Neurology

Current Whelan Laboratory Research

• "Cerebral Oxygen Saturation in Children with Epilepsy: A Pilot Study"
  • This is a pilot study that aims to address the relationship of regional cerebral oximetry, measured using near-infrared spectroscopy, with seizure activity in the periictal period in children with epilepsy. The following hypotheses will be tested: 1. Regional cerebral saturation of oxygen will increase prior to the onset of seizure activity; 2. Regional cerebral saturation of oxygen will have a carried response during seizure activity depending on the seizure type; 3. Regional cerebral saturation of oxygen will return to baseline following cessation of seizure activity.

• "Amelioration Of Oral Mucositis Pain By NASA Near Infra Red Light Emitting Diodes In Bone Marrow Transplant Patients: a Randomized Multi-Center Controlled Clinical Trial"
  • The aim of this project is to investigate the use of extra-orally applied near infra-red (NIR) phototherapy for the reduction of oral pain secondary to chemo- and radiation-therapy-induced mucositis in adult and pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients.

• "Near-infrared Light (NIR) Therapy for Diabetic Macular Edema: A Pilot Study"
  • NIR-LED treatment promotes retinal healing and improves visual function following high intensity laser retinal injury by augmenting cellular energy metabolism, enhances mitochondrial function, increases cytochrome C oxidase activity, stimulates antioxidant protective pathways, and promotes cell survival. LED therapy has been approved as a non-significant risk (NSR) device for treatment of eye disorders, has a low treatment cost, and may serve as an effective, non-invasive alternative or adjunctive treatment to laser photocoagulation, the current standard of care for diabetic macular edema. The aims of this projects are to determine the effects of short term (3 month) NIR-LED therapy on anatomic and functional abnormalities of diabetic macular edema as assessed by visual acuity, optical coherence tomography, and fundus biomicroscopy.

• "Near-infrared light-emitting diode (NIR-LED) therapy for Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON)"
  • The overall objective of this project is to test the hypothesis that NIR-LED therapy will stimulate mitochondrial function, attenuate oxidative stress, and improve cell survival and vision in subjects with LHON.

• "Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) for Brain Tumor Dispersal"
  • This project examines the hypothesis that patients with progressive/recurrent malignant brain tumors undergoing PDT with Photofrin will show a dose dependent improvement in free survival and overall survival outcomes. PDT will also be effective against infratentorial tumors and in pediatric patients. The protocol will establish the maximum tolerable dose of Photofrin in adults and in children using a dose-escalation scheme, then measure effectiveness trends at one-year and two-year post-PDT time points.