East Syracuse Clinic Goes Virtual to Save Alzheimer's Study Threatened by Coronavirus Outbreak

Clarity Clinical Research in East Syracuse, N.Y., has transitioned to a virtual platform to continue three clinical Alzheimer's drug trials when the coronavirus pandemic forced the clinic's shutdown, reports the Syracuse Post-Standard . Most of the trials' 25 participants are seniors, which elevates their risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19. Their participation in periodic psychological, memory, and laboratory tests — often at the clinic itself — are critical to completing the trials, according to Clarity Clinical Research Director Lisa Sonneborn. With lockdowns looming, in March the clinic started offering participants the option of having a clinician conduct psychological and memory tests through videoconferencing. Home visits by clinicians also will be conducted to collect blood samples, if necessary. Study subjects must periodically undergo brain scans to determine if the drugs are slowing or stopping the progress of Alzheimer's. Sonneborn said the clinic has obtained permission from study sponsors to reduce the number of times such scans are administered, so participants have to visit the clinic less often.