Research and Clinical Trials

Our Neuropsychologists are actively involved in research.

 

Neuropsychology

Cognitive Remediation
We are currently examining the effectiveness of our cognitive remediation program by utilzing pre- and post-testing control patients who have not been through our cognitive remediation program and comparing them with those patients who have received cognitive remediation.

Neurodevelopmental Issues associated with Congenital Heart Disease
The team is analyzing one and two-year neurodevelopmental follow-up in children with congenital heart disease to look at inflammatory markers related to brain injury pre- and post-open heart surgery.

We are also looking at the cognitive effects of congenital cardiac disease in an fMRI and DTI study.

Concussion
Comparing concussed atheletes with normal controls to assess advanced neuroimaging techniques as it pertains to return to play decisions.

Research Projects:

  • Luton, L., Reed-Knight, B., Loiselle, K., O’Toole, K., & Blount, R. (2011). A Pilot Study Evaluating an Abbreviated Version of the Cognitive Remediation Program for Youth with Neurocognitive Deficits. Brain Injury 25(4), 409-415.

  • Moreno-De-Luca, A. Helmers; S.L., Mao, H. Burns, T.G., Melton, A. M. A., Schmidt, K.R.,Fernhoff, P.M.; Ledbetter, D.H.  (in press).  Adaptor protein complex-4 (AP-4)deficiency causes a novel autosomal recessive cerebral palsy syndrome with microcephaly and intellectual disability.  Journal of Medical Genetics.

  • O’Toole, K. (2011).  Biography of Marcel Kinsbourne, M.D. In J. Kreutzer, J. DeLuca & B. Caplan (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Berlin: Springer Publishing Co.

  • Whigham, K.B., Burns, T.G., & Lageman, S.K. (2011). The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. In J. Kreutzer, J. DeLuca, & B. Caplan (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer Publications

Ongoing Grant Funded Research:

  • Loring, D.W. (2013). Cognitive AED Outcomes in Pediatric Localization Related Epilepsy (COPE). Funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. (Burns, T.G.)

    Burns, T.G., King, T.Z., Jones, R.A., Sun, B., Hayes, L. (2012). Sports Related Concussion: A Comparison of Advanced Neuroimaging and Neurocognitive Factors Predicting Return to Play Decisions. Direct Costs - $50,000 received from Children’s Center for Neurosciences Research.

    Ware, R.E., Davis, B.R., Adams, R.J., Brown, C., Jones, R.A., Bearden, D., & Burns, T.G., O’Toole, K. (2012). TCD With Transfusions Changing to Hydoxyurea (TWiTCH): A Phase III randomized clinical trial to compare standard therapy (erythrocyte transfusions) with alternative therapy (hydoxyurea) for the maintenance of lowered TCD velocities in pediatric subjects with sickle cell anemia and abnormal pre-treatment TCD velocities. Sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

    Drossner, D., Mahle, W., Burns, T.G., King, T., Beery, S. (2011). Adolescent and adult cognitive effects from congenital cardiac disease. Funded by the Emory-Children’s Center for Cardiovascular biology and Center for Clinical Outcomes research and Public Health. Direct Costs - $50,000.

    Drossner, D., Mahle, W., Burns, T.G., King, T., Beery, S. (2011). Adolescent and adult cognitive effects from congenital cardiac disease. Funded by the Emory-Children’s Center for Cardiovascular biology and Center for Clinical Outcomes research and Public Health. Direct Costs - $50,000.

    Robson, M., Ford, J., Yaleman, N., Cheung, W, Phillips, P., Sahmoud, T (2010). A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study of RAD001 in the treatment of patients with subependymal giant cell astrocytomas associated with tuberous sclerosis complex. Noavartis: Protocol CRAD001M2301.

    Mahle, W., Hamrick, S. et al. (2010). Role of inflammatory response in brain injury following neonatal cardiac surgery. Thrasher Research Fund. Emory University, Department of Pediatrics and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta – Sibley Heart Center. (Ilardi, D. – Co-Investigator).

    Gaillard, W.D., Sun, B., Berl, M.M., Burns, T.G., Gaillard, W.D., Hayes, L., Adjouadi, M., & Jones, R.A (2010-2012). Multi-Site Pediatric Network for fMRI Mapping in Childhood Epilepsy. Grant funding from the American Epilepsy Society, NINDS R01 NS44280, Partnership for Pediatric Research Epilepsy Foundation; Children’s Research Institute Avery Award, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at Children’s National Medical Center (NIH IDDRC P30HD40677) and the General Clinic Research Center (NIH GCRC M01-RR13297). The authors are also thankful for the support provided by the National Science Foundation under grants HRD-0833093, CNS-0959985, and CNS-1042341.

    Brown, C., Jones, R., & Burns, T.G. (2012). Neuroimaging Study of Iron-Associated Neurotoxicity in children diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease (N-SINC). Funded by Friends of Children’s. Direct Costs: $50,000.