Frequently Asked Questions
- Why should I or my patients be interested in your studies?
- I have a patient who I think may qualify for one of your studies, but I’m not sure. How do you determine if they qualify?
- How do I refer my patients for your studies?
- If a participant does not qualify for your study, isn’t the screening process you use a bit of a disappointment?
- How much does it cost?
- If all of your research is free, who funds NmRRL studies?
- What costs do study participants incur?
- What may medically disqualify a patient from study participation?
- Who (what entity) provides oversight for your studies?
- Once my patient is referred to you, how is he/she moved through the process?
- Do you offer training opportunities? Do you offer collaborative opportunities if I want to do a study with you?
- Where are you located?
Why should I or my patients be interested in your studies?
All of our studies provide treatment options that are not usually available in any for-profit clinical setting, and patients receive all treatment free of charge.
I have a patient who I think may qualify for one of your studies, but I am not sure. How do you determine if they qualify?
Once the patient, or you or your office on their behest, has contacted us, we will set up an appointment with them for a screening at our lab at the Drake Center. This screening will be performed by a principal investigator (PI) or a member of their staff.
How do I refer my patients for your studies?
To refer a patient to a research study in a HIPAA-compliant manner, you can:
- Print one of the below pamphlets and give it to your patient;
he/she can then contact us directly;
- Provide the patient with our
contact us directly.
- Obtain permission from the patient to give us his/her contact
information for the purposes of a study. Once you have his/her
permission, contact us, and provide us with the patient's contact
information. We will gladly follow-up directly with the patient.
If a participant does not qualify for your study, is the screening process you use a disappointment?
Not at all!
There are many resources available to stroke patients, and they are often free and frequently untapped. We often spend about an hour counseling people who never make it into our studies on all of the possibilities that may be available to them,
including our studies. If a participant is better suited to a particular
intervention that we are not currently investigating, we will suggest that
instead, and provide information on how the patient may access the intervention.
Because we are at the cutting-edge of rehabilitation research, especially
regarding new interventions for acquired brain injury, we are able to outline
options and suggest recovery plans that are generally outside the perspective of
most clinicians.
How much does this all cost?
Everything we do is free.
If all of your research is free, who funds NmRRL studies?
We acquire grants, which support all aspects of our studies, including treatment, equipment, and salaries of affiliated personnel. Some of our current funding sources include the National Institutes of Health and the American Stroke Association.
What costs do study participants incur?
None of our studies require any cost to study participants. Participants are not charged for evaluation or treatment and, in some cases, may be provided free transportation or reimbursed for transportation expenses.
What may medically disqualify a patient from study participation?
It depends on the goals of the study. Our screening process will determine if a patient is appropriate for a study. There are certain pathologies that would usually disqualify a patient from participation, such as spasticity or excessive pain. But there are also pathologies, sequelae and comorbidities that do not disqualify potential participants.
In general, patients must be capable of understanding of their role in any of our research protocols. Further, many of our studies ask for active involvement by the participant either by interfacing with a machine or having responsibility for a portion of a home-based exercise program. For this reason, certain low levels of cognitive skill or profound receptive aphasia may disqualify a patient.
Who (what entity) provides oversight for your studies?
Our studies are regulated by multiple layers of oversight. Oversight is provided by the principal investigator, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the University of Cincinnati, the sponsor and, ultimately, the Federal Government.
All NmRRL clinical trials undergo individual IRB reviews, approval, and monitoring. The participant is further protected by informed consent. Informed consent is the active, ongoing process whereby the participant is told orally and in writing of the procedures, risks, and benefits pertaining to participating in a clinical trial. The informed consent process, like all aspects of the research process, is tightly regulated by state and federal regulations. Informed consent is a rolling and continuous process in which the participant is encouraged to ask questions, and have those questions answered throughout his/her involvement in the study.
Once my patient is referred to you, how is he/she moved through the process?
Once it is established that a patient is appropriate for a study, the patient will meet with the principal investigator (PI) of that study, and the PI will fully explain the study, and be available to answer any questions the potential participant has. The patient is usually sent home with a copy of informed consent to peruse at their convenience. A second appointment is set up to answer any questions that potential participant has, and to sign informed consent and any other documents pertaining to the study.
Once informed consent is signed, official testing appointments are made. Testing may be done at a variety of intervals throughout the participant’s involvement in the study. The participant has the right to refuse to participate in a study, or to withdraw from the clinical trial, at any point in their involvement.
Do you offer training opportunities? Do you offer collaborative opportunities if I want to do a study with you?
You bet!
At any give time, we will be hosting numerous student and medical resident projects, internships, and/or fieldwork experiences. We also welcome the opportunity to work with other professionals on research projects of mutual interest.
We are quite proud of our track record with our trainees, which includes national presentations and publications in peer reviewed journals.
Where are you located?
- 151 West Galbraith Road
- Cincinnati, OH 45216