Epilepsy
Study Name: STARS – Stand Together Against Prolonged Seizures
Study Design: Clinical research study evaluating an investigational treatment for prolonged seizures.
Study Stage: Actively Recruiting
Who Can Participate:
Patients who experience prolonged epileptic seizures, such as:
- Focal seizures lasting 3 minutes or more
- Flurries of absence or myoclonic seizures lasting 5 minutes or more
- A focal or myoclonic seizure lasting at least 90 seconds that progresses into a generalized tonic-clonic seizure (total duration 3+ minutes)
Age Range: 18 years and older
Why Participate:
- Help advance treatment options for long-lasting seizures and contribute to epilepsy research.
- Participants may transition into the open-label phase to continue receiving the study drug
Principal Investigator: Vijayalakshmi Rajasekaran, MD
Clinical Trial ID: NCT05077904 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05077904)
Contact: Dane Prince, Email: princede2@upmc.edu, Phone: 2624906818
Study Name: X-ACKT: XEN1101 for Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures
Study Design: Clinical research study evaluating an investigational treatment for generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Study Stage: Actively Recruiting
Who Can Participate:
Patients with primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (PGTCS) that meet the following:
- Recurrent primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (NO focal-onset)
- Experience ≥ 3 generalized seizures in the past 8 weeks
- Currently taking 1–3 antiseizure medications and stable for ≥1 month
Age Range: 18 years and older
Why Participate:
- Help advance treatment options for generalized seizures and contribute to epilepsy research.
- Participants may transition into the open-label phase to continue receiving the study drug
Principal Investigator: Vijayalakshmi Rajasekaran, MD
Clinical Trial ID: NCT05667142 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05667142)
Contact: Dane Prince Email: princede2@upmc.edu, Phone: 2624906818
Study Name: RISE 3: BHV-7000 in Focal (Partial) Epilepsy
Study Design: Clinical research study evaluating an investigational treatment for adults with focal-onset (partial) seizures.
Study Stage: Upcoming
Who Can Participate:
Patients who experience focal onset seizures and meet the following:
- Experience ≥ 4 observable focal seizures within a month
- Currently taking 1–3 antiseizure medications and stable for ≥1 month
- Have been diagnosed with focal onset epilepsy for at least one year
Age Range: 18 to 75 years old
Why Participate:
- Contributing to research may advance new treatment options for people with difficult-to-treat focal seizures
- Participants may transition into the open-label phase to continue receiving the study drug
Principal Investigator: James Castellano, MD, PhD
Clinical Trial ID: NCT06309966 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06309966)
Contact: Dane Prince, Email: princede2@upmc.edu, Phone: 2624906818
Neuroimmunology/Multiple Sclerosis
Study Name: FREXALT- Master protocol of two independent, randomized, double-blind, Phase 3 studies comparing efficacy and safety of frexalimab (SAR441344) to teriflunomide in adult participants with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis
Study Design: Clinical research study evaluating an investigational treatment for relapsing Multiple Sclerosis.
Study Stage: Actively Recruiting
Who Can Participate:
- The participant must have been diagnosed with RMS according to the 2017 revision of the McDonald diagnostic criteria
- The participant has an EDSS score ≤5.5 at the first visit
- The participant must have at least 1 of the following prior to screening:
- ≥1 documented relapse within the previous year OR
- ≥2 documented relapses within the previous 2 years, OR
- ≥1 documented Gd enhancing lesion on an MRI scan within the previous year
Age Range: 18-55 years
Why Participate:
- Help advance treatment options for MS and contribute to MS research.
- Participants may transition into the open-label phase to continue receiving the study drug
Principal Investigator: Ingrid Loma-Miller, MD
Clinical Trial ID: NCT06141473 (Study Details | NCT06141473 | Efficacy and Safety Studies of Frexalimab (SAR441344) in Adults With Relapsing Forms of Multiple Sclerosis | ClinicalTrials.gov)
Contact: Courtney Skasik, Email: skasikca@upmc.edu, Phone: 717-395-2614
Study Name: Prospective Investigation of Multiple Sclerosis in the Three Rivers Region (PROMOTE)
Study Design: Long-term, prospective, observational research study of multiple sclerosis
Study Stage: Actively Recruiting
Who Can Participate:
For MS patients:
- Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis or related disorders.
