Bladder Rehabilitation Research Training Center | MedStar Health

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Who we are

We are national leaders in the research field of bladder dysfunction and urinary symptoms that follow nervous system injury or disease. Located at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D.C., our team works collaboratively to investigate ways to produce positive patient outcomes.

We currently receive funding from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), U.S. Department of Education, Department of Defense (DOD), Craig H Neilsen Foundation, and industry sponsors. The opinions expressed on these pages are those of the authors, and no official endorsement of any funding source should be inferred.


  • For research interest, click here to learn more.

Research projects

Research Project 1

Intravesical Probiotic (Lactobacillus) for Urinary Symptoms Among People with Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Who Use Indwelling Catheters

We are recruiting participants nationwide for a bladder study looking at the use of a probiotic bladder flush when experiencing urinary symptoms.

Participants must:

  • Be diagnosed with neurogenic bladder (SCI, MS, SB, stroke, etc.)
  • Use indwelling catheterization for bladder management
  • 18 years or older
  • Have a history of two or more episodes of urinary symptoms in the past year

Objective 1: Participants in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area will provide two urine samples at least two weeks apart when not experiencing urinary symptoms.

Objective 2: Participants nationwide will be randomized into a low or high dose bladder wash group using an intravesical probiotic called Lactobacillus GG. Instillations will occur when experiencing urinary symptoms.  

Urine samples may be collected if residing in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area.

If you are interested or have questions, please contact:

Margot Giannetti
Margot.Giannetti@medstar.net
202-877-1071

Chris Riegner
christopher.r.riegner@medstar.net
202-877-1560

Research Project 2

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (TTNS) for Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction (NLUTD)

This study seeks to demonstrate that TTNS will improve NLUTD in SCI/D by intervening acutely, improving the quality of life by providing a feasible, non-pharmacologic, and dignified intervention to be performed at home to reduce autonomic dysreflexia.

Participants must be:

  • Diagnosed with a spinal cord injury or disease

  • Level of injury T1-T9

  • Aged 18-65

  • Currently admitted to inpatient within four weeks of SCI/D at either MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital (Washington, D.C.,) or TIRR Memorial Hermann (Houston, TX)

Participants will be in this study for one year and randomized into a low or high TTNS group.

If you are interested or have questions, please contact:

MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital
Emily Leonard, PhD
emily.m.leonard@medstar.net
202-877-1844

The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) Memorial Hermann
 Vanessa Bernal
Vanessa.Bernal@uth.tmc.edu
713-797-7636

Research Project 3

A Mixed Methods Assessment of the Impact of Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (TTNS) on Quality of Life and Participation

Study Objective: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the burden of Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction (NLUTD) on

  • Health-related Quality of Life (QOL)
  • Participation affected by use of TTNS
  • Determine what constitutes a clinically meaningful difference in Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction (NLUTD)-related QOL and participation
  • Identify NLUTD user-defined themes regarding bladder function and the effects of TTNS neuromodulation on the daily impacts on one’s life.

To be included in this study, participants must:

  • Age 18-65 years old
  • Traumatic or non-traumatic SCI
  • Neurologic level of injury above T10
  • Within 6 weeks of injury
  • Regionally located to allow follow-up
  • English speaking

If you are interested or have questions, please contact:

Mandy Rounds, PhD
Amanda.K.Rounds@medstar.net
202-877-1591

Research Project 4

Intravesical Lactobacillus to Reduce Urinary Symptoms after Spinal Cord Injury — Intermittent Catheters

We are recruiting participants nationwide for a bladder study looking at the use of a probiotic bladder flush when experiencing urinary symptoms.

Participants must:

  • Be diagnosed with neurogenic bladder due to spinal cord injury
  • Use intermittent catheterization for bladder management
  • 18 years or older
  • Have a history of two or more episodes of urinary symptoms in the past year

Objective 1: Participants in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area will provide two urine samples at least two weeks apart when not experiencing urinary symptoms.

