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Research

Currently Enrolling Studies

Interested in learning more about our currently enrolling studies? Here's what you need to know.

We offer a wide variety of opportunities to participate in clinical research. Take a look at our current research offerings below to find out how you can get involved. You can also view our Research Focus Areas page for more details.

Current Studies

Our research opportunities
We offer research opportunities in a variety of areas. We are actively enrolling participants in multiple ongoing studies.

  • Clinical trials
    • Surgical
      • RNS® System Responsive Thalamic Stimulation for Primary Generalized Seizures Study (NAUTILUS) (clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT05147571)
        • A Brief Description: NeuroPace is sponsoring the NAUTILUS Study with the RNS System for thalamic stimulation as an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of generalized seizures in individuals 12 years of age or older who have drug-resistant idiopathic generalized epilepsy. The RNS System is currently approved by the FDA for use in patients 18 years and older with hard-to-treat partial-onset seizures. The same device will be used in the NAUTILUS study. The study is a prospective, multicenter, single-blind, randomized, sham stimulation controlled pivotal study and participants will be followed for two years after the placement of the RNS System. The study will enroll a maximum of 100 participants within the United States to ensure that at least 80 participants are implanted with the RNS System.
        • Time Frame: The study design includes a two-month retrospective and one-month prospective baseline. All participants will have detection enabled at the time of implant. At 1-month post-implant, participants will be randomized 1:1 to Active or Sham stimulation. For those randomized to the Active group, stimulation will be enabled. Participants will be blinded to their own randomized status until the 2nd GTC occurs for that individual, they completed the 9-month Electiveness Evaluation Period (12-months post-implant), or the 60th GTC-event occurs in the group, whichever occurs fir After that, patients will be unblinded and patients in the Sham group (responsive stimulation OFF) will have responsive stimulation enabled (responsive stimulation ON).
        • Compensation: Compensation for this study is dependent on participation. Please ask for more details.
      • Laser Ablation of Abnormal Neurological Tissue Using Robotic NeuroBlate System (LAANTERN) (clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02392078)
        • A Brief Description: Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive epilepsy surgery technique. It is also called laser ablation. LAANTERN is a prospective, multi-center registry that includes data collection up to 5 years to evaluate safety, quality of life, and procedural outcomes after LITT for epilepsy. There is a separate arm in this study evaluating intracranial tumors as well.
        • Time Frame: There is a baseline appointment to capture data pre-operative appointment to compare post-operative data to. Following the operation there is a 1 month, 3 month, 6 month, 12 month, 24 month, 36 month, 48 month, and finally a 60 month post-operative visit.
        • Compensation: The participant will be compensated $50 for each post-operative visit. The participant will have the opportunity to collect $400 if they attend every visit.
      • Medtronic Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Therapy for Epilepsy Post-Approval Study (EPAS) (clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT03900468)
        • A Brief Description: The purpose of this post-approval study is to further evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of Medtronic DBS therapy for epilepsy on seizure reduction in newly implanted participants through 3 years of follow-up in different geographic populations.
        • Time Frame: Once enrolled, this study takes place a little over the course of three years. There will be one visit two weeks post-operation to activate the DBS device. After that there will be a 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, 12 month, 24 month, and 36 month visit.
        • Compensation: Compensation for this study is dependent on participation. Please ask for more details.
      • A Feasibility Study to Evaluate Safety and Initial Effectiveness of MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound Ablation Therapy in the Treatment of Epilepsy (clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02804230)
        • A Brief Description: MR-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a non-invasive ablation method that uses ultrasound to generate focused thermal energy to destruct abnormal tissue. This method is currently not an FDA approved and current study is to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and initial effectiveness of the MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment of patients with medication-refractory focal epilepsy. Patients with lesional epilepsy may be a candidate for participation depending on the type and location of the lesion causing seizures. 
        • Time Frame: Seizure frequency will be recorded in the 8-week Screening/Baseline phase. Patients will return for the procedure on the Treatment Day, then be evaluated in office or remotely (e.g. by phone) in the Follow-Up phase at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months – treatment.
        • Compensation: Compensation for this study is dependent on participation. Please ask for more details.
  • Other
    • Epilepsy Brain Bank (EBB) Biospecimen Repository
      • Brief Description: Patients that are receiving surgical treatment for epilepsy at KU Medical Center (portion of the brain removed) may donate the excess tissue not required for pathology analysis, as well as blood samples, to the Epilepsy Brain Bank Biospecimen Repository and will be asked to enroll. The aim of this study is to collect, store, and dispense tissue samples, along with limited health information, to make them available to biomedical research investigators throughout the scientific community in order to advance our knowledge of the causes and potential cures of epilepsy and other neurological disorders.
    • Written Language Abilities During Aphasic Seizure
      • Brief Description: Participant that are treated at The University of Kansas Health System Epilepsy or Neurology Clinics and those that are treated in the inpatient epilepsy monitoring unit will be assessed for the type of seizure they have (done routinely). The aim of the study is to assess what writing ability is like during aphasic seizures. The hypothesis is that aphasic seizures would also affect written language (agraphia).

