Massachusetts General Hospital

05/10/2013: Concussion

When neurosurgeon Tina Duhaime, MD, of the MGH Youth Sports Concussion Clinic, talks with families about concussion, she takes time to explain what is known, and just as importantly, what isn’t known, about this common injury.

05/10/2013: TeleStroke: Real-time Resources for Better Patient Care

Through the TeleStroke network, 30 emergency departments across the northeast have real-time access to stroke experts 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

05/10/2013: E Pluribus Unum for Parkinson Disease - Researchers Draw on Sources to Improve Treatment of PD

What do Gaucher’s disease, gout, and amyloid plaques have in common? For researchers at the MGH, each of them may shed light on the causes and treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

05/10/2013: Headache? Think Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

When you hear “sudden-onset, severe headache,” Chris Ogilvy, MD, Director of Vascular NeuroSurgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, wants you to think “aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.”

05/08/2013: NeuroBlast

NeuroBlast: the newsletter of translational neuroscience and clinical care advances in neurology, neurosurgery, and neuroscience from Massachusetts General Hospital.

04/25/2013: Alzheimer's risk gene presents potential treatment target

MGH investigators have determined that one of the recently identified genes contributing to the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease regulates the clearance of the toxic amyloid beta (A-beta) protein that accumulates in the brains of patients with the disease.

04/18/2013: Three Mass. General researchers among recipients of Top 10 Clinical Research Achievement awards

Three projects led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators have been named among the Clinical Research Forum's Top 10 Clinical Research Achievements of 2012.

04/12/2013: Mass. General Neurological Clinical Research Institute and Prize4Life receive Bio-IT World Award for creation of ALS data platform

The MGH Neurological Clinical Research Institute and Prize4Life, an organization dedicated to accelerating discovery of treatments and a cure for ALS, received a Best Practices Award at the 2013 Bio-IT World Conference & Expo for their creation of PRO-ACT ,the largest database of information from ALS clinical trials and patient care.

04/12/2013: Phase II Clinical development of novel, high-potential treatments for people with ALS RFP

The Massachusetts General Hospital Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI) and The ALS Assocation announce a call for Phase II clinical trial applications for novel, high potential treatments for ALS.

04/03/2013: Phase 1 ALS trial is first to test antisense treatment of neurodegenerative disease

The initial clinical trial of a novel approach to treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – blocking production of a mutant protein that causes an inherited form of the progressive neurodegenerative disease – may be a first step towards a new era in the treatment of such disorders.

03/25/2013: Massachusetts General Hospital Researcher Receives Award for ALS Research

James D. Berry, MD, MPH has received the Richard Olney, MD, Clinician-Scientist Development Award for his investigation of cells in the immune system.

03/20/2013: Mass General receives top honor for stroke patients’ quality of care

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has received a top honor from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) for its commitment to improving its quality of care to stroke patients. The “2013 Stroke Collaborative Reaching for Excellence (SCORE) Defect-Free Care Award” recognizes the MGH for providing defect-free care to more than 80 percent of patients admitted with stroke over the course of a year

03/11/2013: Nerve damage may underlie widespread, unexplained chronic pain in children

Study finds that most of a group of young patients seen at Mass General for chronic, unexplained pain had test results indicating small-fiber polyneuropathy, a condition not previously reported in children.

01/25/2013: Lessons learned through pages turned

When it came time for Bryn Seltzer, 13, of Needham, to choose her bat mitzvah project, she knew she wanted to give back to the Pediatric Epilepsy Program at MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC), which had cared for her since she was 6 years old.

01/14/2013: Impaired coordination of brain activity in autism involves local, as well as long-range, signaling

A new study finds that local functional connectivity of the brain – the extent to which activity within a small brain region appears to be coordinated – is reduced in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. It had been believed that local connectivity was increased in the brains of autistic individuals while long-range connectivity was reduced.

01/03/2013: Biogen Announces It Will Discontinue Development of Dexpramipexole Based on Phase 3 Trial Results

Biogen Idec has announced that the EMPOWER trial has failed to demonstrate efficacy in primary and secondary endpoints.

