The CNS Research Program was initiated in January 2009, however CNS Investigators and Staff have many years experience in conducting clinical trials previously at various facilities. They have worked with most major pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations. Therapeutic areas that are currently the focus of CNS' Clinical Research Program include brain tumors, epilepsy (Adult and Peds), headache/migraine (Adult and Peds), multiple sclerosis, pain and movement disorders.

Epilepsy: David Teeple, MD - Board-certified Neurologist; Fellowship-trained in Epilepsy, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, has been a Principal Investigator on numerous phase II-III epilepsy clinical trials.

Neuro-Oncology: Michael Badruddoja, MD - Board-certified Neurologist; Fellowship-trained in Neuro-Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, RTOG Member

General Neurology: Horace Noland, MD - Board-certified Neurologist; has been PI on over 30 neurology clinical trials

Francisco Valdivia, MD - Board-certified Neurologist;has been Sub-investigator on over 15 neurology clinical trials, special interest in Multiple Sclerosis.

Pediatric Neurology:Dinesh Talwar, MD - Board-certified in Child Neurologist and Clinical Neurophysiologist; Fellowship-trained in EEG and Neurophysiology, University of Minnesota; special interest in childhood epilepsy and migraine
Monica Chacon, MD - Board-certified Child Neurologist; Fellowship-trained in Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Texas Health Sciences Center; special interest in childhood epilepsy

Robert Foote, MD- Board certified Neurologist, special interest in movement disorders and Parkinson's disease has been a Principal Investigator on several neurology clinical trials

Marjorie Pazzi, RN, BSN is the Site Director and Senior Research Nurse. She has been coordinating clinical trials for over 7 years and has 20 years experience in neuroscience nursing. She is a Certified Clinical Research Professional.

Kelly Wallen is the Research Assistant. She has a BS in physiology, and is currently enrolled in graduate school. She is a dedicated recruitment specialist for the Clinical Research Program and assists with regulatory file maintenance.

With over 200 patient visits per day, the Center for Neurosciences has a very extensive patient base from which to draw. CNS not only serves the metropolitan Tucson area, but also due to several outreach clinics serves 5 surrounding counties reaching about 1.5 million people in Southern Arizona. This region has a very culturally and ethnically diverse patient population, with 60% Caucasian, 30% Hispanic, 3% African American, 3% Native American, and 3% Asian. Three of our principal investigators are fluent Spanish speakers.

Neurology
Oncology
Pediatrics/Neonatology