In reminding the graduates of the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech, University of Miami President Donna E. Shalala pointed out “the special role of physicians at a time of tragedy: saving the severely wounded, and helping survivors with their fears, depression, and other serious physical and psychological consequences.”

Honorary degree recipient and commencement speaker Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health, encouraged the newly minted physicians to achieve balance in their lives by being nurtured by four “food groups”:  professional, spiritual, love and fun.  “An opportunity to help people at a vulnerable time in their life is a privilege, and it is at the core of our profession,” Collins said.  “Don’t ever forget it.”

When he got to the fourth food group - fun - Dr. Collins really got the crowd going. Strumming his guitar, he sang a salute to the trials and tribulations of being a medical student, all to the tune of “My Way.” Every verse had the medical students bowing to the authority of the faculty by doing things “their way,” and only in the final verse did they take on the role of a faculty member now able to force new medical students to do it “my way!” The song brought the entire crowd to its feet.

As President Shalala put it, “Most commencement addresses you can’t remember. This one is forever.”

Dr. Konefal has been chief of the Division of Complementary Medicine and director of the Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine at the Miller School for more than a decade. She became a licensed acupuncturist in 1981 and worked with the Nutrition Division in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health as their education specialist. Her vision for the center dovetails with the mission of the Miller School - to create a healing environment, conduct evidenced-based research, and to train the next generation of professionals. “I believe that with this new dimension to Dr. Konefal’s role at UM, our overall programs in complementary and integrative medicine will be well positioned to be a national model of innovation and excellence,” said Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Miller School of Medicine.

Konefal has degrees in psychology, education and public health and began her career at the UM Miller School 30 years ago when, along with Robert C. Duncan, Ph.D. she implemented the Graduate Programs in Public Health. She worked in the School of Education, Office of Medical Education, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences before establishing the complementary medicine program in 1989. Konefal has also served on NIH review and consensus development committees in complementary and integrative medicine.

ULearn includes a search engine that will let employees search for topics of interest and register for those classes. In addition, ULearn automatically creates individual Outlook calendar items, placing any class that you register for in your UM Outlook calendar. If a class is canceled or if a training date changes, the calendar items will be updated automatically.

ULearn also offers individual and customizable home pages for each user upon login. These pages will display each employee’s professional development information including schedules, curricula and transcripts, which will facilitate the learning process. The PDTO is excited about this upcoming development and feels that it will truly provide a new beginning for university faculty and staff and their professional development needs.

For additional information about ULearn, call the PDTO at 305-284-5110 or 305-243-3090.

UM/Sylvester is pleased to announce the support of three one-year pilot projects in the amount of $50,000 to encourage research studies targeting cancer health disparities. The goal of this funding mechanism is to provide the resources to pursue a new idea and to develop the preliminary experimental data needed to support a successful NCI R01 application. This mechanism also seeks to attract new investigators with a wide variety of special expertise to apply to cancer disparities research. We encourage applications in clinical oncology research, basic molecular mechanistic approaches, population genetics, epidemiology, health psychology, bio-behavioral oncology, community-based participatory research as well as structural biologic approaches to cancer therapy. All junior or senior faculty members with an M.D. and/or Ph.D. are eligible. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are not eligible.

For application and additional information please call Cristina Llanos at 305-243-6292 or e-mail cllanos@med.miami.edu.

The Grants.gov computer lab training course provides practical instruction for NIH electronic submission of proposals. The instructor will also provide tips for avoiding common errors.

To register, please visit netlearning.miami.edu or for help with registration, please e-mail saymerich@med.miami.edu.

Class of 2007:  Joseph Esterson, M.D., Miguel Paniagua, M.D., Edgar Pierre, M.D., and Salem Dib, M.D. (resident awardee).

Class of 2008:  Alex Mechaber, M.D., Elizabeth Updike, M.D., Laurence Sands, M.D., and Amy Flick, M.D. (resident awardee). 

Class of 2009:  Warren Kupin, M.D., Richard Preston, M.D., and Donald Temple, M.D.

Class of 2010:  Ana Campo, M.D., Ron Clark, Ph.D., and Stephen Roper, Ph.D.

Congratulations to all!

