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Clinical Trials Capabilities > Neurology

Strength and Expertise

Over the last 15 years, the division of neurology has also emerged to be a center of excellence for conducting clinical trials in fields of Stroke, Parkinsonˇ¦s disease, Epilepsy and Dementia. The division had participated in many randomized controlled studies, majority of which were multi-center, international, and pharmaceutical sponsored or monitored. We have an experienced team of staffs including doctor, nurse, research assistant and psychologist who are well trained and certified in the administration of tests that are commonly used in trials for NIHSS, Barthel Index, Rankin Score, QOL measure, Unified Parkinsonˇ¦s Disease Rating Scale, Alzheimerˇ¦s Disease Rating Scale ˇV cognition, Clinical Dementia Rating Scale. We were also involved as the core team in the development of the protocol for the first regional wide randomized study for evaluating Chinese herbs among Chinese Parkinsonˇ¦s disease patients (the ViNeuro study) and for stroke rehabilitation. Our recruitment rate was also the top among the sites in few of these multi-center clinical trials, e.g. contributing 60 Parkinsonˇ¦s disease patients in as a single center in one of the Parkinsonˇ¦s disease trial.

Stroke

Strength and Expertise

The Division of Neurology plays a leading role in regional research in stroke treatment and epidemiology studies. We lead many academic-initiated, multi-centered international clinical trial (FISS-tris, CLAIR, SPA) for stroke treatment and also many epidemiological studies on the genetics and prevalence of atherosclerosis in China. Our facilities are world class with MRI, CT, SPECT, PET, Transcranial Doppler, Microembolic signal detection and Duplex ultrasound. For treatment, we had the most active intracranial stenting program in South East Asia and also lead in the research of counterpulsation for cerebral blood flow augmentation.

Clinical Trials 2006-2007

  • CLAIR- aspirin + Plavix versus aspirin alone for emboli reduction (100 cases)
  • SPA- counterpulsation for recent ischemic stroke (400 cases)
  • Stenting for symptomatic intracranial stenosis (200 cases)

Collaboration, Partners and Multi-centre Trials Capability

Other International Phase III studies:

  • SAINT I, II, and CHANT- neuroprotection for acute stroke
  • DIAS- thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke with perfusion mismatch
  • PROFESS- Stroke prevention with Aggrenox or Plavix
  • PERFORM- New antiplatelet agent for stroke prevention
  • VITATOPS- Vitamins for stroke prevention
  • CRESENDO- antimetabolic syndrome
  • ACTIVE- Aspirin plus Plavix versus aspirin for stroke prevention in AF
  • ATHENA- Atrial Fibrillation Rhythm control

Epilepsy

Strength and Expertise

  • Clinical
    • Comprehensive epilepsy service managing patients across the spectrum of clinical needs, from first seizure to newly diagnosed epilepsy, refractory epilepsy, pre-surgical evaluation, and epilepsy surgery.
    • Facilities for long-term video EEG monitoring including scalp and intra-cranial monitoring, electro-stimulation for functional mapping, MRI, SPECT, PET, Wada test.
  • Research
    • Multi-disciplinary research team comprising clinical epileptologists, neuroscientists, research personnel trained in GCP.
    • Ongoing research projects in various aspects of epilepsy including drug therapy, epidemiology, psychosocial aspects, clinical pharmacogenomics, and basic science.
  • Access to patients
    • In-patient registry: Screening protocol to identify and screen patients admitted to the hospital for seizure disorders, including first seizure, newly diagnosed epilepsy, chronic epilepsy. Over 2000 patients have been screened and registered since 2004.
    • Out-patient registry: Over 600 patients with epilepsy actively followed up in specialist clinics.
  • DNA bank
    • A DNA bank of patients with epilepsy established since 2004 to collect DNA samples from centres in Hong Kong. DNA samples of over 1200 patients have been collected from 4 major hospitals so far. Collection is ongoing.
  • Clinical trials
    • Completed and ongoing pivotal clinical trials (Phase III thru IV), either investigator-initiated or pharmaceutical company-sponsored, involving both marketed antiepileptic drugs and investigational compounds.
    • Trials of antiepileptic drugs for non-epilepsy conditions, e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome, migraine.

Collaboration, Partners and Multi-centre Trials Capability

Established collaboration/contacts with major centres within and outside Hong Kong, including China (Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai), Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, UK, Germany, Australia, USA.

Clinical Trials Monitored and/or Audited by Industry, FDA and local RGC etc.

  • SKATE II ˇV Levetiracetam add-on therapy in epilepsy (Phase IV study)
  • Randomised, double-blind, monotherapy study of pregabalin and lamotrigine in patients with newly diagnosed partial seizures (regulatory Phase III study)