Major Clinical and Investigative Interests
Neurovirology, Neurotoxicology, Motor Control and Movement Disorders, Clinical Trials, Epilepsy, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Genetics
Goals are to understand molecular, cellular, and neural systems mechanisms underlying neurological and developmental disorders of children and adults. Further goals are to understand the clinical characteristics, response to treatment, and public health aspects of complex neurological disorders of children.
- Inflammatory mediator effect on synaptic plasticity during Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Small molecule pharmacologic and gene transfer-related neuroprotective strategies in neurodegeneration and HIV infection for a unique NIH-funded “bench-to-bedside” program project. (Gelbard)
- Neurophysiology of the basal ganglia in motor control. Quantitative analysis of kinematics and muscle patterns in movement disorders such as dystonia, chorea, and cerebral palsy. Clinical trials in Tourette Syndrome and cerebral palsy. (Mink)
- Clinical research on Tourette Syndrome. Work includes therapeutic trials and epidemiological research. (Adams, Augustine, Mink)
- Seychelles study on child development as it relates to maternal nutrition, specifically fish consumption, and consequent low-level methylmercury exposure. (Myers)
- Clinical and neuropsychological research on Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (JNCL; Batten Disease) including development of experimental therapeutics. (Adams, Kwon, Augustine, Mink)
- Clinical trials in epilepsy. (Wang)
- Efficacy of short-term anticonvulsant therapy in neonatal seizures. (Kwon)