Steve Satek Presents A Lecture Entitled "Embracing the Future of Alzheimer's Disease"

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Steve Satek, Co-Founder of Great Lakes Clinical Trials

As part of the free Alzheimer’s Research: Get Informed, Get Involved lecture series sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association Greater Illinois Chapter, Steve Satek, President and Co-Founder of Great Lakes Clinical Trials will be presenting a lecture entitled "Embracing the Future of Alzheimer's Disease". The event will take place on Thursday May 4, 2017 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. 

"I'm proud to be involved in this lecture series," commented Mr. Satek, who also serves on the Alzheimer's Association Greater Illinois Chapter Medical & Scientific Advisory Board. "These programs provide the opportunity to discuss current trends, efforts and directions in dementia research. We are making great strides in Alzheimer's research and these presentation are a means to get the word out to those who want to make a difference in finding a prevention or cure." 

This dynamic presentation will provide the latest updates on Alzheimer's research and discuss the impact of clinical trials on the future of treatments. Join us to learn about the latest updates on Alzheimer's research, including:

• Current efforts to fight Alzheimer's disease in your community
• The role research plays in developing the next generation of treatments
• Explore the benefits of being a study participant; Engage in TrialMatch® 

The Alzheimer's Association will also be on site to provide an overview of services and each participant will receive access to the Alzheimer's Association's TrialMatch® registry.

The event will be hosted by Loyola Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, Professional Office Building Room E, F & G, located at 701 W. North Ave in Melrose Park, IL.   Registration is required for this FREE series - to RSVP, call 847.324.0393 or email hjohnson@alz.org. 

To download a copy of the event flyer click HERE

Medical Food Research Study for Memory Lapses

Have you or a loved one been experiencing noticeable memory lapses?  If so, this could be a condition known as Mild Cognitive Impairment.  About 50% of the population aged 65 years or older suffers from early memory impairment. Early memory impairment disrupts the day-to-day lives of many adults and may include symptoms such as: forgetting the “right word” and names/faces of individuals or difficulties in problem solving and handling complex situations.

Great Lakes Clinical Trials is conducting a study to evaluate a prescription medical food for patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment. To qualify, you must:

·      be between the ages of 65 and 85

·      be experiencing noticeable memory lapses, known as mild cognitive impairment

·      not be taking medication or over-the-counter supplements for memory loss

·      be otherwise, generally healthy 

The study lasts approximately 2 years and you will be asked to visit the clinic on 7 occasions.  The visits last between 1-3 hours in length.  If you qualify, you will receive study medications, exams and study related care at no cost.  In addition, qualified participants may receive reimbursement of up to $1,175.00 for time and travel.

To learn more about our current program, please call our patient care representatives at (773) 275-3500.  In addition, you can complete the form HERE and one of our team members will be in touch within the next business day.

Great Lakes Clinical Trials Supports AARP Foundation's Experience Corps Program

Great Lakes Clinical Trials is proud to collaborate closely with The AARP Foundation's Experience Corps. This important groups identifies and provides volunteers, ages 50 and older, to help children in kindergarten through 3rd grade learn to read.  The AARP Foundation provides peer support, mentoring, coaching and ongoing training to help older adults be successful. 

The AARP Foundation will be interviewing volunteers weekly at our Great Lakes Clinical Trials clinic, with hopes to connect older adults to volunteering opportunities within our neighborhood schools.

"This is an amazing program that we support 100%,"  commented Steve Satek, President of Great Lakes Clinical Trials.  We are passionate about keeping older adults active and helping them contribute to a thriving neighborhood community."

For more information on how to join the AARP Foundation's Experience Corps, you can call (312) 660-8655 or visit their website at www.aarpfoundation.org/ecchicago.

Great Lakes Clinical Trials Participates in Alderman Osterman's 48th Ward Senior Fair

Representatives of Alderman Osterman pass out Great Lakes Clinical Trials canvas grocery bags

Great Lakes Clinical Trials was honored to meet with hundreds of local residents at Alderman Osterman's 48th Ward Senior Fair. This year, Great Lakes Clinical Trials was a key sponsor of the event and provided free canvas grocery bags for all who attended.