Objective 2: Participants nationwide will be randomized into a low or high dose bladder wash group using an intravesical probiotic called Lactobacillus GG. Instillations will occur when experiencing urinary symptoms.  

Urine samples may be collected if residing in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area.

If you are interested or have questions, please contact:

Chris Riegner
christopher.r.riegner@medstar.net
202-877-1560

Research Project 5

Intravesical Lactobacillus rhamnosusGG versus standard care saline bladder wash: A randomized, controlled, comparative effectiveness clinical trial—Intermittent Catheters

We are recruiting participants nationwide for a bladder study looking at the use of a probiotic bladder flush versus a saline bladder flush when experiencing urinary symptoms.

Participants must:

  • Have had a Spinal Cord Injury, MS or Spina Bifida for at least 6 months and are over 18 years of age
  • Be diagnosed with neurogenic bladder and use intermittent catherization for bladder management

If you are interested or have questions, please contact:

Emily Leonard, PhD
emily.m.leonard@medstar.net
202-877-1844

Research Project 7

Transformation of dormant spinal networks to mitigate symptoms of neurogenic bladder (SCONE)

A multicenter clinical trial to study the effect of SCONE™ neuromodulation therapy on individuals with neurogenic bladder (urinary incontinence) due to stroke, spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis.

To be included in this study, participants must:

  • Age  ≥ 18 and ≤ 70 years  of age
  • Been diagnosed with neurogenic bladder due to to spinal cord injury (SCI), multiple sclerosis (MS), or stroke.

If you are interested or have questions, please contact:

Chris Riegner
christopher.r.riegner@medstar.net
202-877-1560

Resources

Fact sheets

Bladder and Sexual Health for Women with Paralysis
Managing NLUTD
NLUTD Symptoms
UTI with NLUTD
What's Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction (NLUTD)?
What Is Overactive Bladder?
What's Underactive Bladder?

Bladder Rehab Buzz Newsletter

Volume 1 | May 2020
Volume 2 | December 2020
Volume 3 | June 2021
Volume 4 | December 2021
Volume 6 | August 2022

Bladder Health Buzz

Volume 1 | March 2023

Recursos en Español

Ficha informativa

Podcasts en Español

Urinary symptom questionnaires

The spinal cord injury research team at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital has developed a series of tools to better help monitor urinary symptoms. The Urinary Symptom Questionnaire for Neurogenic Bladder (USQNB)s were developed for individuals with neurogenic bladder due to Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Spina Bifida (SB), Multiple Sclerosis(MS) or other neurological diseases. These questionnaires will guide you to make informed decisions on how to manage your symptoms.

Cuestionarios en Español

Podcasts

Publications

  • The urine microbiome of healthy men and women differs by urine collection method

    Hsieh M, Groah SL. The urine microbiome of healthy men and women differs by urine collection method. Int Neurourology J 2020 (in press)

  • Symptom and urinalysis-based approach to diagnosing urinary tract infections in children with neuropathic bladders

    Forster CS, Wang J. Symptom and urinalysis-based approach to diagnosing urinary tract infections in children with neuropathic bladders. Pediatric Nephrology. In press. PMID: 31919595

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31919595

  • The diagnosis of UTI in the neuropathic bladder

    Forster CS, Pohl H. The diagnosis of UTI in the neuropathic bladder: Changing the paradigm to include the microbiome. Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehab, 2019, 25(3):222-227. PMID: 31548789.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31548789

  • A single intravesical instillation of probiotics is safe in children and adults with neuropathic bladder

    Forster C, Hsieh MH, Perez-Losada M, Caldovic L, Pohl H, Ljungberg IH, Sprague B, Stroud C, Groah SL. A single intravesical instillation of probiotics is safe in children and adults with neuropathic bladder: A phase Ia clinical trial. JSCM 2019 (in press)

  • Effects of intravesical Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG on urinary Symptom Burden in People with Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction

    Tractenberg RE*, Groah SL*, Frost JK, Rounds AK, Davis E, Ljungberg IH, Schladen MM. Effects of intravesical Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG on urinary Symptom Burden in People with Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction. PMR 2019 (under review)

