Questcor Teams with Child Neurology Foundation (CNF) to Continue Funding
Infantile Spasms Scientific Research
CNF Names Dr. Catherine Chu-Shore of Massachusetts General Hospital as 2011
Recipient of Logan Infantile Spasms Research Award -
HAYWARD, Calif., Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Questcor
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (QCOR) announced that it is again partnering with the Child
Neurology Foundation (CNF) to fund a $30,000 grant to support research into
infantile spasms (IS). For the second year in a row, Catherine Chu-Shore, MD, of
Massachusetts General Hospital was selected by CNF as the recipient of the "Logan
Infantile Spasms Research Award."
"Questcor has an ongoing commitment to CNF and the entire infantile spasms
community," said Steve Cartt, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer
for Questcor. "Further research into this devastating condition is imperative and
we feel strongly about supporting initiatives that will advance the knowledge and
treatment of infantile spasms."
Dr. Chu-Shore, whose application was reviewed by 10 of the nation's top child
neurologists and then selected by the CNF Board of Directors, said she is
focusing her research on the "functional network connectivity" in infantile
spasms. IS is a severe, ultra-rare form of childhood epilepsy that can lead to
long-term cognitive impairment if it is not quickly and successfully treated. The
goal of her research is to identify early metrics of altered brain connectivity
which can serve as biomarkers for prognostication and treatment stratification
for infants with IS.
"We are using EEG recordings to evaluate functional brain networks in children
with infantile spasms," said Dr. Chu-Shore. "In this severe epilepsy syndrome,
abnormal brain activity interferes with normal development in infancy and can
lead to permanent mental retardation. We are working to identify alterations in
functional network patterns that may explain and predict these infants' long term
cognitive and developmental outcome and help guide treatment."
Dr. Chu-Shore said she and her team have applied these techniques to a small
group of infants with infantile spasms with "promising" preliminary results.
"Ultimately, we hope to better understand and explain the important relationship
between epilepsy and brain development in these children," she said. "I am very
grateful to the Child Neurology Foundation and Questcor Pharmaceuticals for their
support of my research."
Dr. Chu-Shore completed her child neurology training at Massachusetts General
Hospital (MGH). Following a year where she was involved in post-doctoral
research, she then completed a combination epilepsy and neurophysiology
fellowship at MGH. In 2010, Dr. Chu-Shore joined the staff at MGH in the
Pediatric Neurology and Neurophysiology Programs.
She will be honored and presented with the award at a special luncheon today at
the Child Neurology Society Annual Meeting in Savannah, Georgia.
"Research into orphan disorders like infantile spasms often suffers from a lack
of funding," said Lawrence W. Brown, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology and
Pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and President of the Child
Neurology Foundation. "That is why we are pleased to continue partnering with
Questcor Pharmaceuticals. They have made a multi-year commitment to fund basic
research into the causes and consequences of infantile spasms. Our hope is that
better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology will lead to new and even
more effective treatments for this very rare but devastating form of childhood
epilepsy."
Infantile Spasms
Infantile Spasms is a severe, ultra-rare form of epilepsy that affects infants,
with onset typically occurring during the first year of life in about 90 percent
of cases. IS incidence is estimated at approximately 2,000 new cases in the U.S.
per year, which can be classified as an ultra-orphan disease. For comparison,
orphan disease designation pertains to diseases that affect fewer than 200,000
people. IS patients experience rapid, characteristic muscular contraction or
extensions lasting one to two seconds and occurring in clusters ranging from a
few spasms to more than 100 spasms per cluster. Often, in the beginning, the
attacks are brief, infrequent and not typical, so it is quite common for the
diagnosis to be delayed. Frequently, due to the pattern of the attacks and the
cry that an infant gives during or after an attack, the attacks are sometimes
initially thought to be due to colic or gastric distress.
About the Child Neurology Foundation
Founded in October 2000, the Child Neurology Foundation was created as the
outreach and philanthropic arm of the Child Neurology Society. Members of the CNS
include more than 1,300 child neurologists from the United States, Canada, as
well as more than 30 other countries around the world.
The Foundation's mission is to advocate for children and adolescents with
neurologic and developmental disorders; fund neurologic research of young
investigators; promote awareness of career opportunities in child neurology;
provide public, professional, and patient education programs; and support the
activities and mission of the CNS.
For more information on the CNF, please visit
childneurologyfoundation.org.
About Questcor Pharmaceuticals
Questcor is a biopharmaceutical company whose products help patients with
serious, difficult-to-treat medical conditions. Questcor's specific areas of
focus are in the fields of neurology and nephrology and the company is currently
supporting research efforts in a variety of conditions having significant unmet
medical need. Questcor was recently selected by Forbes as the #1 rated small
company in America. For more information, please visit questcor.com. |