In addition, UM Canterbury offers Camp Discovery on the Coral Gables Campus. Transportation is provided at no additional cost from the medical to the Gables campus. Camp Discovery is geared toward kindergarten and young elementary students. Two four-week sessions run from June 4 through July 27, including themes such as Animal Mania, Abracadabra, Lights, Camera Action, and Construction Production. Each week concludes with a theme-based show. Camp Discovery offers swimming lessons at the University Center Olympic pool under the supervision of Randy Abelman, coach of the men’s and women’s diving teams. Other activities include dance, volleyball and soccer, arts and crafts, music and more. Camp enrollment is available only to Canterbury families and members of the UM community. Visit our website at http://canterbury.miami.edu for more details and a camp application or e-mail pbochman@miami.edu for more information about our programs.

For more information or to make an appointment, contact Peter Raposo at 305-243-6783 or visit the web site at http://calder.med.miami.edu/biomed/.

A representative from Fidelity Investments will be on the medical campus May 24, and June 27 to answer financial questions about its retirement plans. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-642-7131.

A representative from Lincoln Financial Group will visit the medical campus May 22, June 19 and July 17 to conduct individual counseling sessions. To schedule an appointment, contact Theresa Yong toll free at 866-772-4163 or e-mail tmyong@lnc.com.

All meetings will take place in the Human Resources Benefits Office, 901 NW 17th St., Suite D.

Emergency grants are available for equipment for up to $20,000, or bridge funding for ongoing research projects for up to $25,000. These applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis (due the 25th of each month). Criteria for a successful proposal include the strength of the research, the availability of cost sharing, in-kind support and/or matching funds, and the prospect for future extramural funding resulting from the SAC grant. 

The proposals for pilot and emergency funds (bridge and equipment), including appendix material, should be submitted electronically to Maria Valero-Martinez at mvalero@med.miami.edu and prepared according to standard guidelines found at www.miami.edu/research/SAC. The application form for the different categories can be downloaded from the web site.

A request for grant applications is issued twice a year. Our next deadline is June 27. The criteria for pilot projects include originality, feasibility, scientific merit and the likelihood that the pilot project can be developed into an NIH-level grant. Pilot project applicants who have not received prior R01 or equivalent funding, or cancer control investigators, are eligible to apply. All applications must target Hispanic/Latino population.

For more information an application procedures, contact Chantell Torregrosa-Macias at 305-243-3981.

Contact Barry Lieber, Ph.D., in the Endovascular Research Center at 305-284-2330, or by e-mail at Blieber@miami.edu.

This three-day immersion course incorporates more than 20 hours of Spanish language training. With small, interactive classes, students are able to absorb and retain more information than in an ordinary class setting. Enjoy a relaxed, stimulating classroom setting. Learn from dedicated, professional instructors with years of teaching experience. Choose from one of two content areas; Spanish for business or Spanish for health professionals. This course is for beginning-level Spanish students. For more information, contact the Intensive Language Institute at 305-284-4727 or e-mail us at alc.cstudies@miami.edu.

The Grand Rounds will take place today at noon in the RMSB third-floor auditorium and lunch will be served.

For more information, e-mail mpieiga@med.miami.edu or visit www.jayweisscenter.org.

The seminar will be held today at noon in the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Retter Auditorium. 

For further information please call 305-243-2811.

A light lunch will be served. This health presentation is offered free of charge through UM/Sylvester.

The presenter is Salahadin Abdi, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the Division of Pain Medicine and professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine, and Pain Management at the Miller School of Medicine.

Please call 1-800-545-2292 to register.

For additional information, please contact Joanne Leahy at 954-571-0107 or jleahy@med.miami.edu.

To participate and to be included on the e-mail list of the MitoClub, please contact Antoni Barrientos abarrientos@med.miami.edu or Carlos Moraes cmoraes@med.miami.edu.

The event will include exercise demonstrations, a yoga lesson from noon to 1 p.m., wellness-themed vendors, education on the benefits of joining the Medical Wellness Center and a dunk tank with the coaches.

Please stop by and enjoy our energy, music, and spirit as we celebrate YOU!

Please join us tomorrow at noon in RMSB room 3109.