12/21/2012: NeuroNEXT Trial of SMA Biomarkers Enrolls First Participant

The Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Biomarkers Study is the first trial within the NeuroNEXT Network to enroll a participant

12/20/2012: Webinar for ALS Patients and Families on Mexiletine in Sporadic ALS

Join us on Friday January 11th 2013 as Dr. Michael Weiss (University of Washington) will provide study rationale and background for Mexiletine in patients with sporadic ALS. He will also be available for Q&A.

12/17/2012: Genetic manipulation of urate alters neurodegeneration in mouse model of Parkinson's disease

A study by MGH researchers adds further support to the possibility that increasing levels of urate may protect against Parkinson's disease. The investigators report that mice with a genetic mutation increasing urate levels were protected against Parkinson's-like neurodegeneration, while the damage was worse in animals with abnormally low urate.

12/06/2012: Combining two genome analysis approaches supports immune system contribution to autism

Researchers using novel approaches and methodologies of identifying genes that contribute to the development of autism have found evidence that disturbances in several immune-system-related pathways contribute to development of autism spectrum disorders.

12/03/2012: Mass General Hospital ALS Internship Program for College and Medical School Students 2013

The Mass General Hospital ALS Internship Program offers both college and medical school students an exceptional opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the clinical research and care of ALS.

12/03/2012: Anne B. Young, MD, PhD, Fellowship in Therapeutic Development DEADLINE EXTENDED

Massachusetts General Hospital is pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for a joint MGH/Biogen Idec training program in translational neuroscience.

11/29/2012: Enzyme inhibition protects against Huntington's disease damage in two animal models

Treatment with a novel agent that inhibits the activity of SIRT2, an enzyme that regulates many important cellular functions, reduced neurological damage, slowed the loss of motor function and extended survival in two animal models of Huntington's disease.

11/26/2012: Massachusetts General Hospital Announces Neurological Clinical Research Institute

The Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital is pleased to announce that the Neurology Clinical Trials Unit has changed its name to the Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI).

10/30/2012: Neuraltus Announces Encouraging Phase II Study Results

Neuraltus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced results from its phase II clinical study of NP001 in patients with ALS. Results demonstrated that NP001 was safe and well-tolerated.

10/26/2012: Cure Alzheimer’s Fund donates $5.4 million

On Oct. 18, at a press conference in Cambridge, the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund announced a fitting $5.4 million contribution to the MGH to fund state-of-the-art whole genome DNA sequencing that aims to enhance understanding of the genetic roots of Alzheimer’s.

10/23/2012: Massachusetts General Hospital Launches Angelman Syndrome Clinic

The Angelman Syndrome Clinic, one of only two in the country, will work to reduce the frequency and severity of Angelman syndrome symptoms, particularly seizures, and to develop dietary regimens for individuals that further assist in the reduction of symptoms.

10/18/2012: $5.4 Million Awarded for Research to Guide Alzheimer's Drug Development

Understanding who is most susceptible to Alzheimer's disease and developing early detection models, effective therapies and possibly a cure, is the goal of the largest single private scientific grant ever invested in Alzheimer's Whole Genome Sequencing focused on families afflicted with the disease.

10/05/2012: New neurology chief shares lessons

The 15th Annual Women in Medicine Month Celebration on Sept. 20 featured a keynote lecture by Merit Cudkowicz, MD, chief of Neurology.

09/14/2012: New Mass General Center to Help Speed Development of Neurological Treatments

Mass General received a $20 million grant to establish a nationwide clinical coordinating center for testing drugs that can help people with diseases of the brain such as Alzheimer’s disease.

08/14/2012: First genome-wide association studies of obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette syndrome published

Two papers that will appear in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, both receiving advance online release, may help identify gene variants that contribute to the risks of developing obsessive-compulsive disorder or Tourette syndrome.

08/10/2012: Boosting metabolism at work

Research has shown that sitting for extended periods may not only negatively affect health but also may prematurely shorten lifespan. Marie Pasinski, MD, offers five ways to incorporate more activity into the workday.

07/17/2012: Massachusetts General Hospital Ranked #1 in the Nation on U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll

Massachusetts General Hospital has moved into the number one spot on the 2012-13 U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” list.

07/16/2012: All’s Quiet on the Lunder Floors

The Lunder Building is leading a noise-reduction revolution. Thanks to careful planning and innovative thinking, patients rest and receive treatment in a quiet healing environment.

