Clinical Research

The Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) at Phoenix Children's is led by dedicated physicians who know that research is good medicine. Pushing the envelope in clinical care requires a commitment to continuous assessment, quality improvement and innovation. Through this process we develop and improve promising new medical, surgical and behavioral approaches to caring for complex neurological conditions, including pediatric movement disorders.

We align translational research in pediatric movement disorders with the following three programs:

Tourette Association of America Tic and Tourette Syndrome Research

Our current Tourette syndrome research includes participation in the Tourette Association of America (TAA) Registry’s working group. This multi-institutional effort works to collect data on treatments and outcomes for young patients with Tourette syndrome. We also participate in industry-sponsored clinical trials to provide our patients with early access to up-and-coming treatments. Additionally, by enrolling patients in our genomic studies, we are searching for the causes of tic disorders.

Rare Pediatric Movement Disorders Research

Our physicians are at the forefront of gene discovery for rare disorders, using genomic analysis to understand the causes of disease and jumpstart research to find new treatments.

We work closely with rare disease advocacy organizations as a physician-family partnership, and help advance care through innovative “N of 1” treatment trials – a more direct and individualized approach to studying the effects of specific treatments for children with rare disorders. N of 1 research findings can help doctors to identify which treatments are most likely to work well for a particular patient. We are also members of the PediDBS network, advancing care for children with movement disorders through deep brain stimulation (DBS).

Cerebral Palsy Research

We are world leaders in cerebral palsy (CP) research. We serve as charter members of the Cerebral Palsy Research Network (CPRN), a national collaborative working to establish gold standards of care for CP.

Michael Kruer, MD, serves as chair of the International Cerebral Palsy Genomics Consortium, which uses big data to understand how genetic mutations may lead to CP. We offer access to advanced neuroimaging, robotics and new medications through our clinical research. The Kruer Laboratory uses a combination of genetics, molecular and cell biology, and neuroscience to apply genetic insights to improve care.

Learn More

Ask your doctor if you are interested in current research or clinical trials related to your child’s condition. Learn more about the Kruer Lab’s latest pediatric movement disorders research.