"This is one our favorite events each year, when we get to personally meet with the local residents of our community and discuss how local seniors can participate in cutting-edge research studies, particularly in the area of memory loss," commented Dean Hervochon, Co-Founder of Great Lakes Clinical Trials. "When older adults learn about the important work we are doing, they are eager to join a research study and be part of the solution to ending Alzheimer's disease altogether.  Our biggest hurdle is simply getting the word out about our research. Once the folks learn about our work, then come knocking at our doors in mass!"

Great Lakes Clinical Trials is looking for participants for a variety of memory-related studies at our clinic on the corner of Foster and Ashland in Chicago.  Many seniors would be eligible to participate in these programs, regardless if they are experiencing memory loss or not. 

Clayton Terrill, Patient Care Coordinator at Great Lakes Clinical Trials

• Our Alzheimer's Prevention studies are looking for older adults who are not currently experiencing memory problems, but may be at greater risk for developing the disease.  
• Our Mild Cognitive Impairment studies are looking for participants who are just starting to experience a decline in memory that is affecting their daily activities
• Our Alzheimer's Disease trials are recruiting subjects who have been diagnosed with the disease and are currently taking a memory medication such as Aricept (donepezil) or Namenda.

"All our studies and the related medical care are provided 100% free-of-charge," added Hervochon. "We provide transportation to and from our clinic for participants, and also provide a stipend at each visit. We try to eliminate as many obstacles as possible to encourage our neighbors to participate in this important work." 

If you are interested in learning more about our research, you can all our Patient Care Representatives at (773) 275-3500 or click HERE to fill out a contact form and one of our staff will reach out to you.

Familial Hypercholesterolemia: What Exactly Is This?

Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Familial Hypercholesterolemia (or FH) is an inherited disorder that leads to aggressive and premature cardiovascular disease. This includes problems like heart attacks, strokes, and even narrowing of our heart valves. For individuals with FH, although diet and lifestyle are important, they are not the cause of high LDL. In FH patients, genetic mutations make the liver incapable of metabolizing (or removing) excess LDL. The result is very high LDL levels which can lead to premature cardiovascular disease.

For more information, visit the FH Foundation Website by clicking on the image above

FH facts

About 1 in 250 people worldwide have FH.

In the United States alone, an estimated 1.3 million people live with FH. Yet only 10% of them are diagnosed. Can you imagine? Nearly 2 million people in the US might have FH and not even know it. Perhaps they won’t know it until they have a heart attack! This is what we want to change!

• Over 90% of people with FH have not been properly diagnosed.
• FH runs in families. If one parent has FH, each child has a 50% chance of having FH.
• 1 in 250 people in the world have FH. 
• An estimated 1.3 million people in the U.S. have FH.
• If left untreated, men have a 50% rise of having a heart attack by age 50. Untreated women have a 30% risk by age 60.
• 1 in 160,000 to 1 in 1 million people have HoFH.  
• FH is even more common in certain populations such as French Canadians, Ashkenazi Jews, Lebanese, and South African Afrikaners. In these populations FH may be found as frequently as 1 in every 67 people.

What can I do?

FH is treatable!  If FH is found early, serious problems of the heart and blood vessels may be prevented or dramatically delayed by taking steps to protect yourself. These include:

• Not smoking.
• Exercising regularly.
• Eating a healthy diet low in saturated and trans fats.
• Taking medications.
• Going on LDL-apheresis.

Nearly 100% of people with FH will require cholesterol-lowering medications. For some people with FH, more aggressive measures are needed. 

It is important to find FH and take action at any age, because when treated, the risk of heart disease can be reduced to levels similar to those of the general population.

Why participate in FH clinical research?

Clinical trials test new treatments or new combinations of treatments. Clinical trials help researchers evaluate the safety and effectiveness of therapies to improve the quality of care for affected individuals. 

By participating in clinical research, you will play an active role in your own healthcare and contribute to the greater good. Because FH is a family disorder, clinical research offers hope and the opportunity to have a powerful impact on the lives of your family members and your future generations.

