Diagnostic Ultrasound for Focal Neuropathies

项目概述：候选人Michael S. Cartwright，医学博士是一名初级神经学家，在临床和研究环境中具有使用神经肌肉超声的经验。2008年6月，他完成了MDA的临床研究培训资助，在此期间，他接受了流行病学、研究设计和生物统计方法的培训。这将为他在临床研究方面打下坚实的基础，但要发展成为一名转化研究人员，他需要接受医学影像学基础科学方面的培训，并具有纵向以患者为导向的研究经验。在奖励期间，Cartwright博士将由两位在医学成像方面具有互补经验的个人指导。Francis Walker博士是神经肌肉超声方面的国际专家，Peter Santago博士是医学成像基础科学方面的生物医学工程师。此外，Cartwright博士将在弗吉尼亚理工大学维克森林生物医学工程学院学习医学成像研究生课程。该研究计划旨在强调神经肌肉超声在局灶性神经病变个体诊断评估中的重要性，并为Cartwright博士提供组织和开展临床试验的经验。研究的第一部分将证明神经肌肉超声的有效性和可靠性。第二部分是一项双盲随机临床试验，以评估诊断超声对150例局灶性神经病患者功能结局的疗效。驱动该研究第二个组成部分的假设是，通过电诊断研究和超声相结合诊断出局灶性神经病变的个体将有更精确和准确的诊断，将更频繁地进行适当的治疗，因此，与仅用传统电诊断研究评估的患者相比，将有更好的功能预后。相关性：局灶性神经病在美国每年影响超过30万人，每年的医疗费用超过5亿美元。在此职业发展奖期间，Cartwright博士将获得必要的知识和技能，将复杂的神经肌肉成像技术从发育阶段引入患者护理领域，研究计划将测试诊断超声是否能改善局局性神经病患者的功能结果。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): PROJECT SUMMARY: The candidate, Michael S. Cartwright, MD is a junior neurologist with experience using neuromuscular ultrasound in clinical and research settings. In June 2008 he completed a Clinical Research Training Grant from the MDA, during which he received training in epidemiology, research design and biostatistical methods. This will provide him with a solid foundation on clinical research, but to develop as a translational researcher he requires training in the basic science of medical imaging and experience with longitudinal patient-oriented studies. During the award period, Dr. Cartwright will be mentored by two individuals with complementary experience in medical imaging. Dr. Francis Walker is an international expert in neuromuscular ultrasound, and Dr. Peter Santago is a biomedical engineer with expertise in the basic science of medical imaging. In addition, Dr. Cartwright will take medical imaging graduate level courses at the Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering. The research plan is designed to highlight the importance of neuromuscular ultrasound in the diagnostic evaluation of individuals with focal neuropathies and to provide Dr. Cartwright with experience organizing and conducting a clinical trial. The first component of the study will demonstrate the validity and reliability of neuromuscular ultrasound. The second component is a double-masked randomized clinical trial to assess the efficacy of diagnostic ultrasound on the functional outcomes of 150 individuals with focal neuropathies. The hypothesis driving the second component of the study is that individuals diagnosed with a focal neuropathy by a combination of electrodiagnostic studies and ultrasound will have a more refined and accurate diagnosis, will be referred for appropriate treatment more often, and will, therefore, have better functional outcomes compared to those evaluated with traditional electrodiagnostic studies alone. RELEVANCE: Focal neuropathies affect more than 300,000 individuals each year in the United States and medical costs exceed $500 million annually. During this career development award, Dr. Cartwright will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to bring sophisticated neuromuscular imaging technologies from the developmental stage into the realm of patient care, and the research plan will test if diagnostic ultrasound can lead to improved functional outcomes in individuals with focal neuropathies.