Actively Recruiting
Inflammatory and Infectious Diseases of the Nervous System
Led by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) · Updated on 2026-04-24
1000
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
603 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Background: \- Inflammation is how the body reacts to infection or injury. Infections or inflammation in the brain and nerves can be serious. There aren t always good tests to detect this. Researchers want to learn more about how diseases affect the brain and nerves to develop better tests and treatments. Objective: \- To learn more about how inflammation and infections hurt the brain and nervous system. Eligibility: \- People at least 2 years old with a diagnosis or suspected diagnosis of nervous system infection or inflammation. Design: * For some participants, a clinician outside of NIH will collect blood, tissue, and other samples. These will be sent to NIH and analyzed. * Other participants will have several visits to NIH. Children may not have all these tests. * Participants will have: * Medical history. * Physical and neurological exam. * Blood and urine samples collected. * Saliva collected. They will chew on a piece of sterile cotton for one minute. * Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The scanner is a metal cylinder in a strong magnetic field. Participants will lie on a table that slides in and out of the cylinder. Participants will get a contrast agent through an intravenous (IV) catheter during the MRI. A needle will be used to guide a thin plastic tube (catheter) into an arm vein. * Lumbar puncture. Skin will be numbed and a needle will be inserted into the space between the bones in the back. Fluid will be removed. * Some participants may have optional study procedures. These may include eye tests, memory and thinking testing, tests with electrodes on the head, or skin biopsy.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Inflammatory and Infectious Diseases of the Nervous System
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Have a known or suspected infection or inflammation of the nervous system or post infection effects based on clinical or imaging data
- Be willing to participate in study procedures unless clinically contraindicated
- Provide informed consent directly or via a legal representative
- Consent to collection of clinical data or biological samples
- Be at least 2 years old
- For biological sample processing only, meet the above infection or inflammation criteria and consent requirements
- Family members must have a relative enrolled in the study, be at least 2 years old, and be able to provide consent and comply with procedures
You will not qualify if you...
- Have a serious medical condition that may risk harm or prevent study completion
- Have an acute or unstable medical condition difficult to manage at the NIH Clinical Center
- Have a well-known disease with established treatment where study participation would not add new knowledge
- For biological sample processing only, have a well-known disease with validated treatments
- Family members unwilling to consent to biological sample collection or storage
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
L
Ladifatou N Fouanta, R.N.
CONTACT
A
Avindra Nath, M.D.
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
2
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