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If you are interested in being considered in FH research trials at Great Lakes Clinical Trials, please click HERE to fill out an interest form or call our patient care representatives at (773) 275-3500.

Great Lakes Clinical Trials to Host The Andersonville Health Fair!

Great Lakes Clinical Trials is honored to be hosting an Andersonville Health Fair on Saturday, April 22nd from 10:00am-2:00pm.  This free event is open to the public and will include a variety of complimentary services from local health care providers.  

In addition to free food, prizes and giveaways, the following Free Services will be provided at this health fair:

• Spinal Assessments
• Stroke Awareness
• Memory Assessments
• Blood Pressure Checks
• Physical Fitness Advice
• Chair Massages
• Skin Analysis
• Body Fat Measurements
• Body Composition Experts
• Foot Screenings
• Stretching and Posture Assessments

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The event will also include the opportunity to participate in a bone marrow registration drive.  For those with blood cancers like leukemia, a bone marrow transplant is the only hope for life. A local resident and Swedish American Museum member has been diagnosed with mylodisplastic syndrome (or MDS). His blood count has been stable for the past 2 years, but at his last check up, they have begun to change. At this point his doctors are recommending starting the marrow transplant process as soon as possible. Unfortunately, his sister is not close enough “match” to be his donor.  This neighbor has now been placed on the national marrow list and is looking for an unrelated donor. Make this your time to step up and join the registry! 

Steve Satek, President of Great Lakes Clinical Trials is excited to be hosting the GeneMatch registry drive.  "This is a national program led by the Banner Alzheimer's Institute is used to recruit volunteers for Alzheimer’s prevention studies," commented Satek.  "We use genetic testing (through free cheek swab kits) to match volunteers with research opportunities. This program advances Alzheimer’s research by helping scientists find enough qualified participants to launch new studies. 80% of research studies don’t complete enrollment on time, because they can’t recruit enough volunteers. We hope to prevent those delays."

If you are interested in joining this Free Health Fair, please call (773) 275-3500 or reserve your space or click HERE to fill out our registration form. 

Great Lakes Clinical Trials Initiates Study for Patients with CRPS

Great Lakes Clinical Trials is excited to announce the initiation of a new investigational research study for patients who have been diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (or CRPS).

(CRPS), also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), is a long term condition that often worsens with time. It is characterized by severe pain and sensitivity, swelling, and changes in the skin.  There is currently no approved cure or treatment available for patients with CRPS.

The objective of this investigational research study is to assess the safety and tolerability of neridronic acid in subjects with CRPS. This is an open-label, single-arm study, meaning that all subjects will receive treatment with neridronic acid. There is no placebo or other comparator in this study.

As reported by Pat Anson, Editor of Pain Network News (www.painnetworknews.com):

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has designated neridronic acid as a potential Breakthrough Therapy for CRPS. The Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA came after the companies reported the results of a Phase II clinical trial showing a significant reduction in pain and symptoms of CRPS with neridronic acid treatment. The drug has already received fast track and orphan drug designations from the FDA. The agency considers a new drug as a breakthrough therapy if it is intended to treat a serious condition and if preliminary clinical evidence demonstrates substantial improvement over current treatments.”

You may be eligible to participate in this investigational research study if you:

• have a diagnosis of CRPS
• have moderate to severe ongoing pain related to your CRPS
• are able to differentiate the location and intensity of your CRPS pain from any other pain you may be experiencing.

The study requires up to 11 visits to the Great Lakes Clinical Trials clinic on the north side of Chicago, over the course of 9-12 months.

Participation in research does not replace the standard medical care you may be receiving from your doctor. Instead, upon your request Great Lakes Clinical Trials clinicians will work alongside your primary doctor to communicate activities related to your participation in this research.

For more information or to see if you may be eligible to participate in this trial, please call the Great Lakes Clinical Trials CRPS team at (773) 275-3500.