06/12/2012: Cytokinetics Announces Results of Phase II Trial of CK-2017357

Published results demonstrated that single oral doses of 250 mg and 500 mg of CK-2017357 appeared safe and well-tolerated in patients with ALS.

06/11/2012: Results Announced for Phase I Trial of ISIS 333611 in SOD1 FALS

Results indicate that ISIS 333611 was well-tolerated.

05/31/2012: Not Your Typical Rash: Why Shingles Can’t Be Taken Lightly

Anne Louise Oaklander, MD, PhD, associate professor of Neurology, says shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), a serious neurological complication in which pain lingers in an area of previous shingles long after the rash heals, cannot be taken lightly. PHN can last for months or years and is a source of severe and disabling pain, particularly for older patients.

05/25/2012: Mind over matter

Nearly 15 years after a stroke left her paralyzed and unable to speak, 59-year-old Cathy Hutchinson controlled a robotic arm to lift coffee to her mouth and take a drink by thinking about moving her own arm.

05/25/2012: 2012 Research Scholars announced

The second group of MGH Research Scholars – recipients of unrestricted five-year grants to support innovative investigations – was announced at the hospital’s Research Advisory Council (RAC) annual meeting on May 11.

05/23/2012: Study supports urate protection against Parkinson's disease, hints at novel mechanism

Use of the antioxidant urate to protect against the neurodegeneration caused by Parkinson's disease appears to rely on more than urate's ability to protect against oxidative damage.

05/16/2012: People with paralysis control robotic arms using brain-computer interface

A new study in Nature reports that two people with tetraplegia were able to reach for and grasp objects in three-dimensional space using robotic arms that they controlled directly with brain activity.

05/04/2012: Responsibility with a smile

In her 30 years as a member of the Child Neurology Department, Ginny Tosney-Trask has “become legendary for her humanity, warmth and generosity.”

04/20/2012: In Memoriam: C. Miller Fisher, MD

C. Miller Fisher, MD, founder of the MGH Stroke Service and widely regarded as the father of stroke neurology, died April 14 at the age of 98.

04/19/2012: Cytokinetics Announces Fast Track Designation

The FDA has granted Cytokinetic's drug candidate CK-2017357 a fast track designation for the potential treatment of ALS.

04/18/2012: Confirmatory Data Supports Effectiveness of Cogane™ in ALS

Cogane™ reduced the loss of spinal cord motor neurons by 39% in a pre-clinical model with a mutation of the SOD1 gene.

03/30/2012: Study supports using virtual environment to teach mind/body techniques

A small study from MGH researchers found that online virtual communities may be an effective way to train patients in meditation and other mind/body techniques. The ability to learn and practice approaches that elicit the relaxation response in a virtual environment could help surmount several barriers that can restrict participation.

03/26/2012: Stem Cell Study Aids Quest for ALS Therapies

An international research team has created motor neurons using skin cells from a person with an inherited form of ALS/MND.

03/23/2012: Appointments announced

THE MGH WILL WELCOME new chiefs for the Department of Neurology and the Department of Urology later this spring.

03/01/2012: Mass General/ Project A.L.S. Internship Program

The Mass General / Project A.L.S. Internship Program at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston offers students an exceptional opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the clinical research and care of ALS.

02/28/2012: ALS TDI To Hold TDI132 Information Webinar on March 12th

The webinar will provide an overview of the scientific rationale for this exciting planned trial as well as discuss the next steps forward.

02/14/2012: Phase II TDI 132 Trial Announced

The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) has announced they will launch a Phase II clinical trial investigating TDI 132 as a potential treatment for ALS.

01/17/2012: Press Release: Brainstorm Initial Patient Results Support NurOwn Safety

Press release states no significant side effects noted in initial Brainstorm participants.

01/16/2012: Phytopharm Releases Positive Preliminary Results

Phytopharm lead drug candidate Cogane has demonstrated efficacy in genetic preclinical model of ALS.

12/21/2011: Veterans with ALS - New Disability Rating Rule

As of January 19th, 2012, veterans with service connected ALS will be eligible for a 100% disability rating.

12/18/2011: Increased expression of regulatory enzyme may protect against neurodegeneration in Huntington's disease

Treatment that increases brain levels of an important regulatory enzyme may slow the loss of brain cells that characterizes Huntington's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

12/14/2011: Trophos Phase III Trial Results Announced

Trophos, a French pharmaceutical company, announced results from its phase III trial of Olesoxime.