This activity is eligible for one hour of CME credit and fulfills the State of Florida's licensure requirement for domestic violence. A light lunch will be served. To expedite processing, please RSVP to Marie Corrales at 305-243-2576 or e-mail mcorrales@med.miami.edu with your name, profession and any other information required for continuing education credits.

The seminar will be given by Thomas A. Hamilton, Ph.D. chairman of the Department of Immunology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Lerner Research Institute, this Thursday at noon in RMSB room 3109.

For additional information, please call 305-243-1078.

An individualized learning plan will assist learners in mapping their personal growth goals. This course will help learners to assess their goals, plan for future goals and success, and build a concrete plan to reach those goals.

This seminar takes place this Friday noon in the PDTO training room, Dominion Parking Garage, suite 155. Please register through http://netlearning.miami.edu.

Dr. Horwitz has had a continuing interest in natural products as a source of new drugs for the treatment of cancer, including Taxol, a drug isolated from the yew plant, an important anti-tumor drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of ovarian, breast, and lung carcinomas.

The one-day poster session for cancer research projects will take place on the second floor of the Jackson DTC  from 9 to 11:30 a.m. this Friday. Prizes of $500, $250 and $100 will be awarded in two categories: 1) Fellows, residents, and medical students, and 2) Graduate students and post-doctoral students. Awards will be announced the same day at 11:30 a.m.

For more information, contact Diane Dames at 305-243-2287, or e-mail ddames@med.miami.edu.

Robert Kirsner, M.D., Ph.D., professor and vice chair of the department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, will offer the screenings at UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach on Monday, May 21, from 1 to 4 p.m., at 1192 East Newport Center Drive, Suite 100, Deerfield Beach.

Screenings are by appointment only. Please call 1-800-545-2292 for an appointment.

The program will be presented by Joseph D. Rosenblatt, M.D., associate director for clinical and translational research at UM/Sylvester, on Monday, May 21, from 6 to 8 p.m.
 
The presentation will include information on:
• current trials at the Miller School of Medicine
• ongoing advances in the treatment of blood cancers
• telling fact from fiction when it comes to clinical trials
• how to talk to your doctor about clinic trials
• possible treatment options and more

This Conversations about Cancer lecture will take place in the UM/Sylvester conference room 1301. Parking will be validated and dinner will be served. The program is free of charge.

Please RSVP to 305-243-1000, or for more information please contact Carthy Thomas at cthomas2@med.miami.edu.

The seminar is being conducted by Stephen Russell, Ph.D., of Grant Writers’ Seminars and Workshops. Dr. Russell has held grant support from the National Institutes of Health as a principal investigator since the early 1970’s, including individual, group, center, and training grants.

The Office of Research is subsidizing the cost of the workshop, but participants will be responsible for purchasing the text, “Grant Application Writer’s Workbook.” which is required for the course. Registration for the workshop is through NetLearning at https://netlearning.miami.edu. For the agenda or more information about the seminar, please visit http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2425-1;53481-3,00.html. For questions, please contact saymerich@med.miami.edu.

The event will feature dishes prepared by South Florida’s top chefs, domestic and imported wines from 30 wineries, samplings from a seafood bar, a variety of beverages and desserts, and live music and entertainment.

For more information, call the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation at 800-321-3437 or 954-964-4040 or visit www.diabetesresearch.org. The Radisson Hotel Miami is located at 1601 Biscayne Boulevard.

 The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is recruiting patients for the following clinical studies:

• Cervical Dysplasia

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is testing experimental medications and therapies for the treatment of cervical dysplasia, a pre-cancerous condition that can lead to cancer if left untreated. Current treatments are surgical or invasive. This study is testing an investigational gene therapy to see if it safely and effectively treats HPV medicated cervical lesions as a result of dysplasia. If you are between 18 and 25 and have had an abnormal PAP test, you may be able to take part in this research study. Qualified participants will receive all study-related care and study therapy. To find out more, call Iliana Rivas at (305) 243-5832 or I.rivas@miami.edu.

• Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Do you experience heavy menstrual bleeding on two to five days of your regular menstrual period? Does heavy menstrual bleeding keep you from your normal social and work activities? If you answered yes to these questions, you may qualify for a research study of an investigational drug for heavy menstrual bleeding. This investigational drug is not a hormone. You must be a generally healthy woman between ages 18 and 49, have regular menstrual cycles with heavy bleeding, and not have any other bleeding disorder.

Qualified participants will receive the study drug and study-related procedures including physical exams, electrocardiograms, eye exams and laboratory tests at no cost. They will also receive compensation for time and travel. For more information, please contact Marisol Sloane at 305-243-1616.

• Hot Flashes

Are hot flashes making you miserable? You’re not alone. As many as 85% of postmenopausal women experience the discomfort of hot flashes -- sudden sensations of heat, often accompanied by sweating, racing pulse, and anxiety. If you’re suffering from hot flashes, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is conducting a clinical research trial studying a non-hormonal investigational drug to see if it may relieve hot flashes. If you are a postmenopausal woman experiencing bothersome hot flashes with sweating every day you may be eligible to participate. Qualified participants will receive at no charge study-related medical examinations, laboratory tests, electrocardiograms, investigational medication and compensation for travel costs to doctors’ visits. For more information, please contact Marisol Sloane at 305-243-1616.

Jay Skyler, M.D., and Jennifer Marks, M.D., from the Diabetes Research Institute, are currently recruiting patients 18 years of age and older with type 1 diabetes mellitus for participation in research studies to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of inhaled insulin. Patients must be taking multiple insulin injections daily, be non-smokers and in good health. Those who are interested should contact Rogelio Suarez at 305-243-6573 or rsuarez2@med.miami.edu.

Robert Kirsner, M.D., Ph.D., vice chairman of the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, is looking for people with foot ulcers as a complication of diabetes or venous insufficiency. Please contact Carol Kittles at 305-243-8485 for additional information on these studies.

Do you experience food cravings? The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the UM Miller School of Medicine is conducting a pilot study of food craving using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Interested volunteers can contact Karin Esposito, M.D., Ph.D., at 305-243-4710.

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is conducting a federally funded HIV behavioral intervention research study for women and their partners, the New Opportunities for Women 2 (NOW 2) Project. The project will address topics related to safer sex, sexual risk reduction, STDs and communication skills. The NOW 2 Project is currently recruiting English-speaking couples, in which one or both individuals must be HIV positive. Participants must be 18 years or older, willing to be tested for STDs, and answer personal questions in a confidential interview. Women and men who participate may each receive compensation of up to $360 for an entire year of participation (this includes attendance at all interviews, examinations and sessions). If interested, please contact Arnetta Phillips or Jackie Gomez, at 305-243-2103, or (aphillips@yahoo.com / jgomez4@med.miami.edu).

The Center for Liver Diseases is recruiting participants for the following studies:

• Patients with chronic liver disease
This studies the correlation between liver histology and elasticity measured in patients with chronic liver disease using a device known as Fibroscan. This is a painless, non-invasive test. Qualifying patient must have received a laparoscopic liver biopsy within the past two months or scheduled a laparoscopic liver biopsy within the next two months by their PCP at Cedars Medical Center-Miami. This is a one time visit. Liver cancer patients are excluded. Contact: Zvi Leibovici at 305-243-2330 or zleibovici@med.miami.edu.

• Determining the relation of an elevated HBV DNA in hepatitis B patients
This is a chart review on hepatitis B subjects to determine the relation of an elevated HBV DNA and normal liver function tests to the histological findings of the liver biopsy. The study requires the subject has a previous liver biopsy between 2003-2006. They must also see the research team to obtain a hepatitis B serology panel, liver function tests (ALT and AST), and HBV viral load. Subjects must be more than 18 years old, have a documented laboratory diagnosis of HBV infection of at least six months, treatment naïve patient, and a documented HBV DNA. For further information, contact Zvi Leibovici at 305-243-2330, or e-mail at zleibovici@med.miami.edu.

• Patients with cirrhosis of the liver as a result of hepatitis B 
This is a phase III b protocol comparing entecavir vs. adefovir in chronic hepatitis B subjects with evidence of hepatic decompensation. Subjects must have cirrhosis because of hepatitis B infection, never been treated for hepatitis B or treated with lamivudine (epivir) only, and do not have HIV, hepatitis C or D. For further information please call: 305)-243-6939, or e-mail the study  coordinator, Connie Higgins at: chiggins@med.miami.edu.