  • Antibiotic prophylaxis prescribing patterns of pediatric urologists for children with vesicoureteral reflux and other congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract

    Hamdy R, Pohl H, Forster CS. Antibiotic prophylaxis prescribing patterns of pediatric urologists for children with vesicoureteral reflux and other congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract. Urology. In press. PMID: 31758980

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31758980

  • The Utility of DNA Next Generation Sequencing and Expanded Quantitative Urine Culture in the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic or Persistent Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

    Gasiorek M, Hsieh H, Forster CS. The Utility of DNA Next Generation Sequencing and Expanded Quantitative Urine Culture in the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic or Persistent Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. The Journal of Clinical Microbiology. In press. PMID: 31619534

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31619534

  • Intravesical Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG is Safe and Well-Tolerated in Adults and Children with Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction

    Groah SL, Rounds AK, Ljungberg IH, Sprague B, Frost J, Tractenberg RE. Intravesical Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG is Safe and Well-Tolerated in Adults and Children with Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction: First-in-Human Trial. Ther Adv Urol 2019;11:1-13

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31620195

  • Bladder Neuromodulation in Acute Spinal Cord Injury via Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation

    Stampas A, Gustafson K, Korupolu R, Smith C, Zhu L, Li S. Bladder Neuromodulation in Acute Spinal Cord Injury via Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation: Cystometrogram and Autonomic Nervous System Evidence From a Randomized Control Pilot Trial. Front Neurosci 19;13:119. Feb 2019

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6390711/

  • Feasibility of Self-Administered Neuromodulation in Spinal Cord Injury Neurogenic Bladder

    Int Neurourology J Stampas A, Khavari R, Frontera JE, Groah SL. Feasibility of Self-Administered Neuromodulation in Spinal Cord Injury Neurogenic Bladder. Int Neurourology J 2019 Sep;23(3):249-256.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6790819/

  • Safety, Feasibility, and Efficacy of Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation in Acute Spinal Cord Injury Neurogenic Bladder

    Stampas A, Korupolu R, Zhu L, Smith CP, Gustafson K. Safety, Feasibility, and Efficacy of Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation in Acute Spinal Cord Injury Neurogenic Bladder: A Randomized Control Pilot Trial. Neuromodulation. Oct 3 2018.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30284350

  • Pediatric Acute Kidney Injury

    Roy JP, Forster CS. Clinical Progress Note: Pediatric Acute Kidney Injury. Journal of Hospital Medicine. E pub Aug 16, 2019. PMID: 31433778.

    https://www.journalofhospitalmedicine.com/jhospmed/article/206281/hospital-medicine/clinical-progress-note-pediatric-acute-kidney-injury

  • Association of Systemic Antimicrobials with the Expression of Beta-Lacatamases in Bacteria Cultured from Urological Patients

    Forster CS, Powell EA, Deburger B, Courter J, Haslam DB, and Mortensen JE. Association of Systemic Antimicrobials with the Expression of Beta-Lacatamases in Bacteria Cultured from Urological Patients. Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 2019, 94(4): 391-394. PMID: 30890298

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30890298

  • Identification of Urinary CD44 and Prosaposin as Specific Biomarkers of Urinary Tract Infections in Children with Neurogenic Bladders

    Forster CS, Haffey WD, Bennett M, Greis KD, and Devarajan P. Identification of Urinary CD44 and Prosaposin as Specific Biomarkers of Urinary Tract Infections in Children with Neurogenic Bladders. Biomarker Insights, 2019 Mar 15;1. PMID: 30906192

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30906192

  • The Association Between Urodynamic Parameters and Urine NGAL Concentrations in Children with Neurogenic Bladders

    Forster CS, Goldstein S, Pohl H, and Jackson E. The Association Between Urodynamic Parameters and Urine NGAL Concentrations in Children with Neurogenic Bladders. Journal of Pediatric Urology, Epub 2019; Jan 23. PMID: 30799170