11/28/2011: The Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS) Launches New Website

The Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS) has launched their new website devoted to supporting clinical research of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and other motor neuron disease (MND).

11/24/2011: Rebuilding the Brain’s Circuitry

Neuron transplants have repaired brain circuitry and substantially normalized function in mice with a brain disorder, an advance indicating that key areas of the mammalian brain are more reparable than was widely believed.

11/21/2011: Knopp Announces Positive Phase II Results

Phase II Dexpramipexole, funded by Knopp Biosciences, shown to be safe and tolerable in patients with ALS.

11/20/2011: Novel ALS drug slows symptom progression, reduces mortality in phase 2 trial

Treatment with dexpramipexole – a novel drug believed to prevent dysfunction of mitochondria, the subcellular structures that provide most of a cell's energy – appears to slow symptom progression in the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig's disease.

11/15/2011: Ceftriaxone, NP001, and Dexpramipexole Trials Close Enrollment

The phase III trial of Ceftriaxone; Neuraltus, the Phase II study of NP001 in ALS; and EMPOWER, the Phase III study of Dexpramipexole in ALS, are no longer recruiting participants.

10/03/2011: Biomarker for Huntington's disease identified

In a new research paper BWH and MGH researchers identify a transcriptional biomarker that may assist in the monitoring of Huntington's disease activity and in the evaluation of new medications.

09/20/2011: Christopher J. McDougle named director of the Lurie Center for Autism

Christopher J. McDougle, MD has been named director of the Lurie Center for Autism at Massachusetts General Hospital and MassGeneral Hospital for Children.

08/12/2011: ALS Trial Expert Available to Answer Questions about Clinical Trials

NEALS and ALSA launch new "clinical trial expert" effort to help people with ALS navigate the world of clinical research.

07/19/2011: MGH ranks #2 in nation

MGH ranks #2 in 2011-2012 U.S. News & World Report "Best Hospitals" rankings

07/01/2011: Care redesign teams move forward with recommendations

The Partners Strategic Initiative is an ongoing effort to improve care and increase efficiency across all Partners institutions, including the MGH.

06/23/2011: Rare genetic disorder provides unique insight into Parkinson’s disease

MGH investigators may have found the mechanism behind a previously reported link between the rare genetic condition Gaucher disease and the common neurodegenerative disorder Parkinson's disease.

06/10/2011: Third Annual Tarbell Lecture features Anne B. Young, MD, PhD

MGH Hotline 6.10.11 A world-renowned neurological researcher and clinician who has helped break down barriers for women in her field, Anne B. Young, MD, PhD, chief of the Department of Neurology, has a great deal of wisdom and insight to offer to colleagues.

05/11/2011: Mild obesity appears to improve survival in ALS patients

Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may be an exception to the rule that being overweight is a health hazard. In a retrospective study of over 400 ALS patients, MGH researchers found that those who were mildly obese survived longer than patients who were normal weight, underweight or even overweight.

04/13/2011: Differences in brain structure indicate risk for developing Alzheimer's disease

Subtle differences in brain anatomy among older individuals with normal cognitive skills may be able to predict both the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in the following decade and how quickly symptoms of dementia would develop.

04/08/2011: Anne Young, MD, PhD, donates $1M to Department of Neurology

ANNE YOUNG, MD, PHD, chief of Neurology, made history for women in academic medicine by making a $1 million gift to the Department of Neurology through a deferred charitable gift annuity.

03/27/2011: Advanced technology reveals activity of single neurons during seizures

The first study to examine the activity of hundreds of individual human brain cells during seizures has found that seizures begin with extremely diverse neuronal activity, contrary to the classic view that they are characterized by massively synchronized activity.

03/24/2011: BrainGate neural interface system reaches 1,000-day performance milestone

An investigational implanted system being developed to translate brain signals toward control of assistive devices has allowed a woman with paralysis to accurately control a computer cursor at 2.7 years after implantation, providing a key demonstration that neural activity can be read out and converted into action for an unprecedented length of time.