For healthy controls:
- No known personal history of multiple sclerosis or related disorders
- No other chronic diseases
Age Range: 7 years or older
Why Participate:
- Help researchers learn why MS affects people differently
- Contribute to developing more personalized treatments and care
Principal Investigator: Zongqi Xia, MD, PhD
Clinical Trial ID: NCT02994121 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02994121)
Contact: Zongqi Xia, Email: msstudy2@pitt.edu, Phone: 412-383-5377
Neuromuscular
Study Name: ALS/MND Natural History Study Data Repository
Study Design: The ALS/MND Natural History Data Repository/Registry is a multi-site multi-protocol clinic-based natural history study of ALS and other motor neuron disorders (MND). The study track’s the disease’s natural history in patients with ALS and/or MND through longitudinal data collected from clinic visits.
Study Stage: Actively Recruiting
Who Can Participate:
All people with a confirmed diagnosis of ALS or other MNDs who attend a participating clinic are eligible for inclusion in the data repository.
Age Range: 18 years and older
Why Participate:
Participation in this study will help researchers better understand the natural history of ALS and other motor neuron diseases (MNDs), including the wide variability in disease progression. This knowledge will help guide current treatment and care approaches and support future studies focused on identifying biomarkers for diagnosis and disease progression, as well as developing therapeutic interventions to improve patient care and health outcomes.
Principal Investigator: Tawfiq Al Lahham, MD
Clinical Trial ID: NCT05966038 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05966038)
Contact: Jacquelynn Krugh, Research Manager/Coordinator Email: jonesjr12@upmc.edu Phone: 412-864-2873
Movement Disorders
PARKINSON’S DISEASE (PD) STUDIES:
Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI)
Sponsor: Michael J Fox Foundation
Site PI: Lana Chahine, MD
Coordinator: Sherri Mosovsky, MPH, CPH
Objective: To identify biomarkers that can track the progression of Parkinson's disease to help develop and test new therapies.
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
SPARX3
Sponsor: NIH/NINDS
Site PI: Alexandra B. Gil, PT, PhD
Coordinator: Deena Ratner, MPPM
Description: Phase 3, multi-site, randomized, evaluator-masked, study of endurance treadmill exercise on changes in the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part III score at 12 months among persons with early-stage Parkinson’s disease.
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
PD Gene Therapy Trial
Sponsor: Ask Bio
Site PI: Valerie Suski, DO
Coordinator: Sherri Mosovsky, MPH, CPH
Description: Phase 2, Open-Label, Multi-Stage Study to Optimize the Intraputaminal Administration of AB-1005 (AAV2-GDNF) Using a Prescriptive Infusion Algorithm (PIA).
Candidates: PD diagnosis of over 10 years
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
Antioxidant, gamma-glutamylcysteine (GGC) in PD
Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh
Site PI: Pravat Mandal, PhD and Abby Olsen, MD, PhD
Coordinator: Nazia Abdul Rasheed Pillar, clinic55@pitt.edu
Goal: To investigate the effect of the antioxidant GGC, a precursor to glutathione, on brain health, motor function, oxidative stress, and cognitive function.
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE (HD) STUDIES:
ENROLL-HD
Sponsor: CHDI
Site PI: Valerie Suski, DO
Coordinator: Patricia Conlon, BSOT
Description: A prospective Registry Study in a Global HD Cohort
Candidates: Gene positive and Gene Unknown patients
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
GENERATION-HD2
Sponsor: Roche
Site PI: Valerie Suski, DO
Coordinator: Patricia Conlon, BSOT
Description: A Phase 2, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Finding, Study to Evaluate the Safety, Biomarkers, and Efficacy of Tominersen in Individuals with Prodromal and Early Manifest Huntington’s Disease.
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
SPK-1001
Sponsor: Roche
Site PI: Valerie Suski, DO
Coordinator: Patricia Conlon, BSOT
Description: A Phase I/II, Randomized, Sequential, Dose Escalation Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of a One-Time Bilateral, Intraparenchymal Infusion of SPK-1001 into the Caudate and Putamen in Participants with Huntington’s Disease.
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
MULTIPLE SYSTEM ATROPHY (MSA) STUDIES:
TOPAS
Sponsor: TEVA
Site PI: Valerie Suski, DO and Abby Olsen, MD, PhD
Coordinator: Deena Ratner, MPPM
Description: A Multi-Centered, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group, Phase 2 Study of TEV-56286 (emrusolmin) for the Treatment of Patients with Multiple System Atrophy.
Candidates: clinical probable and clinical possible MSA-C and MSA-P
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
MASCOT
Sponsor: Lundbeck
Site PI: Valerie Suski, DO and Abby Olsen, MD, PhD
Coordinator: Deena Ratner, MPPM
Description: Phase 3, Interventional, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Optional Open-Label Extension Trial of Lu AF82422 (amlenetug) in Participants with Multiple System Atrophy.
