Daniel Claassen, MD, MS | Department of ...

Dr. Daniel Claassen

Claim this profile

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Studies Huntington's Disease
Studies Parkinson's Disease
8 reported clinical trials
9 drugs studied

Area of expertise

1

Huntington's Disease

Daniel Claassen has run 5 trials for Huntington's Disease. Some of their research focus areas include:

CAG repeat length positive
HTT positive
2

Parkinson's Disease

Daniel Claassen has run 2 trials for Parkinson's Disease.

Affiliated Hospitals

Image of trial facility.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Image of trial facility.

Vanderbilt University School Of Medicine

Clinical Trials Daniel Claassen is currently running

Image of trial facility.

Brain Structure Assessment

for Juvenile-onset Huntington's Disease

The goal of this observational study is to learn about brain development in Juvenile-onset Huntington's Disease (JoHD). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is brain development different in JoHD than Adult-onset Huntington's Disease (AoHD)? * Can reliable biomarkers for JoHD be found in brain structure and function? Participants will be asked to complete cognitive tests, behavioral assessments, physical and neurologic evaluation, and MRI. Data collected will be compared to populations who are at-risk for HD and who have been diagnosed with HD as adults.

Recruiting

1 award

N/A

2 criteria

Image of trial facility.

Neurodevelopment

for Huntington's Disease

Huntington's Disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant disease manifested in a triad of cognitive, psychiatric, and motor signs and symptoms. HD is caused by a triplet repeat (CAG)expansion in the gene Huntingtin (HTT). This disease has classically been conceptualized as a neurodegenerative disease. However, recent evidence suggests that abnormal brain development may play an important role in the etiology of HD. Huntingtin (HTT)is expressed during development and through life. In animal studies, the HTT gene has been shown to be vital for brain development. This suggests that a mutant form of HTT (gene-expanded or CAG repeats of 40 and above) would affect normal brain development. In addition, studies in adults who are gene-expanded for HD, but have not yet manifested the illness, (pre-HD subjects) have significant changes in the structure of their brain, even up to 20 years before onset of clinical diagnosis. How far back these changes are evident is unknown. One possibility is that these brain changes are present throughout life, due to changes in brain development,though initially associated with only subtle functional abnormalities. In an effort to better understand the developmental aspects of this brain disease, the current study proposes to evaluate brain structure and function in children, adolescents, and young adults (ages 6-30) who are at risk for developing HD - those who have a parent or grandparent with HD. Brain structure will be evaluating using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with quantitative measures of the entire brain, cerebral cortex, as well as white matter integrity via Diffusion Tensor Imaging. Brain function will be assessed by cognitive tests, behavioral assessment, and physical and neurologic evaluation. Subjects that are gene-expanded (GE) will be compared to subjects who are gene non-expanded (GNE). Changes in brain structure and/or function in the GE group compared to the GNE group would lend support to the notion that this disease has an important developmental component.

Recruiting

1 award

N/A

3 criteria

More about Daniel Claassen

Clinical Trial Related

2 years of experience running clinical trials · Led 8 trials as a Principal Investigator · 3 Active Clinical Trials

Treatments Daniel Claassen has experience with

  • Observational Study
  • Meditation
  • MRI Methods For Visualizing Hemodynamic And Metabolic Relationships
  • AMT-130
  • Imitation (sham) Surgery
  • Skin Biopsy

Other Doctors you might be interested in

Frequently asked questions

Do I need insurance to participate in a trial?

What does Daniel Claassen specialize in?

Is Daniel Claassen currently recruiting for clinical trials?

Are there any treatments that Daniel Claassen has studied deeply?

What is the best way to schedule an appointment with Daniel Claassen?

What is the office address of Daniel Claassen?

Is there any support for travel costs?