03/11/2011: Lunder Building patient floors enhance patient- and family-oriented care

The top five floors of the Lunder Building are dedicated adult inpatient units for neuroscience and cancer patients. While the patient floors follow a standard design, each has highlights specific to a particular patient population. This week, MGH Hotline will highlight unique features of Floors 6 through 8, which are devoted to neuroscience patients, and provide a general description of a Lunder Building inpatient room. A subsequent issue will focus on Floors 9 and 10, which are dedicated to cancer patients, and will highlight the Lunder Building’s nursing, support services and common areas.

03/03/2011: Brain rhythm predicts real-time sleep stability, may lead to more precise sleep medications

A new study finds that a brain rhythm considered the hallmark of wakefulness not only persists inconspicuously during sleep but also signifies an individual's vulnerability to disturbance by the outside world.

02/18/2011: Lunder Building to “Go Live” this summer

MGH Hotline 2.18.11 In preparation for the summertime transition of several hospital programs and services to the Lunder Building, the MGH Go Live Group for the new facility was established under the auspices of Jean Elrick, MD, senior vice president for Administration.

02/10/2011: Tumor microvesicles reveal detailed genetic information

The MGH research team that previously discovered tumor-associated RNA in tiny membrane-enclosed sacs released into the bloodstream by cancer cells has now found that these microvesicles also contain segments of tumor DNA, including so-called "jumping genes" that copy and insert themselves into other areas of the genome.

02/04/2011: Acute Stroke Quality Task Force recognizes fastest treatment time

MGH Hotline 02.04.11 TIME IS BRAIN when it comes to treating stroke.

01/10/2011: Statin risks may outweigh benefits for patients with a history of brain hemorrhage

A computer decision model suggests that for patients with a history of bleeding within the brain, the risk of recurrence associated with statin treatment may outweigh the benefit of the drug in preventing cardiovascular disease, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the May print issue of Archives of Neurology.

08/09/2010: Brain rhythm predicts ability to sleep through a noisy night

People who have trouble sleeping in noisy environments often resort to strategies like earplugs or noise-canceling headphones that muffle the sound, but a new study from MGH investigators may lead to ways to block disturbing sounds within the brain.

07/16/2010: MGH ranks among top

The MGH ranked third among the country's top hospitals on the annual list of "America's Best Hospitals" issue of U.S. News & World Report.

07/16/2010: MGH residents and fellows make great save during soccer game

SPAIN MAY HAVE WON the World Cup, but a team of MGH medical residents and fellows had a victory of their own on the soccer field this summer when they helped save the life of another player.

05/28/2010: Overcoming the odds

MGH Hotline 5.28.10

05/17/2010: New study characterizes cognitive and anatomic differences in Alzheimer’s disease gene carriers

In the most comprehensive study to date, neurologists have clearly identified significant differences in the ways that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects patients with and without the apolipoprotein E ε4 gene, a known genetic risk factor for the neurodegenerative disease.

03/22/2010: Blacks less likely than whites, Hispanics to get evidence-based stroke care

Blacks hospitalized with the most common type of stroke are less likely than white or Hispanic patients to receive evidence-based stroke care, according to a new study in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

03/10/2010: Surviving a brain stem stroke

Stroke is one of the leading causes of serious, long-term disability in the United States. The Stroke Service at the Massachusetts General Hospital Vascular Center successfully treat one of emergency medicine’s toughest stroke cases.

03/02/2010: Alzheimer's-associated protein may be part of the innate immune system

Amyloid-beta protein – the primary constituent of the plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients – may be part of the body's first-line system to defend against infection. In their report in the March 3 issue of PLoS One, a team led by MGH researchers describe their evidence that amyloid-beta protein is an antimicrobial peptide.

03/02/2010: Mass. General Researchers Seek Participants for Parkinson’s Disease Clinical Trial

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital are seeking recently diagnosed Parkinson's disease (PD) patients to participate in a clinical trial investigating whether inosine taken to raise the body’s level of urate — a naturally occurring antioxidant — can be used to slow the progress of PD.

01/07/2010: Cutting-edge research, industry-changing model of care improves the lives of patients

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most prevalent and aggressive type of muscular dystrophy, affecting one in every 3,500 live male births in the world. It is also one of the most common lethal genetic diseases of children worldwide.

12/16/2009: New Web Tool May Help Predict Risk of Second Stroke

Scientists have developed a new web-based tool that may better predict whether a person will suffer a second stroke within 90 days of a first stroke.

