Neuromuscular Diseases

We currently have a multidisciplinary team studying Quality of Life issues in patients with ALS and their care givers. We also have a number of other clinical studies involving ALS: 1) religiosity and spirituality; 2) injections of botulinum toxin into the parotid glands to decrease sialorrhea; 3) evaluation of cognition; 4) evaluation of emotional processing; 5) the use of high-frequency chest wall oscillation. In the more basic sciences, collaborative work is being done with Dr. James Connor of the Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences to study the role of the iron in ALS, and to explore the gene chip (microarray) as a means of understanding ALS. We have an ongoing ALS autopsy/tissue donation program through which our patients can choose to provide tissue for research after death.
In fields other than ALS, we have access to 3,4-diaminopyridine for the treatment of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome and congenital disorders of neuromuscular transmission.