Introduction

As a leader in neurosurgery, the University of Washington is proud to coordinate and participate in a broad array of clinical trials. In fact, Dr. Nancy Temkin, an internationally renowned biostatistician, is a full-time member of our faculty and aids in the design of these studies. A clinical trial is a research study of a new treatment for a disease, or a new way to prevent a disease. These studies are important to all current and future patients. They are the only way to translate the extraordinary breakthroughs made in laboratories around the country into new, more effective preventive measures and treatments for patients.

In addition to testing the validity of new treatments, clinical trials are a critical step in the development of new ways to detect specific diseases and to prevent them. These trials also help determine the safety, effectiveness and financial feasibility of the widespread use of new tools for the early detection and treatment of various diseases and conditions. Examples of clinical trials conducted by the UW include the prophylactic use of anti-epileptic medications for the prevention of seizures following head trauma, and the use of high-dose steroids for the treatment of spinal cord injury.

Several clinical trials are currently underway in the areas of neurosurgical trauma, tumors, and vascular disease. For more information on these studies, please explore the left sidebar links.

Introduction | Trauma | Tumors | Vascular

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