Candidates: clinical probable and clinical possible MSA-C and MSA-P
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
LEWY BODY DISEASE
BEHOLD (BioEnergetic Hallmarks of Lewy Body Dementia)
Sponsor: National Institute on Aging (National Institutes of Health)
PI: Sarah Berman, MD, PhD
Coordinator: Jan Ciccozzi
Description: Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) study of the involvement of mitochondrial and bioenergetic dysfunction in LBD.
Candidates: Lewy Body Dementia, REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Alzheimer’s disease
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) Consortium
Sponsor: National Institute on Aging (National Institutes of Health)
Site PI: Sarah Berman, MD, PhD
Coordinator: Cary Zik
Description: Longitudinal study of DLB and Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
Candidates: Parkinson Disease Dementia, Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), Mild Cognitive Impairment with Lewy Bodies
If interested, please email mosovskysl@upmc.edu or call 412-692-4659
Stroke
Study Name: The Pivotal Study of RapidPulseTM Aspiration System as Frontline Approach for Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke due to Large Vessel Occlusions (“RapidPulse Pivotal Study”)
Study Design: Global, multi-center, single-arm, prospective, adaptive, open-label clinical study against a literature derived performance goal (PG).
Study Stage: The RapidPulse™ Aspiration System (RPAS) is an investigational device that is designed to remove occlusive thrombus from the cerebral vasculature using precisely pulsed aspiration. RapidPulse™ Aspiration System is intended to improve revascularization results during aspiration thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Device trials are not staged.
Who Can Participate: Male and females, ages 18 to 80 years old, presenting with acute ischemic stroke in the anterior and posterior cerebral circulation, that can be treated within 8 hours of AIS symptom onset using the current thrombectomy devices. Participants should be generally healthy prior to the stroke.
Age Range: Male and females, ages 18 to 80 years old.
Why Participate: To demonstrate the safety and effectiveness for the RapidPulseTM Aspiration System in the treatment of large vessel occlusions in patients experiencing an Acute Ischemic Stroke.
The direct aspiration first-pass technique (ADAPT) is being increasingly used in current clinical practice and involves the use of large-bore aspiration catheters that are guided to the proximal end of the thrombus and then put under negative pressure (by using vacuum aspiration systems or a syringe) to produce suction on the thrombus. The clot is thus trapped at the tip or aspirated through the aspiration catheter. The aim of this study is to therefore investigate the safety and effectiveness of endovascular treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke using the RapidPulseTM Aspiration System with the ADAPT technique.
Site Principle Investigator: Bradley Gross, MD
Global Principle Investigator: Raul Nogueira, MD
Clinical Trial ID: NCT 06029491, https://rapidpulsemed.com/clinical-trials
Contact: Abdullah Al Qudah, MD, Email: alqudaham@upmc.edu
Study Name: ATHENA – A Prospective, Randomized, Dual-Arm, Multi-center Study to Assess the Safety and Effectiveness of Mechanical Thrombectomy Using the ANACONDA ANA5 Device in Combination with a Stent Retreiver
Study Design: Prospective, randomized, dual-arm, multi-center study. Randomization to either ANA or Control will be performed in a 1:1 ratio.
Study Stage: Enrollment pause as of 25 October 2025
Who Can Participate:
- Acute cerebral ischemia
- Indicated for neurovascular thrombectomy procedure
- NIHSS ≥ 8 and ≤ 25
- Treatable within 24hrs of stroke onset
- M1 or dominant or proximal M2 occlusion
- Pre-ictal mRS 0-2
- CT ASPECTS 6-10
Age Range: 22-85
Why Participate: Help to demonstrate that the use of ANA does not adversely impact the safety and effectiveness of a conventional stent retriever MT procedure
Principle Investigator: Alhamza Al-Bayati, MD
Clinical Trial ID: NCT 06370182
Contact: Danielle Moss, Email: mossdn@upmc.edu, Phone: 878-261-6389
Study Name: RESPECT-ETB – A multicentric, randomized, doub;e-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled phase III study to assess the safety and efficacy of sovateltide in patients with acute cerebral ischemic stroke
Study Design: This is a multicentric, randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled phase III clinical study
Study Stage: Actively enrolling
Who Can Participate:
- Stroke ischemic in origin
- NIHSS ≥8 and < 20
- First dose given within 24hrs of stroke onset
- Not receiving any endovascular therapy or surgical intervention
Age Range: 18-80
Why Participate: Help with treatment options by adding a therapeutic in the market that repairs cerebral damage and alleviates neurological deficit
Principle Investigator: Jussie Correia Lima, MD
Clinical Trial ID: NCT 05691244
Contact: Danielle Moss, Email: mossdn@upmc.edu, Phone: 878-261-6389
