Clinical Research Center

We are conducting several clinical trials and investigator-initiated studies in the field of Multiple Sclerosis, Neuromyelitis Optica, Epilepsy, Movement Disorders, Stroke, Neuromuscular (CMT/HNPP) and Alzheimer's Disease. 

The Wayne State University Neurology Clinical Trials Research team is supported by several Clinical Trials Coordinators and Research Assistants that are led by Scott Millis, PhD, Carla Santiago-Martinez, MS, and Kelly Jia, MD.

We welcome your interest and participation!

Research Administration:

Research Associates

Research Assistants

Current Research

Multiple Sclerosis

The Multiple Sclerosis/Neuroimmunology Division at Wayne State University School of Medicine is dedicated to clinical Research. We are conducting studies with FDA- approved disease modifying therapies and investigational studies with experimental treatments. By applying innovative technology, we examine specific biomarkers on disease progression and investigate the role of genes and race on the clinical phenotype of autoimmune diseases, including but not limited to multiple sclerosis, and neuromyelitis optica. We offer our patients the opportunity to try specific disease modifying therapies before their FDA-approval and to use cutting edge technology to monitor their disease.

PIs  Evanthia Bernitsas, MD , Robert Lisak, MD, Jacob Rube, MD

Myasthenia Gravis

The neuromuscular component of the MS/Neuroimmunology Division at Wayne State University is involved in clinical research including clinical trials. We have been involved in trials that have led to the approval of several new treatments including eculizumab, ravalizumab and efartigimod, as well as the discovery of new autoantigens and the antibodies directed to those proteins. We are also involved in a study that is underway that combines inhibition of complement activation plus inhibition of the production of s component of the complement pathways. In addition, we have ongoing studies to further characterize clinical and immunologic correlations with different pathogenic myasthenia gravis autoantibodies.

PIs  Robert Lisak, MD, Jacob Rube, MD

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP)

The Neuromuscular component of the MS/Neuroimmunology program is involved in clinical research in CIDP. The research activities including an ongoing multicenter clinical trial of efartigimod, an inhibitor of the fetal/neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), already approved for use in myasthenia gravis. We continue to conduct smaller studies of other immune-mediated disorders of the peripheral nervous system.

PI  Robert Lisak, MD

Epilepsy Research

Wayne State University Detroit Medical Center clinical Epilepsy researchers have a long-standing tradition of conducting successful investigator-initiated and industry sponsored clinical trials. Their diverse research interests include management of status epilepticus, unique mechanisms of seizure detection, seizure safety and education, and epilepsy in special populations including pregnant women, elderly and those with other epilepsy-related comorbidities. Ongoing studies include investigator-initiated clinical trials of new generation anti-seizure medications in elderly and status epilepticus, and prospective studies involving overlap of Epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease.

PIs  Rohit Marawar, MD , Maysaa Basha, MD , Deepti Zutshi, MD , Mona Elsayed, MD , Waleed Abood, MD

Dementia/Cognitive Impairment

The Dementia and Behavioral Neurology clinical research program participates in investigator-initiated, and industry sponsored clinical trials for the treatment of adult patients with cognitive impairment resulting from a range of developmental, acquired, and degenerative causes. The group is currently conducting clinical trials in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and clinical study at the intersection of Alzheimer's disease and Epilepsy.

PI: Rohit Marawar, MD

Movement Disorders

The Movement Disorders clinical trials division is currently involved in several industry and NIH sponsored clinical trials for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and related syndromes (including progressive supranuclear palsy and multiple system atrophy). The group is also interested in trials that deal with essential tremor, other tremor disorders, dystonia, restless legs syndrome, Tourette's, Huntington disease, hyperkinetic movement disorders, Wilson's disease, and spinocerebellar ataxias.

PI  Peter LeWitt, MD

Stroke

The Vascular Neurology division has been prolific and successful in research over the years. We are affiliated with the (NIH sponsored) Stroke-Net that provides excellent opportunities for cutting edge research trails. Traditionally the division has had great success in investigator-initiated research as well as Industry and other national and international funding agencies sponsored clinical research. There have been numerous clinical trials that we have successfully completed, having had great success especially in secondary stroke prevention trials, carotid disease, intracranial atherosclerotic disease, and small vessel disease. Over the years, the division has shown its ability to work collaboratively and collegially with partners in other divisions and departments such as radiology, and cardiology. 

PIs Kumar Rajamani, MD, Wazim Mohamed, MD,  Philip Ross, DO, Syeda Maria Muzammil, MD

If you are interested in learning more about the Neurological clinical trials that our center offers, please contact Kelly Jia at xjia@med.wayne.edu or by phone at (313) 966-9407.