Clinical Research Directory

Nerve Repair Using Hydrophilic Polymers to Promote Immediate Fusion of Severed Axons and Swift Return of Function

Current strategies for peripheral nerve repair are severely limited. Even with current techniques, it can take months for regenerating axons to reach denervated target tissues when injuries are proximally located. This inability to rapidly restore the loss of function after axonal injury continues to produce poor clinical outcomes. The investigators propose testing the efficacy and safety of a combination therapy: polyethylene glycol (PEG) assisted axonal fusion technique to repair peripheral nerve injuries in humans.

Safety and Efficacy of Autologous Human Schwann Cell (ahSC) Augmentation in Severe Peripheral Nerve Injury (PNI)

The primary purpose of this research study is to evaluate the safety and possible harms of injecting one's own Schwann cells along with nerve auto-graft after a severe injury to a major nerve has occurred.

4-AP Peripheral Nerve Crossover Trial

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of single dose 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) on the diagnosis of severing vs non-severing nerve injury after peripheral nerve traction and/or crush injury. The investigational treatment will be used to test the hypothesis that 4-aminopyridine can speed the determination of nerve continuity after peripheral nerve traction and/or crush injuries allowing the identification of incomplete injuries earlier than standard electrodiagnostic (EDX) and clinical assessment. Participants will be randomized to one of two groups to determine the order of treatment they receive (drug and placebo vs placebo and drug). Participants will undergo baseline testing for nerve assessment, receive either drug or placebo based on randomization and undergo hourly sensory and motor evaluation, EDX testing and serum 4AP levels for three hours after dosing. Participants will then repeat this with the crossover arm.