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Home >> 2013 Research Grants

Dysautonomia International Announces 2013 Research Grants



Dysautonomia International has awarded its first four research grants to support research on Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

"These grants are an important first step in Dysautonomia International's mission to increase the pace of POTS research," said Ellen Kessler, CPA, Treasurer and co-founder of Dysautonomia International, "we look forward to supporting research on other autonomic disorders as our organization continues to grow."
 Dysautonomia International Announces 2013 Research Grants
Lauren E. Stiles, Esq, President and co-founder of Dysautonomia International, notes, "[n]ot only will these grants fund much needed POTS research, some will including training for students and young researchers, to help attract new talent to the field of autonomic disorders research. With the number of people being diagnosed with POTS increasing, we need more experts in this field."

These four awards will support a variety of research projects - evaluating the effectiveness of a non-pharmacological treatment for POTS related tachycardia; evaluating the effectiveness of a pharmacological treatment for the "brain fog" experienced by many POTS patients; examining the relationship between autoimmunity and POTS; and a study seeking to understand the role of nitric oxide, a potent vasodilator, in the brain of POTS patients.

After a competitive grant application process the Board of Directors has funded projects proposed by the following researchers:

Svetlana Blitshteyn, MD will study autoimmune serum markers in POTS patients and the rate of autoimmune co-morbidities seen in POTS patients. Dr. Blitsheyn notes, "[i]n the past several years, there have been several studies suggesting that POTS may have an autoimmune etiology. Anecdotally, some patients with POTS and co-morbid autoimmune conditions have benefited from the use of a short course of steroids, Plaquenil, IVIG or plasmapharesis. Before clinical trials of these therapies in patients with POTS can be considered, a better understanding of the relationship between POTS and autoimmunity is needed. We hope that this study will shed further light on the relationship between POTS and autoimmunity." Dr. Blitshteyn is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Director of the Dysautonomia Clinic in Williamsville, NY.

Kamal R. Chemali, MD will study the use of music therapy in POTS patients who continue to be symptomatic despite maximized standard treatment. Music therapy has been used as an supplemental therapy in other neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's and Traumatic Brain Injury, to help improve functionality and reduce some symptoms. There is prior research documenting that music can be used to "entrain" the heart rhythm, either slowing it down or speeding it up based on the tempo of the music. Dr. Chemali will investigate whether this entrainment can be used to help POTS patients reduce their symptomatic tachycardia. Dr. Chemali is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Neurology at Eastern Virginia Medical School and the Director of the Neuromuscular and Autonomic Neurology Program at Sentara Hospital in Norfolk, VA.

Satish R. Raj, MD, MSCI and Amy C. Arnold, PhD will investigate a drug with the potential to combat the cognitive impairment experienced by many POTS patients. Dr. Raj notes, "[m]any patients with POTS complain about cognitive impairment (sometimes called "brain fog"). For many patients, this is the most troubling part of their disorder. It can limit their ability to continue to work. Following Vanderbilt's work showing some objective problems on cognitive testing in POTS patients we are beginning to study treatments that may improve this debilitating problem." Dr. Raj is an Associate Professor in Medicine and Pharmacology at the Vanderbilt University Autonomic Dysfunction Center in Nashville, TN. Dr. Arnold is a Research Fellow at the Vanderbilt Autonomic Dysfunction Center.

Julian Stewart, MD, PhD and Andrew T. Del Pozzi, PhD will study cerebral blood flow in response to nitric oxide in POTS patients. Nitric oxide is an important neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating the tone of blood vessels. Prior research has shown that POTS patients have a decreased response to nitric oxide in their peripheral blood vessels. This study will evaluate whether the decreased nitric oxide response is also occurring in the brains of POTS patients. Dr. Stewart is a Professor of Pediatrics, Physiology and Medicine and Director of the Center for Hypotension at New York Medical College. Dr. Del Pozzi is a post-doctoral trainee working in Dr. Stewart's autonomic lab at New York Medical College.


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