• Patients with hepatic encephalopathy
This study will compare Lactulose and Rifaximin to determine the benefit of either drug, or a combination of both. We will be enrolling patients with cirrhosis of the liver and a history of a previous hospitalization for hepatic encephalopathy. Patients will be followed for six months and a one-month post-treatment. Contact Macy Ho, CRC 305-243-4648 or e-mail Mho@med.miami.edu.

• Vaccine test in patients with chronic hepatitis C
The Center for Liver Diseases is conducting a phase I, double-blind, placebo controlled, dose escalation, multi-center trial of a therapeutic vaccine in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. Subject must be > 18, have no hypersensitivity to baker's yeast, non-cirrhotic, compensated liver disease, and must have received a liver biopsy within the past two years or be willing to have one performed. Subjects can be naïve to previous treatment, or a relapser or partial responder to an interferon-based treatment. Must meet other criteria as well. Contact Macy Ho at 305-243-4648 or mho@med.miami.edu.

Do you or does someone you know experience pain related to spinal cord injury? Eva Widerström-Noga, Ph.D., and her colleagues are conducting research into the nature and treatment of pain associated with spinal cord injury. Studies are enrolling now.  Eligible participants will be 18 to 70 years of age and at least two years post-injury.  If you are interested in enrolling, please call The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at 305-243-8132 for information.

The Department of Psychology is recruiting participants for the following studies:

• A schizophrenia family study 
Have you or one of your relatives been diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder? Are you in regular contact with this person? If so, you and your family may be eligible to participate in a free family-focused treatment research study. During the treatment, clinicians will provide factual information about schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. In addition, techniques to assist the family in coping with mental illness will be presented. Treatment is available in English and Spanish. If interested, please contact the Schizophrenia Family Project at 305-284-5455.

• A family factors and autism study
The aim of this project is to better understand families’ emotional reactions to autism spectrum disorders. We seek the participation of adults with high-functioning autism or Asperger’s and one of his or her parents. Participation will involve one hour-long telephone call. If you would like to help with this study or if you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Wasserman at 305-284-2307.

Researchers at the MRI Center need healthy subjects for a magnetic resonance imaging study. For more information, please visit http://midas.med.miami.edu/Research/MRStudies.htm.

Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are being recruited for a study of effects of sildenafil on exercise and breathlessness. Participants must have a firm clinical diagnosis of IPF, be 40 to 85 years of age, and not be on medication for IPF. Interested patients or physicians wishing to refer patients should call 305-575-3548, fax 305-575-3126, or e-mail rjackson2@med.miami.edu.

The Department of Psychology and the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control is conducting a quality of life research intervention with advanced prostate cancer patients. Participants should have Stage III or IV prostate cancer and have recently or currently been treated with hormone therapy. Eligible participants will take part in a ten-week cognitive behavioral stress and affect management program or a health promotions program. Three psychosocial/medical assessments are also required. If you are interested in this study or would like more information, please contact Frank Penedo, Ph.D., at 305-243-3329, or fpenedo@miami.edu.

Daniel Santisteban, Ph.D., of the Center for Family Studies in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, is currently conducting a research program that would provide adolescents and/or their family treatment for free. Participants must be 14 to 17 years old, have a parent or legal guardian willing to participate, meet DSM criteria for both substance abuse disorder and borderline personality disorder, and be willing to participate in four separate but paid evaluations. If interested, please contact Maite Mena, Psy., at 305-243-3658, or mmena@med.miami.edu for details. 

Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine is seeking patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) for phase III protocol that will assess the impact of pirfenidone on IPF. Subjects must be between 40 and 80, and have a confirmed diagnosis of IPF within 48 months of randomization. For more information please call: 305-243-3728, or e-mail Emmanuelle Simonet at esimonet@med.miami.edu.

The Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement is conducting research with family caregivers of dementia patients who speak English and are 50 years of age or older. If you are not a caregiver but are interested in participating, you may be able to help as well. Participants will receive basic training on how to use the Internet and will be asked to look for information about care-giving and dementia. If you are interested in being a part of this research study, please call 305-355-9200. You will be paid for your time and effort.

