Bethesda, MDNCT02435810Now EnrollingIRB Ready

Brain Disease Clinical Trial in Bethesda, MD

Access cutting-edge brain disease treatment through this clinical trial at a research site in Bethesda. Study-provided care at no cost to qualified participants.

Sponsored by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

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Expert Care in Bethesda

Access brain disease specialists at no cost

IRB Approved

This study follows strict safety protocols and ethical guidelines

No-Cost Care

All study-related brain disease treatment provided free

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Check if you qualify for this brain disease clinical trial in Bethesda, MD

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Why Participate?

  • No-Cost Study Care

  • Local to Bethesda

    Convenient for MD residents

  • Cutting-Edge Treatment

    Access to innovative therapies

  • Expert Medical Care

    Close monitoring by specialists

  • Possible Compensation*

    For time and travel

*Compensation varies by study. Confirm details with coordinator.

Simple Process

  1. 1Submit this form
  2. 2Phone screening
  3. 3Visit Bethesda site if eligible
  4. 4Begin participation

About This Brain Disease Study in Bethesda

Background: \- Inflammation is how the body reacts to infection or injury. Infections or inflammation in the brain and nerves can be serious. There aren t always good tests to detect this. Researchers want to learn more about how diseases affect the brain and nerves to develop better tests and treatments. Objective: \- To learn more about how inflammation and infections hurt the brain and nervous system. Eligibility: \- People at least 2 years old with a diagnosis or suspected diagnosis of nervous system infection or inflammation. Design: * For some participants, a clinician outside of NIH will collect blood, tissue, and other samples. These will be sent to NIH and analyzed. * Other participants will have several visits to NIH. Children may not have all these tests. * Participants will have: * Medical history. * Physical and neurological exam. * Blood and urine samples collected. * Saliva collected. They will chew on a piece of sterile cotton for one minute. * Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The scanner is a metal cylinder in a strong magnetic field. Participants will lie on a table that slides in and out of the cylinder. Participants will get a contrast agent through an intravenous (IV) catheter during the MRI. A needle will be used to guide a thin plastic tube (catheter) into an arm vein. * Lumbar puncture. Skin will be numbed and a needle will be inserted into the space between the bones in the back. Fluid will be removed. * Some participants may have optional study procedures. These may include eye tests, memory and thinking testing, tests with electrodes on the head, or skin biopsy.

Sponsor: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Who Can Participate

Inclusion Criteria

At the time of enrollment, participants will:
Have a known or suspected infection or inflammation of the nervous system or post infection sequelae based on clinical or imaging data provided by the referral facility. For the purpose of this study, neuroinfectious disease or neuroinflammation is defined as any of the following:
fever with nervous system signs or symptoms (excluding delirium)
any neurological symptoms accompanied by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with evidence of inflammation (which may include pleocytosis, hypoglycorrachia, elevated protein, or other evidence of intrathecal immune activation including IgG index or presence of oligoclonal bands)
systemic infection or inflammatory disease with neurological involvement
neuroimaging suggestive of infection or inflammation (for example, presence of contrast-enhancing lesions on CT or MRI)
clinical presentation suggestive of infection or inflammatory process of the nervous system without better explanation
history of infection or inflammatory process of the nervous system
Be willing to participate in the protocol s procedures, unless clinically contraindicated
Be willing to provide informed consent, either directly or via appointed legally authorized representative
Be willing to consent for collection of clinical data or biological samples or their cryopreservation
Be at least 2 years old INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR PROCESSING OF BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES ONLY: At the time of enrollment, participants will:
Have a known or suspected infection or inflammation of the nervous system or post infection sequelae based on clinical or imaging data provided by the referral facility. For the purpose of this study, neuroinfectious disease or neuroinflammation is defined as any of the following:
fever with nervous system signs or symptoms (excluding delirium)
any neurological symptoms accompanied by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with evidence of inflammation (which may include pleocytosis, hypoglycorrachia, elevated protein, or other evidence of intrathecal immune activation including IgG index or presence of oligoclonal bands)
systemic infection or inflammatory disease with neurological involvement
neuroimaging suggestive of infection or inflammation (for example, presence of contrast-enhancing lesions on CT or MRI)
clinical presentation suggestive of infection or inflammatory process of the nervous system without better explanation
history of infection or inflammatory process of nervous system
Be willing to provide informed consent, either directly or via appointed legally authorized representative
Be willing to consent for collection of clinical data or biological samples or their cryopreservation
Be at least 2 years old

Exclusion Criteria

At the time of enrollment, participants will:
Not have a clinically significant medical condition that, in the best judgment of the investigators, may expose the patient to undue risk of harm or prevent the patient from completing the study (examples include, but are not limited to, ischemic cardiomyopathy, clotting disorder, brittle diabetes)
Not have an acute or unstable medical condition that, in the best judgement of the investigator, would be difficult to handle at the NIH Clinical Center
Not have a clearly-established diagnosis of well-characterized disease entity with validated treatment algorithms for which proposed resource investment, in the opinion of the investigators, would not contribute to further advancement of knowledge EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR PROCESSING OF BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES ONLY: At the time of enrollment, participants will not have: 1\. A clearly-established diagnosis of well-characterized disease entity with validated treatment algorithms for which proposed resource investment, in the opinion of the investigators, would not contribute to further advancement of knowledge INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR FAMILY MEMBERS:
Have a family member enrolled on 15-N-0125
Be at least 2 years old
Be able to provide informed consent and comply with study procedures EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR FAMILY MEMBERS: 1\. Not willing to consent for collection of biological samples or their cryopreservation

Not sure if you qualify? Submit your interest and a study coordinator will help determine your eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:Is this study available in Bethesda?

Yes, this clinical trial (NCT02435810) has an active research site in Bethesda, MD that is currently enrolling participants.

Q:Is it safe to participate?

Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. This study has been reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals. You can withdraw at any time.

Q:Will I be compensated?

Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time and travel expenses. Specific compensation details will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is provided at no cost.

Q:Can I leave the trial if I change my mind?

Absolutely. Participation is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty.

Still have questions? Our study coordinators are here to help.

Brain Disease Treatment Options in Bethesda, MD

If you're searching for brain disease treatment options in Bethesda, MD, this clinical trial (NCT02435810) may be an excellent opportunity. Clinical trials provide access to cutting-edge treatments that aren't yet available to the general public, often at no cost to participants.

Our Bethesda research site is actively enrolling participants for this clinical trial. You'll receive care from experienced brain disease specialists who are at the forefront of medical research. All study-related care, including examinations, treatments, and monitoring, is provided at no cost to qualified participants.

Looking for more options? Browse all brain disease clinical trials near you to find additional studies recruiting in your area.

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