In our latest installment of the Profound Research spotlight series, we turn our focus to a distinguished medical professional exploring the intricate connections between the nervous system and vision - Dr. Frishberg. As a Board-Certified Neurologist with specialized training in Neuro-Ophthalmology, Dr. Frishberg is bringing profound insights to the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. Read our latest blog to learn more about Dr. Frishberg below!

What led you to clinical research?

Dr. Frishberg: I am a Board-Certified Neurologist with specialty training in Neuro-Ophthalmology, and expertise in the area of Multiple Sclerosis and Headache Medicine. I am a seasoned clinician (read old) who very much enjoys the continued practice of medicine. As part of that practice, I’ve been involved in clinical research for well over 30 years and became Research Director in our institution about 8 years ago. I am lucky to work with a very talented and experienced group of Clinical Research Coordinators who do an outstanding job and make my work easier. While I have been principal investigator on neurologic studies in many different disease states, most of my involvement has been with headache care, multiple sclerosis, and, more recently, Alzheimer's disease.

What is your favorite part about working in clinical research?

Dr. Frishberg: I love working with the research patients because they are often involved for altruistic reasons, and they tend to be very cooperative and appreciative of the care we give them. While not every study shows positive results, I think patients and the researchers benefit from our involvement with the patients and their families.

Do you have a particular success story that stuck with you?

Dr. Frishberg: One of my favorite studies involved engineered stem cell implantation into the brain in the motor area in patients who had serious brain injuries with paralysis on one side. The study was positive, and I saw some of the participants show improvement, sometimes after over a decade of stability.

What would you want people to know about clinical research?

Dr. Frishberg: For the participants, being involved in clinical research means committing your time and the time of your significant other/caregiver in order to participate in a study. Some studies are very simple, with just 2 visits, while others may go on for years. I believe our study participants enjoy meeting regularly with coordinators and being watched carefully by the investigators. I believe our patients are often amazed by the detail and depth of information that we obtain for studies. A single patient may have 5-8 large binders of their clinical information and study related materials that we need to store for up to 20 years.

What are some hobbies/interests of yours outside of clinical research?

Dr. Frishberg: Since my hair is now all white, I suspect I am entering the winter of my existence. When not seeing patients in the office and caring for participants in our clinical studies, my wife and I are traveling to exotic locales such as Istanbul, Lisbon, Tokyo, and Iceland. The problem is I can’t stay too long because I have to come back for my research patients. I also still enjoy jogging, coin collecting, collecting Hawaiian shirts, and spending time with my wife of 44 years.

Dr. Frishberg's exceptional expertise as principal investigator has not only advanced our understanding of the intricate relationship between neurological and visual health but has also transformed the lives of countless patients. Through dedication, research, and compassionate patient care, Dr. Frishberg continues to make strides toward medical breakthroughs.

Learn more about our team at Profound Research in our upcoming spotlight series.