Individuals who have had a stroke or other types of brain injury may be eligible

EAST HANOVER, N.J., Oct. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kessler Foundation is recruiting study participants for multiple research programs aimed at improving cognition, mobility, and long-term outcomes for people affected by stroke and acquired brain injury.

At Kessler Foundation, scientific advances translate into improvements in rehabilitative care that benefit individual stroke survivors in their daily lives. Studies are conducted by a team headed by A.M. Barrett, MD, director of Stroke Rehabilitation Research at the Foundation, and chair of the American Academy of Neurology's section on Neural Repair and Rehabilitation.  

RESTORE

Have you had a stroke? Did you lose the use of your arm, shoulder and/or hand? Researchers at Kessler Foundation are studying an investigational new drug that may help restore upper limb function, and we need your help to conduct the study. The study examines the effect of the study drug versus a placebo on improvement of arm paralysis in individuals who have recently had a stroke.

Participation in this study consists of 9 to 18 visits over approximately 7 to 8 weeks. Before starting treatment, the participants will be evaluated for eligibility by the study doctor and personnel. If found eligible, participants will be randomized to take the study drug or a placebo for a period of 21 days.

To be eligible, participants must be between 21 and 85 years old and have had an ischemic stroke no longer than 26 weeks ago with resulting arm/hand weakness.

Participants must be receiving rehabilitation therapy 1 to 3 times a week or agree to begin physical or occupational rehabilitation two weeks before starting study drug. Participants must have the ability to travel or be transported to Kessler Foundation in New Jersey, for visits. Participants must be willing to take an investigational new drug, meaning the drug is not yet approved by any regulatory authorities, although the study has been approved by the FDA.

All participants will receive $100 per study visit and be compensated for travel.

Medication Management

Researchers at Kessler Foundation need brain Injury survivors, both traumatic (TBI) and non-traumatic (NTBI, such as stroke) to participate in a study that aims to improve medication self-administration.

Taking medication when scheduled is a struggle for many people, but can be especially difficult following brain injury. Participants will be involved in the study for six months, during which they will take their previously prescribed medications from special bottles that track when the medication is taken.

Participants will be randomly assigned into one of three intervention groups for the entire duration of the study. One group will receive the standard care when prescribed their medications, and told when and how to take their medication by hospital/pharmacy personnel. One group will receive video calls from the research team at the times they are scheduled to take their medications. Another group will receive automated text messages as a reminder to take their medications. The goal of this study is to identify whether reminder interventions are helpful in increasing medication adherence after brain injury. Seven in-home visits are required during the six-month study.

To be eligible, subjects must be 18 years or older and have suffered a brain injury (TBI or NTBI) within the last three months. Participants must be taking one to eight doctor-prescribed medications daily. The participant must be able to travel to a Kessler Foundation location in New Jersey, or be willing to have study personnel come to their home.

About Kessler Foundation

Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility and long-term outcomes, including employment, for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. For more information, visit KesslerFoundation.org.
To learn more, contact Research Recruitment Specialist, Justin Stanley, at 973-243-6812 or jstanley@kesslerfoundation.org. 

A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=41704
 

CONTACT: Justin Stanley
         Research Recruitment Specialist
         973-243-6812 or jstanley@kesslerfoundation.org