Research Focus Areas
We believe in the power of research to improve and change lives.
Our faculty, residents and fellows are committed to the research enterprise, and they are actively leading and contributing to innovative studies and clinical trials in a variety of areas. To learn more, you also can visit our Currently Enrolling Studies page.
Epilepsy
Our expert faculty members are committed to improving the quality of life for people with epilepsy. One crucial way we do this is through our research and clinical trials. But we can't do it alone. We need your help!
Who can participate?
Truly anyone who is interested in participating in clinical research can volunteer. In fact, millions of people just like you volunteer to participate in research studies every day.
Why should you volunteer?
Clinical research is the final step of all medical advances. Research helps us look at new ways to prevent, diagnose or treat disease. Each research study helps doctors and scientists understand epilepsy better. Participating in research is a way to give back to the broader epilepsy community and to improve future epilepsy treatments. We invite anyone interested in volunteering for one of our research studies to get involved. Together we can help make a difference in the lives of people with epilepsy.
Here's how you can get involved
To learn more about available epilepsy research opportunities and your eligibility for studies, please contact Laura Crabtree, Clinical Research Coordinator, at lcrabtree2@kumc.edu or speak with your epilepsy doctor.
View Epilepsy research publications
- "Postictal ammonia as a biomarker for electrographic convulsive seizures: A prospective study" Dr. Uysal, Dr. Landazuri, Dr. Hammond (2016)
- "The challenges of continued antiseizure medicine trials" Dr. Landazuri & Dr. Ulloa (2020)
- "Ictal multicomponent agraphia in left temporal lobe epilepsy" Dr. Ulloa, Dr. Landazuri, Dr. Pearson, & Dr. Uysal (2020)
- "Could the 2017 ILAE and the four-dimensional epilepsy classifications be merged to a new ‘Integrated Epilepsy Classification'?" Dr. Landazuri (2020)
- "A prospective multicenter study of laser ablation for drug resistant epilepsy - one year outcomes" Dr. Landazuri (2020)
- "Hand posture as localizing sign in adult focal epileptic seizures" Dr. Shah (2019)
- "Epilepsy: Improving care for patients with epilepsy" Dr. Ulloa (2011)
- "Laser Ablation of Abnormal Neurological Tissue Using Robotic Neuroblate System (LAANTERN): Procedural Safety Hospitalization" Dr. Landazuri (2020)
- "Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy" Dr. Shah (2020)
- "Unilateral Optic Neuritis and Central Retinal Vasculitis Due to Ocular Syphilis" Dr. Khan (2020)
- "Verification of the Deep Brain Stimulation Electrode Position Using Intraoperative Electromagnetic Localization" Dr. Kinsman (2020)
- "Rapid high-fidelity contour shaping of titanium mesh implants for cranioplasty defects using patient-specific molds created low-cost 3D printing: A case series" Dr. Kinsman (2020)
- "Efficacy and tolerability of olive oil-based ketogenic diet in children with drug-resistant epilepsy: A single center experience from Turkey" Dr. Uysal (2019)
- "Preliminary Evidence for Limbic-Frontal Hyperexcitability in Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizure Patients" Dr. Uysal (2019)
- "Consistent linear and non-linear responses to invasive electrical brain stimulation across individuals and primate species with implanted electrodes" Dr. Cheng (2019)
- "Comparison of Postictal Semiology and Behavior in Psychogenic Nonepileptic and Epileptic Seizures" Dr. Shah (2018)
- "Unexpected Aphasia following Right Temporal Lobectomy as Treatment of Recurrent Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus" Dr. Hammond, Dr. Landazuri, Dr. Pearson, & Dr. Uysal (2017)
- "Oscillatory EEG activity induced by conditioning stimuli during fear conditions reflects salience and valence of these stimuli more than expectancy" Dr. Cheng (2017)
- "The effect of olive oil-based ketogenic diet on serum lipid levels in epileptic children" Dr. Uysal (2016)
- "Mechanisms of deep brain stimulation" Dr. Cheng (2016)
- "Temporal lobe epilepsy in patients with nonlesional MRI and normal memory: an SEEG study" Dr. Landazuri (2015)
- "Intravenous anesthesia in treatment of nonconvulsive status epilepticus: Characteristic and outcomes" Dr. Hammond & Dr. Uysal (2015)
- "The Short-Term Effect of Ketogenic Diet on Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Elastic Properties of the Carotid Artery and the Aorta in Epileptic Children" Dr. Uysal (2015)
- "The Short-Term Effects of Ketogenic Diet on Cardiac Ventricular Functions in Epileptic Children" Dr. Uysal (2015)
- "Clinical perspectives on medical marijuana (cannabis) for neurologic disorders" Dr. Hammond (2015)
- "Seizure semiology in males with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures is associated with somatic complaints" Dr. Pearson (2015)
- "A case report of a Wada test after dominant hemisphere multiple hippocampal transections: Pathophysiology of confusion after amobarbital injection" Dr. Landazuri (2014)
- "Contingent negative variation is associated with cognitive dysfunction and secondary progressive disease course in multiple sclerosis" Dr. Uysal (2014)
- "EEG in syncope: useful or not?" Dr. Ulloa (2012)
- "Diagnostic utility of routine EEG study in identifying seizure as the etiology of the index event in patients referred with a diagnosis of migraine and not otherwise specified headache disorders" Dr. Ulloa (2012)
- "Neuropsychological outcome following minimal access subtemporal selective amygdalohippocampectomy" Dr. Pearson (2012)
- "Immunotherapy responsive autoimmune subacute encephalitis: a report of two cases" Dr. Hammond (2010)
- "Review of levetiracetam, with focus on the extended release formulation, as adjuvant therapy in controlling partial-onset seizures" Dr. Ulloa (2009)
Dementia/Alzheimer's Disease
As one of only 33 Alzheimer's Disease Centers designated nationally by the National Institutes of Health, the University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Center has long been a leader in ground-breaking dementia research. The KU ADC offers lots of opportunities for you to get involved.
Research studies generally fall in three main categories:
- Discovery and Innovation Studies
- Investigational Medicine Trials
- Exercise and Lifestyle Intervention Trials
To learn more or to enroll in a study or clinical trial, visit the KU ADC website.
Neuromuscular
Our Neuromuscular Division is one of the largest and most active research and clinical trial units in North America. We engage in a range of local, national and international studies on a variety of neuromuscular diseases and conditions.
Our mission is to better understand the natural history of the disease; improve our knowledge of disease biomarkers; and to translate research advances into improved diagnoses, care and educational resources for people with neuromuscular diseases.
Here are some of the areas we study.
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Myasthenia Gravis/ Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS)
- Neuropathy
- Myositis
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
- LGMD
- Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD)
- Pompe
- Myotonic Dystrophy
Visit the Neuromuscular Research website to learn more about us and our currently enrolling studies.
Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder
We're committed to improving the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders. One of the ways we demonstrate that commitment is by offering a variety of research studies and clinical trials related to the disease. For more information, take a look at the currently enrolling studies on the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder website.
Stroke/Vascular
Our stroke and neurocritical care faculty, fellows, and residents are committed to providing exceptional care to patients and their families. Through this process we are very active in national and international clinical trials, providing volunteers an opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research, advancing medical knowledge, and helping future patients. We could not do this work without our research volunteers, so your participation is very important, and we need your help!
For more information, visit our currently enrolling studies page.
General Neurology
Concussion
Our faculty who specialize in concussion are dedicated to seeking a better quality of life for their patients through innovative clinical trials. We hope you’ll join us! To learn how, contact us at ConcussionResearch@kumc.edu.