Great Lakes Clinical Trials Alzheimer's Prevention Study to be Featured on Fox32 WFLD News in Chicago

Great Lakes Clinical Trials is proud to be featured in today's edition of WFLD Chicago Fox 32 News at noon, to feature the important work we are doing to help find a cure for Alzheimer's Disease. The segment is scheduled to air at 12:45PM.

Clara Hubbard, Host of Senior Talk will be discussing the importance of African Americans participating in research for Alzheimer's and Dementia. Clara will be advocating for the A4 Study -- a groundbreaking Alzheimer's disease prevention study being conducted right here in Chicago at Great Lakes Clinical Trials. 

"The A4 study is a clinical trial for older individuals who may be at risk for Alzheimer's disease. The study aims to prevent the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease," commented Steve Satek, President of Great Lakes Clinical Trials.   "We are so honored to be collaborating with Clara Hubbard on this program.  She is a remarkable voice for the African American senior community, who are two times more likely to develop late-onset Alzheimer's disease than whites, and less likely to have a diagnosis of their condition, resulting in less time for treatment and planning."

Like most clinical trials, the A4 study has very specific eligibility requirements. You may be eligible to join the A4 study if you:

• Are 65 to 85 years old
• Have normal thinking and memory abilities
• Have an A4 study partner – someone who has at least weekly contact with you who can answer questions once a year

"Clinical Trials are the only way in which we can develop and identify a new medication to prevent or even slow down this disease, which robs us of our life-long memories," added Satek. "Now is the time to act, before the memories are gone."

Please contact Great Lakes Clinical Trials at (773) 275-3500 if you are interested in learning more, or click HERE to be taken to our A4 Study page where you can sign up to be contacted by Great Lakes Clinical Trials our staff.

About Senior Talk
Senior Talk with Clara Hubbard is a radio showcase where listeners gain valuable information and dialogue with business and community leaders that serve seniors, their families and caregiver professionals. Tune in every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:00am on AM1570 WBGX in Chicago.

About Great Lakes Clinical Trials
Great Lakes Clinical Trials is an independent, phase I-IV clinical trial center, specializing in the study of investigational medications, food products and supplements for the treatment of chronic diseases, notably in Psychiatry, Neurology, and Pain management. Located on the north side of Chicago, the Great Lakes team have managed more than 450 clinical trials over the past 25 years and are committed to providing quality services for both study volunteers & the research industry.

Great Lakes Clinical Trials Initiates Early-Stage Alzheimer's Study Targeting Tau Proteins

A clinical research study is ongoing to study the effects of an investigational Anti-Tau antibody called ABBV-8E12 in patients with early stage Alzheimer's disease.

The progression of abnormal Tau proteins in the brain is strongly associated with clinical progression of disease and resulting decline in brain function. 

The video below describes the science behind this novel approach to targeting the source of Alzheimer's disease.

If you are interested in learning more about this research study, call our Patient Care Representatives at (773) 275-3500 or click HERE to visit our study webpage.

Migraine Study Enrolling Now

Great Lakes Clinical Trials is looking for volunteers for a clinical research study for people that have frequent migraine headaches on a monthly basis. The investigational study medication is in a new class of drugs called calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonists or CGRPs.

You may be able to participate if you:
• Are between 18 to 75 years of age
• Suffer from 2-8 migraines a month
• Have a history of migraines lasting between 7-72 hours
• Are able to make 4 clinic visits over the course of 2-3 months

Note that participants will be allowed to remain on standard migraine prophylactic medications (eg, betablockers, tricyclic antidepressants, topiramate, valproic acid, or botox) as long as the treatment has been stable for at least 30 days prior to screening and will remain unchanged during the course of the trial.

Qualified participants will receive:
· Study related care and office visits at no cost. Insurance is not required
· Investigational study medication at no cost
· Qualified participants will receive up to $250 for their participation in this study.

If you are interested in joining this trial, click here and choose the "SIGN UP" button to provide your contact information.  One of our staff will be in touch with you within 24 hrs to conduct a short phone screen to determine your eligibility.   Otherwise, you can call our center directly at (773) 275-3500 to speak with one of our staff today.