Paula R. Clemens, MD

  • Professor
  • Vice Chair of VA Affairs, Department of Neurology
  • Division Chief, Neurology, Medical Service Line, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

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).