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30799170

  • Variation in the Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infection in Children with Neurogenic Bladders between Subspecialists

    Forster CS, Jackson E, and Goldstein S. Variation in the Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infection in Children with Neurogenic Bladders between Subspecialists. Journal of Pediatric Urology, 2018 Dec;14(6):567.e1-567.e6. PMID: 30177384

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30177384

  • Identification of Burkholderia fungorum in the urine of an individual with spinal cord injury and augmentation cystoplasty using 16s sequencing

    Nally E, Groah SL, Perez-Losada M, Caldovic L, Ljungberg IH, Sprague B, Castro-Nallar E, Chandal N, Hsieh M, Pohl H. Identification of Burkholderia fungorum in the urine of an individual with spinal cord injury and augmentation cystoplasty using 16s sequencing: Co-pathogen or innocent bystander? Spinal Cord Series Cases 2018 Sep 21;4:85. Doi: 10.1038/s41394-018-0115-2.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30275977

  • Predictive Ability of NGAL in Identifying Urinary Tract Infection in Children with Neurogenic Bladders

    Forster CS, Elizabeth Jackson, Qing Ma, Michael Bennett, Samir Shah, and Stuart Goldstein. Predictive Ability of NGAL in Identifying Urinary Tract Infection in Children with Neurogenic Bladders. Pediatric Nephrology, 2018; 33(8): 1365-1374. PMID: 29532235

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6218164/

  • Uropathogens and Pyuria in Children with Neurogenic Bladders

    Forster CS, Shaikh N, Hoberman A, Jackson E. Uropathogens and Pyuria in Children with Neurogenic Bladders. Pediatrics, 2018;142(2). PMID: 29618582

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29618582

  • Preliminary validation of a Urinary Symptom Questionnaire for individuals with Neuropathic Bladder using Intermittent Catheterization (USQNB-IC)

    Tractenberg RE, Groah SL, Rounds MK, Ljungberg IH, Schladen MM. Preliminary validation of a Urinary Symptom Questionnaire for individuals with Neuropathic Bladder using Intermittent Catheterization (USQNB-IC): A patient-centered patient reported outcome. PLoS ONE 2018;13(7):e0197568.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29990375

  • Evaluation of functional outcomes in traumatic spinal cord injury with rehabilitation-acquired urinary tract infections

    Stampas A, Dominick E, Zhu L. Evaluation of functional outcomes in traumatic spinal cord injury with rehabilitation-acquired urinary tract infections: A retrospective study. J Spinal Cord Med 3:1-14. Apr 2018

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29611464

  • The role of the genitourinary microbiome in pediatric urology.

    Gerber DC, Forster CS, Hsieh M. The role of the genitourinary microbiome in pediatric urology: a review. Current Urology Reports. 2018 Feb 22;19(1):13. PMID: 29468401

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29468401

  • Maintaining primacy of the patient perspective in the development of patient-centered patient reported outcomes

    Tractenberg RE, Garver A, Ljungberg IH, Schladen MM, Groah SL Maintaining primacy of the patient perspective in the development of patient-centered patient reported outcomes.
    PLoS ONE 2017;12(3): e0171114.
    doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0171114

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28257414

  • Does NGAL Reduce Cost?

    Parikh A, Rizzo J, Chalfin D, Canetta P, Forster CS, Sise M, Marroug O, Singer E, Elger A, Elitok S, Schmidt-Ott K, Barasch J, Nickolas T. Does NGAL Reduce Cost? A Cost Analysis of Urine NGAL and Serum Creatinine for Acute Kidney Injury. PLOS One, 2017 September; 12(9). PMID:28953968

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28542336

  • Utility of a Routine Urinalysis in Children Who Require on Clean Intermittent Catheterization

    Forster CS, Haslam DB, Jackson E, Goldstein S. Utility of a Routine Urinalysis in Children Who Require on Clean Intermittent Catheterization. Journal of Pediatric Urology, 2017 October;13(5): 488.e1-488.e5. PMID 28284733

