Center for Neuromodulation Research and Development Program
Our mission at the Center for Neuromodulation at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is to restore quality of life and alleviate suffering by offering leading-edge and innovative therapies to patients with chronic and severe neurological disorders. To accomplish this mission, we provide personalized healthcare treatments and we participate in on-going and innovative research to bring new diagnostic and innovative treatments to patients.
Neuromodulation Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are the safest and fastest form of research to identify medical therapies that work and improve health. Clinical trials, using human volunteers, can involve new or existing medications, devices, diagnostic and surgical procedures as well as new uses for existing therapies.
The strong collaboration between researchers and physicians across various disciplines allows for the development of clinical trials. At Ohio State’s Center for Neuromodulation researchers work closely with multidisciplinary teams comprised of scientists, clinicians, biomedical engineers and physicians to bring new diagnostic and innovative treatments to our patients.
This team of experts is led by Ali Rezai, MD, who is internationally renowned for his expertise with deep brain stimulation, including surgery, physiology functional MRI and DBS mechanism research. This team of researchers works closely with multidisciplinary teams comprised of scientists, clinicians, biomedical engineers and physicians to develop clinical trials for new treatments for traumatic brain injury, addiction, eating disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, autism and many other conditions.
Why Volunteer for a Clinical Trial?
People volunteer for a clinical trial for many reasons. By participating you can play a more active role in your own health care; gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available; receive therapy for a condition you may have but for which current treatment options are limited; obtain expert medical care at leading healthcare facilities; help others understand how treatments work in people of different genders and races; and contribute to the advancement of science.
It is important to remember that your participation in a clinical trial is completely voluntary. While a clinical trial may or may not help you, your results could help others with the same medical condition now or those who will be diagnosed in the near future.
Available Clinical Trials:
1. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Treatment of Severe Disability from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of deep brain stimulation as a treatment for people who have severe disability due to traumatic brain injury specifically in the areas of mood, decision-making and self-control.
2. Physiological Brain Atlas Development
The purpose of this study is to collect information before, during and after the DBS procedure in an effort to improve the DBS implant process and how it works after it is implanted.
3. Neuropsychological, Neurophysiological and Clinical Assessments of Functions and Structure in Persons Who Receive Deep Brain Stimulation
The purpose of this study is to collect information before, during and after the DBS procedure to better understand:
- how DBS works with the brain’s structure and function
- help the study team understand how DBS affects self-regulation
- evaluate the characteristics of the diseases treated by DBS
4. General Deep Brain Stimulation Database
The purpose of this study is to collect and organize information related to the DBS implant; this includes preoperative and long-term postoperative information for use in future research studies.
5. Investigating the Cortical correlates of Spinal Cord Stimulation using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
The purpose of this study is to assess patterns of MRI activation with spinal cord stimulators in patient with neuropathic leg pain.
6. Stimulation of the Cervical Sympathetic Ganglion (SPG) for Treatment of Asthma
The purpose of this study is to determine if the stimulation of the SPG can regulate asthma attacks in asthmatics.
7. Epilepsy Surgery Database
The purpose of this study is to collect data from patients undergoing epilepsy surgery for use in future research studies.
Clinical Trial Oversight/Review
All Ohio State University clinical trials are overseen by the University’s Office of Responsible Research Practices (ORRP), a unit of The Ohio State University Office of Research. ORRP supports the University’s goals of promoting the ethical conduct of research involving human and animal subjects. Ohio State has three IRBs – one each for biomedical sciences, cancer, and behavioral and social sciences. These boards are staffed by physicians, scientists, patient advocates, clergy, community members and other healthcare providers. They are responsible for overseeing the protection of human subjects in research.
Contact Information
For more information about enrolling in clinical trials, call the Center for Neuromodulation Research Office at 614-366-6952; Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
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