NeuroNEXT

The NN104 RHAPSODY primary manuscript has been published in the January 2019 print issue of Annals of Neurology. As the abstract notes, this trial was important for three reasons:

• It was the first trial of a neuroprotectant for acute ischemic stroke in a trial design allowing thrombectomy, thrombolysis, or both
• It demonstrated that all four doses of 3K3A-APC considered in the trial met the definition for safety and tolerability
• It demonstrated a trend towards lower hemorrhage rate, which was consistent with trends observed in prior animal studies. This trend requires confirmation in a larger study

Congratulations to Dr. Lyden and the NN104 RHAPSODY team. The success of this academic/industry partnership is another major statement of the many benefits that NeuroNEXT brings to the conduct of high-quality phase II studies in the neurosciences.

NN101 SMA was recently featured in the Cure SMA newsletter, highlighting the recently-published Recruitment & Retention paper. 

Dr. Merit Cudkowicz, Principal Investigator of the NeuroNEXT CCC, was interviewed on CBS News’ 60 Minutes on a feature about NFL star Tim Green coping with ALS. Her appearance begins at the 6:15 mark, and she discusses Mr. Green’s prognosis and treatment. 

The slide presentation from the 2018 NeuroNEXT Annual Meeting in Boston, MA October 18-19 are now available on the NeuroNEXT private website. They can be accessed under Network Materials > Annual Meetings. Thanks to everyone for a successful meeting!

The dataset from the NN101 SMA project is now publicly available from the NINDS repository. Researchers interested in accessing this data should complete the NINDS Data Request Form and send it via email to the NINDS Clinical Research Liaison at: CRLiaison@ninds.nih.gov. 

The results of the NN102 SPRINT-MS have been posted online at the New England Journal of Medicine.  

NINDS has issued a press release regarding the publication of the NN102 SPRINT-MS study results in the New England Journal of Medicine. The press release quotes NINDS Director Walter J. Kroshetz, MD, saying the NN102 SPRINT-MS findings “provide a glimmer of hope for people with a form of multiple sclerosis that causes long-term disability but does not have many treatment options.”

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke announced the renewal of the NeuroNEXT Network for an additional five years of funding. 

The University of Iowa highlighted NeuroNEXT achievements in two campus publications: Iowa Now provides an overview of the ways the Network is accelerating the clinical trials process, and The Daily Iowan focuses on the ways NeuroNEXT is bringing together clinical sites and coordinating centers to advance neurological trials.

In addition, the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa produced two videos highlighting NeuroNEXT research. One features Chris Coffey, NeuroNEXT DCC PI: 

The second video features Janel Barnes, a statistician at the DCC, who finished her PhD at the University of Iowa in 2017: 

The Clinical Trials Methodology Course (CTMC) has begun their 2018 Webinar Series. These webinars are open to all. The course focues on the desing of early stage clinical trials for investigators focused on neurological illness and injury. The full scheduled may be viewed online: https://siren.network/training/ctmc/ctmc-webinars. 

The NINDS Clinical Trials Methodology Course is supported by the NIH-NINDS: R25 NS088248 and is administered by the University of Michigan, the University of Iowa, and Los Angeles BioMed. Additional support is provided by the American Academy of Neurology.