All our research studies happen here at KU Medical Center, one of 36 U.S. public institutions in the prestigious Association of American Universities, an invitation-only organization for the nation's top research universities. We also partner with The University of Kansas Health System, which provides patient care and has the only Level 4 Epilepsy Center in the state of Kansas.

Here's how you can get involved
To learn more about available epilepsy research opportunities and your eligibility for studies, please contact Lauren Holland, Clinical Research Coordinator, at 913-574-0412 and lholland2@kumc.edu or speak with your epilepsy doctor.

Epilepsy research publications

For the most up-to-date information or to enroll in a study or clinical trial, visit the University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Research Center website.

Visit the Neuromuscular Division's research website to learn more about currently enrolling studies.

TIMELESS
  • Phase 3, prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to compare efficacy of tenecteplase (clot busting drug) versus placebo in acute ischemic stroke patients in 4.5-24 hours of last known normal
  • Primary Investigator: Sabreena Slavin, M.D.
  • Age ≥ 18
MOST
  • Multi-arm optimization of stroke thrombolysis: a single-blind, randomized controlled adaptive, multi-arm, adjunctive-thrombolysis efficacy trial in ischemic stroke
  • Primary Investigator: Laith Maali, M.D.
  • Must be treated with 0.9mg/kg IV tPA (standard of care clot buster approved for stroke treatment) within three hours of stroke onset or last known normal
  • Must be able to receive assigned study drug within 60 minutes but no later than 75 minutes of IV tPA
SELECT 2
  • Randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endovascular thrombectomy compared to medical management in acute ischemic stroke patients due to large vessel occlusion who have signs of tissue damage on imaging: large core on either CT (ASPECTS 3-5) and/or CTP CBF ≥50cc within 0-24 hours from last known well
  • Primary Investigator: Michael Abraham, M.D.
  • IV tPA allowed up to 4.5 hours
  • Hypothesis is that saving at least some of the tissue may still lead to better outcomes than if nothing is done
CHARM
  • Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter, phase 3 study to compare intravenous Glibenclamide versus placebo in patients with large hemispheric infarction to improve 90-day functional outcomes.
  • Primary Investigator: Michael Abraham, M.D.
  • Age 18 to 70 years
  • MCA territory large hemispheric infarction defined as: lesion volume 80-300 cm3 MRI/CTP or ASPECTS 1-5 with involvement of at least 2 defined cortical regions (core volume remains 80-300cm3 post endovascular treatment)
  • NIHSS ≥10
ARCADIA
  • AtRial Cardiopathy and Antithrombotic Drugs In Prevention After Cryptogenic Stroke
  • Sub-study: CSI (Cognition & Silent Infarct)
  • Primary Investigator: Jorge Kawano, M.D.
  • Compare efficacy of apixaban versus aspirin therapy in patients who have evidence of atrial cardiopathy and recent embolic stroke of undetermined source in outcomes evaluation of recurrent stroke and safety outcomes of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and any major hemorrhage
  • Adults ≥45 years
MASTERS-2
  • Adult stem cell administration for stroke treatment and enhanced recovery study
  • Evaluate the efficacy of MultiStem (Allogeneic, regenerative medicine advanced therapy produced from young adult bone marrow donors) within 36 hours of symptom onset on 90-day mRS functional outcome in patients with ischemic stroke
