Reseach & Legislation

ALS patients in Nebraska and the surrounding states have the opportunity to enroll in ALS clinical research trials. Bryan LGH Medical Center’s College of Health Sciences is currently screening and accepting patients in two clinical trials – dexpramipexole and ceftriaxone. Both of these trials are in Phase III, which is where the therapeutic effect of the patient is specifically sought, once Phase I and II trials show safety and yield the optimal dose. This is the stage of testing that enrolls enough patients to allow a statistical verdict that a treatment is effective. If ALS patients or their families are interested in receiving more information about these exciting opportunities, please contact Becky Weber, Research Coordinator at Bryan LGH, at 402.481.8001 or Kathie Allstot, lead nurse for neurologist Dr. Gary Pattee, at 402.483.7226.

Additionally, Trisha Funk — a speech-language pathologist at Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI), part of University of Nebraska Medical Center – is completing a research study looking at mobile technology as speech generating devices. Trisha specializes in providing alternative and alternative communication (AAC) for adults with speech and language impairments secondary to neuromuscular diseases, such as ALS. If you are willing to participate, please contact Trisha by phone at (402) 559-6460 or email her at trisha.funk@unmc.edu.