Members of NYU Langone’s Center for Stroke and Neurovascular Diseases conduct clinical trials in the areas of neurovascular diseases and stroke. Current clinical trials include the following.

Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization for Subdural Hematomas

As the population ages, subdural hematomas will be among the most common neurosurgical diagnoses. Embolization of the middle meningeal artery is hypothesized to help resolve chronic and subacute subdural hematomas due to devascularization of the source of bleeding—subdural membranes. We propose a prospective randomized, multicenter trial to determine the safety and efficacy of this procedure compared with standard of care or observant management. Funding will be used for a study coordinator, outreach efforts, and laboratory analysis of subdural fluid on select patients who require operative intervention.

Principal investigators: Howard A. Riina, MD, and Omar Tanweer, MD

Intra-Arterial Delivery of Radioactive Particles to Spinal Tumors

Radiation is an important tool for treatment of metastatic lesions of the spine and the vertebral bodies. Unfortunately, there is rarely complete regression of the metastatic lesion, and many tumors, such as hepatocellular carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma, are radio resistant. Injection of radioactive particles has proven to be very efficacious in liver tumors. We hypothesize that the same particles delivered to spinal metastases will also increase treatment efficacy and tumor control. The intra-arterial means of delivery is already established and is a safe method of injecting material into a tumor. We plan to treat spinal metastasis of patients with renal and hepatic tumors with intra-arterial injection of TheraSpheres^®, a formulation of radioactive Yttrium-90 glass microspheres. Patients will be followed for clinical and radiographic findings.

Principal investigators: Howard A. Riina, MD, and Omar Tanweer, MD

Contact Us

For more information on clinical trials at the Center for Stroke and Neurovascular Diseases, please contact Dr. Riina at howard.riina@nyulangone.org or Dr. Tanweer at omar.tanweer@nyulangone.org.