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28284733

  • Urinary NGAL Deficiency in Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

    Forster CS, Johnson K, Patel V, Rodig N, Barasch J, Bachur R, Lee R. Urinary NGAL Deficiency in Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections. Pediatric Nephrology, 2017 June; 32(6): 1077-80. PMID 28210838

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5417074/

  • Unique Transcriptional Programs Identify Subtypes of “Acute Kidney Injury”

    Xu K, Rosenthal P, Paragas N, Hinze C, Gao X, Merth M, Forster CS, Deng R, Bruck E, Boles RW, Tornato A, Jones M, Konig J, Gopal T, D’Agati V, Erdjument-Bromage H, Saggi S, Wagener G, Schmidt-Ott K, Tattonetti N, Tempst P, Oliver J, Guarnieri P, Barasch J. Unique Transcriptional Programs Identify Subtypes of “Acute Kidney Injury”. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 2017 June; 28(6): 1729-40. PMID: 28028135

    https://jasn.asnjournals.org/content/28/6/1729

  • Frequency of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms Cultured From Urine of Children Undergoing Clean Intermittent Catheterization

    Forster CS, Courter J, Jackson E, Mortensen J, Haslam D. Frequency of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms Cultured From Urine of Children Undergoing Clean Intermittent Catheterization. Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society, 2017 Nov 24;6(4):332-338. PMID: 29186590

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29186590

  • Redefining healthy urine

    J Urol 2016;196(2):Groah SL, Perez-Losada M, Caldovic L, Ljungberg IH, Sprague B, Castro-Nallar E, Chandal N, Hsieh M, Pohl H. Redefining healthy urine: a cross-sectional exploratory metagenomic study of people with and without bladder dysfunction. J Urol 2016;196(2):579-87..

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26807926

  • Right Test, Wrong Patient

    Forster CS, Herbst L, Jerardi KE, Brady P. Right Test, Wrong Patient: Biomarkers and Value. Hospital Pediatrics, 2016 May; 6(5):315-7. PMID 27052032.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27052032

Meet our team

Suzanne Groah, MD, MSPH

Dr. Groah is the Project Director for the RRTC and National Capital Spinal Cord Injury Model System

Principal Investigator for research project 1 and research project 4

Co-Principal Investigator for research project 2 and research project 3

Dr. Groah the Director of the Spinal Cord Injury and Disease Rehabilitation and Recovery Program (inpatient, outpatient, and day program) and the Director of Spinal Cord Injury Research at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, as well as Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at Georgetown University. Currently, Dr. Groah is the Principal Investigator of several investigator-initiated projects on urinary symptoms in individuals with SCI, multiple sclerosis, and spina bifida.

 

Ana Valeria Aguirre Guemez

Ana Valeria Aguirre, MD

Dr. Aguirre is an early career physician and Research Fellow at MedStar NRH. She is coordinating the SCI model systems database, and modular activities.

Dr. Aguirre has clinical and research experience in the field of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), particularly in the development of upper extremity and gait training rehabilitation programs. Currently focusing on strategies and standards to reinforce prevention, diagnosis, and early treatment of complications to improve quality of life of people living with SCI.

Barbara Bregman

Barbara Bregman, PhD

Dr. Bregman is the Co-Project Director of the RRTC and Director of Training.

Dr. Bregman is Director of Education and Training for the MedStar NRH Research Division, and Professor of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Medicine at Georgetown University (GU). She is currently Co-Program Director of the NIH K12 Neurorehabilitation and Restorative Neuroscience Training Network, which targets the development of junior faculty in neurorehabilitation. As Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at Georgetown University, faculty development and mentorship were key components of her activities.

Carter Denny

Carter Denny, MD, MPH

Dr. Denny is an early career physician scientist and a Co-Principal Investigator for research project 2.