10/12/2009: Study supports possible role of urate in slowing Parkinson’s disease progression

By examining data from a 20-year-old clinical trial, a research team based at the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Harvard School of Public Health, has found evidence supporting the findings of their 2008 study – that elevated levels of the antioxidant urate may slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease.

10/02/2009: In Memoriam: Lisa Krivickas, MD

MGH Hotline 10.02.09 Lisa Krivickas, MD, associate chief of the MGH Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and a physician in the Department of Neurology, died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, Sept. 22 at the age of 45.

09/09/2009: MassGeneral Hospital for Children study explains some mysteries of neonatal seizures

A study led by MassGeneral Hospital for Children investigators is providing new insight into the mechanism of neonatal seizures, which have features very different from seizures in older children and adults.

07/21/2009: Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

The Carol and James Herscot Center for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) at Massachusetts General Hospital and MassGeneral Hospital for Children is using genetic research to better understand TSC and other diseases like cancer, autism and obesity.

07/08/2009: Antiangiogenesis treatment improves hearing in some NF2 patients

Treatment with the angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab improved hearing and alleviated other symptoms in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). The study by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) represents the first report of a successful NF2 treatment not involving surgery or radiation.

06/15/2009: Turning thoughts into action

Dr. Leigh Hochberg from the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital is using neurotechnology to harness brain signals that accompany movement. The ultimate goal of the work is to "turn thought into action," with the hope of one day assisting people with ALS, spinal cord injury and stroke to regain control over their environment.

05/26/2009: Mass. General’s Rudy Tanzi a “Rock Star of Science”

Alzheimer’s disease researcher Rudolph Tanzi, PhD, of Massachusetts General Hospital adds another distinction to his scientific career when he joins Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and other rock celebrities in a designer menswear photo shoot as a “Rock Star of Science” in the June issue of GQ Magazine.

05/18/2009: Videoconferencing can increase patient access to stroke specialists

Massachusetts General Hospital neurologist Dr. Lee Schwamm leads a national policy endorsing telestroke as an effective means of stroke evaluation.

05/08/2009: Videoconferencing can increase patient access to stroke specialists

High-quality videoconferencing can increase patient access to stroke specialists; and a transient ischemic attack, once known as a “mini” or “warning” stroke, should be treated with the same urgency as a full-blown stroke, according to two separate statements published today in Stroke.

04/02/2009: Modification of mutant huntingtin protein increases its clearance from brain cells

A new study has identified a potential strategy for removing the abnormal protein that causes Huntington’s disease from brain cells, which could slow the progression of the devastating neurological disorder.

02/26/2009: Alzheimer’s-associated plaques may have impact throughout the brain

The impact of the amyloid plaques that appear in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease may extend beyond the deposits’ effects on neurons– the cells that transmit electrochemical signals throughout the nervous system.

02/26/2009: International collaboration identifies new gene associated with ALS

A collaborative research effort spanning nearly a decade between researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and King’s College London has identified a novel gene for inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).

12/19/2008: Home for Christmas

One year ago, a team of intensive care experts at Massachusetts General Hospital collaborated to save Karla Leavenworth's life.

09/15/2008: New screening tool for identifying major depression in patients with epilepsy

Commentary on NDDI-E screening tool for detecting symptoms of major depression, while excluding adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs or temporal lobe epilepsy memory problems

07/07/2008: You Can Rate Toasters, And Now Doctors

05/16/2012: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Safety, tolerability and pharmacodynamics of a skeletal muscle activator in amyotrophic lateral scle
Published Phase II results demonstrated that single oral doses of 250 mg and 500 mg of CK-2017357 appeared safe and well-tolerated in patients with ALS.

03/13/2012: Stem Cells

Lumbar Intraspinal Injection of Neural Stem Cells in Patients with ALS: Results of a Phase I Trial i
The results of an ongoing Phase I trial of intraspinal injections of fetal-derived neural stems cells in patients with ALS.

09/01/2011: MGH Fund Update Summer 2011

View this publication
The MGH Fund Update is a publication for supporters of the MGH Fund, Mass General's fundamental resource for providing life-saving patient care, advancing biomedical research, and creating healthcare solutions in our community and around the globe.

05/23/2010: Therapy Times

Tuesdays With an SLP
Paige Nalipinski, senior speech language pathologist and project coordinator at MGH, writes about ALS care guidelines and her experience working with patients at the MGH ALS Multidisciplinary Clinic.

