~ Current Funding Opportunity ~

Maine Medical Center (MMC) provides intramural clincial and translational research grants to its employed and affiliated faculty, staff, and trainees through resources made available to the Maine Medical Center Research Institute (MMCRI) and the MMC Neuroscience Institute (NSI). 

The grant application deadline is SEPTEMBER 10, 2012.

Other Research Projects

Clinical Trials
Clinician-Initiated Research Projects

Clinical Trials:

Neuro-Oncology:

MMC is one of four sites in New England participating in a Phase III/Pivotal trial for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The NovoCure multi-center trial prospectively compares patients treated with the Novo TTF-100A with temozolomide to patients treated with temozolomide alone. The treatment is based on non-invasive, chronic applications of alternating electric fields to the tumor site using insulated surface electrodes. Results from in vitro and pilot studies have demonstrated prolonged time to disease progression and extension of survival. Rajiv Desai, MD, of MMP-Neurosurgery & Spine, is the Principle Investigator on this trial. Novocure Trial Information 

Neurocritical Care:

MMC has been accepted to participate in an industry sponsored multi-center, Phase 3b trial (ACCELERATE) to evaluate clevidipine as an acute antihypertensive agent in Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage. Richard Riker, MD, Critical Care Medicine, has received funding by the Neuroscience Institute to support this research study.

Alzheimer's Disease:

Eric Dinnerstein, MD, a cognitive neurologist at Maine Medical Partners Neurology, is the principal investigator of a multicenter Phase 3 trial regarding the use of a monoclonal antibody Bapineuzumab as a potentially disease modifying agent for dementia of the Alzheimer's type. MMP Neurology is the only site in Maine conducting this trial, and one of only a handful of sites in the northern New England region.

Epilepsy

Heidi Henninger, MD, of Maine Neurology, is the Prinicipal Investigator for the following two clinical trials.

1. The LEAP trial is for patients age 65 and older who are unhappy with their seizure medications. The trial offers patients a chance to change from their current seizure medication to Lamictal XR. This drug is known to be efficacious for both partial and generalized seizures. The study is looking at tolerability, pharmacokinetics and appropriate dosing specifically for the older patient.
2. This study is for patients with uncontrolled epilepsy, age 16 - 70, who are only on one drug and are having more than 2 seizures per month. The patients will be offered a chance to crossover to a new antiepileptic drug, Lacosamide, in monotherapy to see if it is equally or more effficacious/tolerable than their current medication. Dr. Henninger has previously participated in a NIH funded trial of natural progesterone for women with epilepsy.

Clinician-Initiated Research Projects:

2009/2010

Project Title: Good Grade Sub-Arachnoid Hemorrhage Routinely Treated In a Neuro-Stepdown Unit
Principle Investigator- David Seder, MD
Approved Budget: $7,220
Status: Completed

Project Title: Maine Cool- A Regional Collaborative Therapeutic Hypothermia Project
Principle Investigator - Richard Riker, MD
Approved Budget: $36,246
Status: In progress

2008/2009

Project Title: Identification of Chemo-radiation Resistant Stem Cells in Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme
Principal Investigator: Chiara Battelli, MD, PhD  Approved Budget: $ 22,827
Status: Completed

Project Title: Effect of Induced Hypertension on Cerebral Oxygen Utilization in Encephalopathic Survivors of Cardiac Arrest
Principal Investigator: David Seder, MD
Approved Budget: $ 44,002
Status: In progress

Project Title: Cthrc1, A Possible Diagnostic Marker of Neural Tumor Progression and Vascularization
Principal Investigator: Volkhard Lidner, MD, PhD
Approved Budget: $ 26,378
Status: Completed

Project Title: Proteomic Characterization of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) in Patients with Lyme Meningitis by High Resolution LC-Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS)
Principal Investigator: Rob Smith, MD
Approved Budget: $ 8,546
Status: Completed

Project Title: Predictors of Return to Work in Worker's Compensation Patients Following Spine Surgery
Principle Investigator: John Pier, MD, MMP Neurosurgery and Spine
Approved Budget: Phase 1: $1,500
Status: Completed

2007/2008

Project Title: Creation of MMC Carotid Tissue Bank
Principal Investigator: John Belden, MD
Approved Budget: $ 5,800
Status: Completed

Project Title: Therapeutic Hypothermia Research Group
Principal Investigator: Richard Riker, MD
Approved Budget: $29,350
Status: In progress

Project Title: Objective CT Assessment of Hydrocephalus
Principal Investigator: Jeff Florman, MD (PI); Jeff Hamm, PA
Approved Budget: $ 9,354
Status: Completed

Project Title: Assessing the Accuracy and Inter-Rater Reliability of Bedside Optic Nerve Sonography in Healthy Volunteers
Principal Investigator: Michael Gibbs, MD; Tony Owens, MD; Meghan Lindstrom, MD
Approved Budget: $ 10,000
Status: Completed