Dr. Clemens’ clinical and research interests focus on the genetic myopathies. This translational research aims to identify and test treatments for genetic muscle conditions such as muscular dystrophy and late-onset Pompe disease. Dr. Clemens participates in and directs Phase II and Phase III clinical trials. Her current pre-clinical research is in collaboration with rheumatologist Dr. Dana Ascherman, focused on characterizing a mouse model of inflammatory myopathy.
Education & Training
- Post Doc, Baylor College of Medicine, Molecular Genetics
- Post Doc, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Muscle Disease
- Resident, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center,Internal Medicine / Neurology
- MD, The Medical College of Pennsylvania, Medicine
Specialized Areas of Clinical, Research and/or Educational Interests
- Research: Genetic muscle disease
- Clinical: Genetic muscle disease
- Education: Research Training; Clinician-Educator and Investigator-Educator Career Development
Board Certifications
- American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Professional Organization Membership
- American Academy of Neurology
- American Neurological Association
- World Muscle Society
- Medical Director, Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group (CINRG)
Honors & Awards
- 2012 Curriculum Service Award of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
- 2011 Clerkship Preceptor of the Year Award of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
- 2005 Veterans Affairs VISN (regional) Annual Award for Outstanding Researcher
- 2005 Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System Basic Researcher of the Year award
Selected Recent Publications
Hathout Y, Liang C, Ogundele M, Xu G, Tawalbeh SM, Dang UJ, Hoffman EP, Gordish-Dressman H, Conklin LS, van den Anker JN, Clemens PR, May JK, Henricson E, McDonald C. Disease-specific and glucocorticoid-responsive serum biomarkers for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Scientific Reports. 2019 Aug;21;9(1):12167. PMID: 31434957.
Mavroudis PD; van den Anker J; Conklin LS; Damsker JM; Hoffman EP; Nagaraju K; Clemens PR; Jusko WJ. Population Pharmacokinetics of Vamorolone (VBP15) in Healthy Men and Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2019 Jul: 59(7):979-988.
Cudkowicz M; Chase MK; Coffey CS; Ecklund DJ; Thornell BJ; Lungu C; Mahoney K; Gutmann L; Shefner JM; Staley KJ; Bosch M; Foster E; Long JD; Bayman EO; Torner J; Yankey J; Peters R; Huff T; Conwit RA; and the NeuroNEXT Clinical Study Sites; Shinnar S; Patch D; Darras BT; Ellis A; Packer RJ; Marder KS; Chiriboga CA; Henchcliffe C; Moran JA; Nikolov B; Factor SA; Seeley C; Greenberg SM; Amato AA; DeGregorio S; Simuni T; Ward T; Kissel JT; Kolb SJ; Bartlett A; Quinn JF; Keith K; Levine SR; Gilles N; Coyle PK; Lamb J; Wolfe GI; Crumlish A; Mejico L; Iqbal MM; Bowen JD; Tongco C; Nabors LB; Bashir K; Benge M; McDonald CM; Henricson EK; Oskarsson B; Dobkin BH; Canamar C; Glauser TA; Woo D; Molloy A; Clark P; Vollmer TL; Stein AJ; Barohn RJ; Dimachkie MM; Le Pichon JB; Benatar MG; Steele J; Wechsler L; Clemens PR; Amity C; Holloway RG; Annis C; Goldberg MP; Andersen M; Iannaccone ST; Smith AG; Singleton JR; Doudova M; Haley EC; Quigg MS; Lowenhaupt S; Malow BA; Adkins K; Clifford DB; Teshome MA; Connolly N. Seven-Year Experience From the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-Supported Network for Excellence in Neuroscience Clinical Trials. JAMA Neurology. 2020 Mar 23 (published online).
Li X; Conklin LS; van den Anker J; Hoffman EP; Clemens PR; Jusko WJ. Exposure-Response Analysis of Vamorolone (VBP15) in Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2020 May 20 (published online).
Clemens PR; Rao VK; Connolly AM; Harper AD; Mah JK; Smith EC; McDonald CM; Zaidman CM; Morgenroth LP; Osaki H; Satou Y; Yamashita T; Hoffman EP; CINRG DNHS Investigators. Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Viltolarsen in Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Amenable to Exon 53 Skipping: A Phase 2 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Neurology. 2020 May 26 (published online).