05/01/2010: Lancet Neurology

Safety and efficacy of lithium in combination with riluzole for treatment of amyotrophic lateral scl
Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a time-to-event design assessing the safety and efficacy of lithium in combination with riluzole in patients with ALS.

11/01/2009: Dystonia Newsletter 2009

Dystonia Newsletter 2009
The “Dystonia Update” is an annual newsletter from the research laboratories of Xandra O. Breakefield, PhD and Nutan Sharma, MD, PhD about dystonia research at Massachusetts General Hospital. In the newsletter you will learn about ongoing research projects and the people behind dystonia research, and find answers to commonly asked questions.

07/01/2008: Muscle & Nerve

Arimoclomol at dosages up to 300 mg/day is well tolerated and safe in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of arimoclomol in ALS were assessed.

12/01/2007: Dystonia Update Annual Newsletter

Dystonia Newsletter 2007
The “Dystonia Update” is an annual newsletter from the research laboratories of Xandra O. Breakefield, PhD and Nutan Sharma, MD, PhD about dystonia research at Massachusetts General Hospital. In the newsletter you will learn about ongoing research projects and the people behind dystonia research, and find answers to commonly asked questions.

12/15/2006: Dystonia Update 2006

Dystonia Update 2006
The “Dystonia Update” is an annual newsletter from the research laboratories of Xandra O. Breakefield, PhD and Nutan Sharma, MD, PhD about dystonia research at Massachusetts General Hospital. In the newsletter you will learn about ongoing research projects and the people behind dystonia research, and find answers to commonly asked questions.

12/01/2006: Dystonia Newsletter 2006

Dystonia Newsletter 2006
The “Dystonia Update” is an annual newsletter from the research laboratories of Xandra O. Breakefield, PhD and Nutan Sharma, MD, PhD about dystonia research at Massachusetts General Hospital. In the newsletter you will learn about ongoing research projects and the people behind dystonia research, and find answers to commonly asked questions.

07/01/2006: Annals of Neurology

Trial of celecoxib in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
A double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial to determine if celecoxib is safe and effective in ALS.

01/01/2006: Neuroendocrine Clinical Center Bulletin

Neuroendocrine Clinical Center Bulletin | Effect of Obesity on Growth Hormone Secretion
The Mass General Neuroendocrine Clinical Center Bulletin shares the latest information for health care professionals about clinical and research topics in neuroendocrine conditions.

12/13/2005: Neurology

Tolerance of high-dose (3,000 mg/day) coenzyme Q10 in ALS
An open-label dose-escalation trial was performed to assess the safety and tolerability of high doses of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in ALS.

11/09/2004: Neurology

A clinical trial of creatine in ALS
A randomized double-blind, placebo controlled trial on 104 patients with ALS from 14 sites to evaluate the efficacy of creatine supplementation in ALS.

08/26/2003: Neurology

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of topiramate in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
A double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter randomized clinical trial to determine if long-term topiramate therapy is safe and slows disease progression in patients with ALS.

05/18/2013: 3rd Annual Christopher Leavitts Memorial Motorcycle Ride

Join us for the 3rd Annual Christopher Leavitts Memorial Motorcycle Ride on Saturday, May 18th in Everett, to benefit head trauma research at Mass General.

03/28/2013: Neurology Grand Rounds

Neurology Grand Rounds are held in the Ether Dome on Thursdays 9:00 am to 10:00 am.

03/06/2013: Beautiful Brain with Marie Pasinski, MD

Harvard neurologist, Dr. Marie Pasinski, MD will talk about keeping your brain healthy.

01/23/2013: The Morphing of MGH: Architecture Reflects Changing Patterns of Care

The Paul S. Russell, MD Museum of Medical History and Innovation Lecture Series Presents "The Morphing of MGH: Architecture Reflects Changing Patterns of Care"

01/01/2012: Continuing Medical Education in Neurology

The Neurology Service at Mass General offers Continuing Medical Education through Harvard Medical School.

09/28/2010: Brain Aneurysm Symposium

Our Vascular Center clinicians invite you to join us for a Brain Aneurysm Symposium, sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital and the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. Learn who is at risk for developing brain aneurysms, and about treatment options and ongoing research to help patients with this difficult condition.