Jennifer B. Marks, M.D., is currently recruiting patients ages 18 through 40 with type 1 diabetes mellitus with a recent diagnosis for participation in a research study to test the safety and effectiveness of an investigational medication. Patients must be taking multiple insulin injections daily and in good health. Those who are interested should contact Rogelio Suarez at 305-243-6573 or rsuarez2@med.miami.edu.

The AIDS Clinical Research Unit, directed by Margaret Fischl, M.D., is recruiting participants for the following studies:

• An investigational polyclonal caprine IgG, HRG214, for HIV patients not responding to antiretroviral therapy. HRG214 contains antibodies that targets HIV infected CD4 cells and specific regions on HIV. Laboratory/animal studies suggest these antibodies are capable of killing or disabling HIV and preventing further infection.  Participants must have HIV RNA < 5000 copies/ml and CD4 cells < 200 cells/cmm. The study will evaluate 3 increasing dose of HRG214 in part I and compare HRG214 to optimized antiretroviral therapy in part II. HFG214 is given IV over about 30 minutes three times a week for up to 26 weeks. $100 provided each completed week of HRG214 treatment and $25 each completed week of observation

 • A phase II study of investigation use of recombination human keratinocyte growth factor (rHuKGF, palifermin) for patients with incomplete immune recovery on HAART.  rHuKGF may enhance thymus production of lymphocytes and increase CD4 cell counts. Participants must be 18 years and older, receiving antiretroviral therapy for at least 6 months with HIV RNA <200 and CD4 cell count <200 cells.  The study will evaluate 3 doses (20, 40 60 mcg/kg) of rHuKGF compared to placebo.  rHuKGF given IV bolus daily for 3 days. Follow up study visits at weeks 1,2,4,8 12 and 24 with thymus CT scans at entry and week 12.

 • A phase II of an investigational glycosylated recombinant human IL-7 (CYT017, a cytokine that aids T-cell development and improves T-cell survival). Participants must be 18 years of age, receiving HAART for at least 12 months and have an HIV-1 RNA level < 1,000 copies/ml and CD4 cell count of 101– 400 cells/ccm. The study will evaluate three increasing doses (10, 20, 30 Fg/kg) of IL-7 given by SQ injection once a week for 3 weeks. Up to $275 in food certificates provided.

For more information on studies conducted by the AIDS Clinical Research Unit, contact Juan at 305-243-3838 or Leslie at L.Thompson@miami.edu.

The SPARE Study (Soy Phytoestrogens As Replacement Estrogen) is currently recruiting women 45 to 60 years of age to study the role of soy phytoestrogens given in tablet form to prevent bone loss. Participants will be given a physical exam at study entry, an annual mammogram and bone density test, and will be asked to come for 10 study visits over a period of two years for blood tests and to complete questionnaires about diet, exercise, and well-being. Interested women should contact the SPARE Study Office at 305-243-4330 or via e-mail at aherrin@med.miami.edu.

The University of Miami Skin Research Group, directed by Brian Berman, M.D., Ph.D., is looking for people with rosacea, acne, atopic dermatitis (eczema), and keloids. Participants should be 18 or older for the acne and keloid studies and ages 2 to 17 for the atopic dermatitis studies. If interested, please contact the research staff at 305-243-5519 or visit our website at http://www.skininvestigation.com/.

Bruce Rubin, M.D., is currently performing a study on trigeminal neuralgia (TN) treatment with subcutaneous injections of BOTOX® to evaluate the effectiveness of treating facial pain associated with TN. Patients must have a diagnosis of TN for more than three months and be at least 18 years of age.
 
Dr. Rubin is also seeking patients for a research study on the treatment of tightness/spasticity in the wrist, fingers, and elbow caused by a stroke while evaluating the effect of BOTOX® on pulmonary functioning. Patients must be 18 years of age, have had a stroke six months ago or longer, have a pulmonary/breathing problem and cannot have used BOTOX® or any other botulinum toxin previously for any condition. Please contact Amy L. Kaye, ARNP, at 305-243-6223 for additional information on either of these studies.