBD | Robert H. Dworkin, PhD, Jennifer Gewandter, PhD, MPH Cornelia Kamp, MBA John Markman, MD |
TBD | Room TBD |