Pilot Research Project with Children's National: Evaluating Education and Access to Expert Care for SCN8A

The Cute Syndrome Foundation is thrilled to share the awarding of a clinical research grant, originally announced at our 2018 SCN8A Clinician, Researcher, and Family Gathering, to Dr. John Schreiber and Children's National. The vision for this grant developed after the devastating loss of two infants in our SCN8A community last fall, and we are grateful to Dr. Schreiber for working with us to look for ways to improve access to expert advice in the treatment of individuals with SCN8A.

The official announcement follows:
​Children’s National Medical Center and The Cute Syndrome Foundation are delighted to enter a 6-month pilot research project to evaluate education and access to expert care for SCN8A. Led by Dr. John Schreiber, Neurologist and Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at George Washington University, Children’s National will develop a focused effort to provide families and clinicians with the Clinician Information and Reference Guide—developed by The Cute Syndrome Foundation— and attempt to uncover the barriers to accessing expert advice. The study will result in a better understanding of those factors that prevent access to consensus recommendations and expert care. It will also increase provider knowledge of SCN8A-related disorders, improve utilization of appropriate anti-seizure therapies, and may eventually reduce mortality. As the first ever study of its kind, this pilot project will pave the way for future interventions that will raise the profile of SCN8A-related disorders, facilitate collaborative care and research, improve patient outcomes, and reduce mortality.

Thank you, Dr. Schreiber, for your dedication to the SCN8A community!

John Schreiber, MD, at TCSF's 2018 SCN8A Clinician, Researcher, and Family Gathering