  • Primary Investigator: Sabreena Slavin, M.D.
  • Age >18 years within 18-28 hours post-onset of stroke symptoms or last known normal and a persistent deficit of NIHSS 8-20 that does not change by >4 points from screening to baseline
SATURN
  • Statins Use in Intracerebral Hemorrhage
  • Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) presenting within 7 days of lobar ICH while taking statins will be randomized to one of two treatment strategies: discontinuation vs continuation of statin therapy
  • Principal Investigator: Michael Abraham, M.D.
  • No recent history of MI
BOXES
  • Bilirubin oxidation and cerebral vasospasm in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) pilot study
  • Principal Investigator: Michael Abraham, M.D.
  • Stefano Byer, MS3
  • Pilot study analyzing cerebrospinal fluid of patients with SAH and association of free radical oxidation of bilirubin and heme metabolism and causality of vasospasm
EMAGINE
  • Electromagnetic field treatment for recovery of subacute ischemic stroke
  • Double-Blind, Randomized, sham-controlled study using a wearable medical device that produces and delivers non-invasive, extremely-low–intensity and low-frequency, frequency-tuned electromagnetic fields in order to stimulate neuronal networks with the aim of reducing disability and promoting neurorecovery.
  • 45 sessions of therapy will be conducted during inpatient stay and at home
  • Primary Investigator:  Sandra Billinger, Ph.D., PT and Sarah Eickmeyer, M.D.
  • Ages 22 to 85 (inclusive), Ischemic only (petechial hemorrhage allowed); 4-21 days post-onset of stroke symptoms
  • Contact: Sasha Moores, smoores@kumc.edu, 913-588-2697
SLEEPR
  • Observational study: Sleep and activity data collected at 15, 60, and 90 days post stroke
  • Primary Investigator: Sandra Billinger, Ph.D., PT
  • Ages 18 or older; admitted to in-patient rehabilitation; NIHSS item 1a <2; OSA exclusionary
  • Contact: Sasha Moores, smoores@kumc.edu, 913-588-2697

E-consent

One challenge with stroke trials is that potential participants are frequently unable to consent and family members often are not present or have not yet arrived at KU Medical Center. To address this challenge, we offer e-consent for the following clinical trials:

  • TIMELESS
  • SELECT 2
  • MOST
  • BOXES

For more information, take a look at the currently enrolling studies on the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder website.

Phase 2 Clinical Trial of OXE103 for Treating Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI)

The study will examine whether with treatment the brain will heal faster and concussion symptoms improve or resolve.

You may qualify for the study if:

  • You suffered a concussion (mild traumatic brain injury) and are experiencing symptoms
  • Your injury occurred within the last 28 days
  • You are between the ages of 18 and 60
  • You are not currently pregnant or actively trying to become pregnant

To participate in the study, you must be able to meet the following study requirements:

  • Attend a combination of several in-person and phone study visits
  • Complete various questionnaires and testing
  • Give yourself injections twice a day for two weeks (for the treatment groups).

For more information about the study, visit restisnotenough.com and email ConcussionResearch@kumc.edu.


KU School of Medicine

University of Kansas Medical Center
Department of Neurology
Mailstop 2012
3901 Rainbow Blvd.
Kansas City, KS 66160
Phone: 913-588-6970
Fax: 913-588-6965