Dr. Denny has a research interests in systems of care delivery and secondary stroke prevention. Dr. Denny has participated in several stroke clinical trials. With the support of a MHRI New Investigator grant, Dr. Denny is now recruiting hypertensive stroke survivors into a home blood pressure self-management study that she designed with the critical appraisal of the MedStar Research Scholars Program. She was awarded an NIH StrokeNet fellowship as a Georgetown junior faculty member for the 2017-2018 academic year.

Sarah DiMeglio

Sarah DiMeglio, BS

Ms. DiMeglio is a clinical research coordinator coordinating industry clinical trials, and assisting with spinal cord injury model systems.

Sarah has an educational background in health sciences, and a history of diverse patient care experiences across various healthcare settings. Within MedStar NRH, she focuses on clinical trials aimed at enhancing outcomes of those who have experienced spinal cord injury or disease, embodying a commitment to transformative research in the field.

Catherine Forester

Catherine Forster, MD

Dr. Forster is an early career physician scientist and Site-PI at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for research project 1.

Dr. Forster is a pediatric hospitalist at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at University of Pittsburgh. Her research focuses on identifying improved ways to diagnose urinary tract infections in people with NLUTD. She has expertise in the analysis and interpretation of urine biomarkers, including neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), one of the proteins that will be measured in this study. For this project, Dr. Forster will be responsible for processing and analyzing the urine samples provided by participants in one of the research studies.

Margot Giannetti

Margot Giannetti, BA

Ms. Giannetti is the study coordinator for research project 1.

Margot has a long history as a Clinical Research Coordinator at MedStar NRH. Through her experience in coordinating multiple stroke, cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury studies, she has gained invaluable experience in study coordination and also working with people with multiple types of physical disability.

Sashwati Geed

Shashwati Geed, PT, PhD

Dr. Geed is the Biostatistician on research project 1 and research project 3.

Dr. Geed is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the Georgetown University. Her research focuses on both rehabilitation outcomes and the neurophysiology of motor function recovery after stroke. Dr. Geed has particular expertise in longitudinal models to measure recovery, clinical trial design in the context of neurorehab, and refining assessments that measure neurorehabilitation outcomes.

Emily Leonard

Emily Leonard, PhD

Dr. Leonard is an early career scientist, Co-Investigator for research project 3, and Clinical Research Coordinator for research project 2, and research project 5.

Dr. Leonard’s research background was centered around the improvement of motor function and social-psychological outcomes within a neurological population. As an early Rehabilitation Scientist and Clinical Research Coordinator at MedStar NRH, she focuses on the implementation of clinical research projects to improve patient outcomes and overall quality of life in patients with neurological injury or disease.

Inger Ljungberg

Inger Ljungberg, MPH

Ms. Ljungberg is the Research Program Manager

Inger is a research program manager at MedStar NRH where she has a long history of both coordinating research studies and serving as the project manager on Dr. Groah’s ongoing research projects. Through her work she has gained invaluable experience in the ability to monitor timely progression of multiple concurrent studies, facilitate cross team communication and supervision of budget expenditures.

Christopher Riegner

Chris Riegner, BA

Mr. Riegner is clinical research coordinator for research project 1, and research project 7

Chris is a clinical research coordinator with experience in neurological trauma research and mental illness studies. He coordinates recruitment and enrollment for several studies. He is currently pursuing his MPH at George Washington University with a focus on communication of healthcare research to the community.
Argy Stampas

Argy Stampas, MD

Dr. Stampas is an early career physician researcher and Site-Principal Investigator at TIRR for research project 2.

As a physician researcher, I want to advance the field of rehabilitation using electric stimulation to prevent problems commonly found in spinal cord injury (SCI), including neurogenic bladder and bowel, autonomic dysreflexia, neuropathic pain, and spasticity. In my position as the SCI Medicine Research Director, I can pursue research interests with the support of TIRR Memorial Hermann, UT Health Science Center at Houston, and their research infrastructure to support high-level clinical research. I am involved in the care of hundreds of SCI patients annually, and the institution serves one of the largest SCI populations in the country.

Contact us

Write to us at: bladderrehab@medstar.net

877-278-0644

  • For research interest, click here to learn more.