Research Projects & Publications
Publications
- A quality of care assessment for women of childbearing potential with epilepsy in Bhutan: An observational study
- Impact of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder on employment and income in the United States
- Perceptions of People with Multiple Sclerosis on Social Determinants of Health: Mixed Methods
- Understanding the employment impact of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in the USA: Mixed methods
- Neurologic Care of Forcibly Displaced Persons: Emerging Issues in Neurology
- Improvement in Health Perception but not Quality of Life with Antiseizure Medication Intervention in People with Epilepsy in Guinea: A Cohort Study
- Rectifying Global Inequities in Neuromyelitis Optica Diagnosis and Treatment
Research Projects
Evaluation of Ublituximab as a Transition Therapy for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis
The Neurological Clinical Research Institute is seeking participants for the ENHANCE Phase 3b study, evaluating ublituximab (Briumvi) as a potential treatment option for individuals with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) who are transitioning from other disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). This study aims to assess whether ublituximab effectively controls the disease activity in RMS patients and how well patients tolerate shorter infusion durations. If you are between 18-65 years old, diagnosed with RMS, and have previously been treated with medications like ocrelizumab, rituximab, or ofatumumab, or have recently discontinued your previous DMT, you may be eligible to participate. Contact Farrah Mateen at fmateen@mgh.harvard.edu for more information.
Learn more about this study on Rally
A 7T MRI Study on Radiologically Isolated Syndrome
The Neurological Clinical Research Institute is investigating early multiple sclerosis (MS) development using 7 Tesla MRI in individuals with radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS). The study seeks to understand the progression from RIS to clinical MS by examining cortical and white matter lesions, their characteristics, and the potential for early intervention. Participants aged 18-55 with RIS are invited to contribute to this crucial research in understanding and potentially intervening in MS at its earliest stages. Contact Farrah Mateen at fmateen@mgh.harvard.edu for more information.
Learn more about this study on Rally
Global Survey of NMO and Employment
We are working internationally to study the impact of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder on employment, work hours, and wages of people internationally, including collaborators in 20 countries. We thank the Sumaira Foundation for their support! Early results of this project will be presented at the World Congress of Neurology in Montreal in October 2023 by Isabella Gomez Hjerthen, student in the Global Neurology Research Group and winner of the Elsevier Clinical Research Abstract Award from the WCN.
Social Determinants of Health in Multiple Sclerosis
We have conducted focus groups and mixed methods studies in New England, Puerto Rico, and Mississippi in English and Spanish with people with the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis to discuss and report their lived experiences with the CDC-defined social determinants of health as they apply to multiple sclerosis. Please see our first published manuscript on these focus groups: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37897932/
Smartphone EEG in Bhutan
The GNRG is conducting a clinical study to test smartphone-based electroencephalograph (EEG) to diagnose patients with epilepsy in Bhutan, a small, land-locked country between China and India. Funded by the Charles Hood Foundation, the Harvard University Asia Center and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Assessment of Portable Magnetic Resonance Imaging
The Neurological Clinical Research Institute is currently recruiting participants with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease and participants who have had a stroke. Participants will receive a MRI scan lasting about 25 minutes at the Massachusetts General Hospital Main Campus. Participants are paid $80. Contact Farrah Mateen at fmateen@mgh.harvard.edu for more information.
Past Projects
MASTER-2: An Observational Study Evaluating Cladribine
The MASTER-2 trial is an observational study to evaluate the effectiveness and patient-reported outcomes in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis who are transitioning from ocrelizumab to cladribine.
VERISMO: An Observational Study of MS Patients
Ocrelizumab has been shown to be an effective treatment option for patients with MS, but the FDA has requested that a study be undertaken to determine the long-term health effects of ocrelizumab.This 10-year-long study will observe 4,000 patients in the US and Germany who have newly started ocrelizumab or another MS disease modifying therapy. The research team is following up with nearly 100 participants from MGH through electronic medical records for a 5 year period.
EvolutionRMS: A Phase III Randomized Controlled Study of Evobrutinib to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety
The EvolutionRMS study looked at a medication called evobrutinib for people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) with relapses. This investigational medication was compared to teriflunomide, a medication that is already being used to treat RMS, during a 2-year-long study.
MAMBO: Treating Post-Stroke Disability in Tanzania with Fluoxetine
In the MAMBO (Kiswahili for “Hello”) clinical trial, we tested the safety and tolerability of fluoxetine for post-stroke motor recovery in Tanzania. We also investigated post-stroke dementia in Tanzanian patients. Funded by the National Institutes of Health. The results of the project were reported in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Download Project Resources in Swahili:
- Enrollment Survey
- PHQ-9 Survey
- Modified Rankin Scale
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment
- Asberg Depression Scale
- NIH Stroke Scale
Electronic Pill Bottle Monitoring to Promote Medication Adherence in Multiple Sclerosis
Keeping track of whether you've taken your medications can be difficult, but in diseases like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) taking a medication regularly can have a great impact on the course of the disease. We are undertaking a study to determine if electronic pill bottles can help patients with MS remember to take their oral disease modifying therapies more regularly. Enrollment for this study is now complete. Please contact Dylan Rice (drice2@mgh.harvard.edu or 617-643-2947) if you are interested in hearing more about this project.
Smartphone EEG in Bhutan and Guinea
The group is conducting a clinical study to test the feasibility of using a smartphone-based electroencephalograph (EEG) system to diagnose patients with epilepsy in Bhutan, a small, land-locked country between China and India, and Guinea, a country on the Atlantic coast of Africa bordered by Mali and Sierra Leone. Funded by the Charles Hood Foundation, the Harvard University Asia Center and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Resources for the Smartphone EEG project:
- Guinea Epilepsy Survey
- Erica McKenzie's interview with the Living Well with Epilepsy Blog
- NIH RePORTER
- Published results
- BrainCapture Smartphone EEG website
Light Therapy for Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis
Fatigue is the most commonly reported symptom among people living with MS, and more than a quarter report fatigue as their most disabling symptom. We are conducting a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to determine whether light therapy can be used as a treatment for MS-related fatigue
Resources for the multiple sclerosis light therapy study:
A Global Atlas of NMO Diagnosis and Treatment Practices
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a demyelinating disease of the optica nerve and spinal cord. Despite recent advances in the treatment and diagnosis of NMO, little is known about the global availability of diagnostic tests and medications for the disease. We surveyed physicians from over 120 different countries on the availability, affordability, and accessibility of a variety of clinical options to diagnose and treat neuromyelitis optica (NMO).
This study was sponsored by ZoomRX and the Sumaira Foundation.
Platelet Signatures in Multiple Sclerosis
Platelet Signatures in Multiple Sclerosis When faced with clinical symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurodegenerative condition, patients and physicians can be uncertain of how to proceed. There are multiple diseases that mimic the symptoms of MS; some of them require special treatment and care.
A blood test for MS could allow physicians to more confidently direct the care of their patients; unfortunately, no such blood test currently exists. But there is evidence that platelet RNA signatures may change in MS patients. We are analyzing the blood of MS patients, healthy patients, and patients with MS- mimicking diseases to determine whether there is a platelet-based RNA signature that can help confirm diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
Media
- Podcast: Global Burden of Neurologic Conditions": Interview with Dr. Katrin Seeher, World Health Organization
- Podcast: "Adult ADEM": Interview for the Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association
- Podcast: Demystifying NMO & MOG | The Employment Impact of NMO & MOG w/ Dr. Farrah Mateen
- Podcast: Neurology Podcast | Neurologic Care of Forcibly Displaced Individuals with Dr. Farrah Mateen
- Podcast: Neurology Podcast | In Memoriam of Martin A. Samuels, MD, DSc, FAAN, MACP, FRCP, FANA with Dr. Farrah Mateen
- Video: Bringing Crucial Neurological Care to Far Corners of the Globe
Funding Partners
The Global Neurology Research Group would like to thank our funding partners for helping to make our research possible:
- National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- NIH Fogarty International Center
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- American Brain Foundation
- The Sumaira Foundation for NMO
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Harvard University Center for AIDS Research
- Grand Challenges Canada
- Charles H. Hood Foundation
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Support Our Work
Donor support enables Dr. Mateen to reach patients in under-resourced countries and implement care strategies, bringing us closer to improved neurological health for patients around the world.