Clinical Trials

The Clinical Trials Center works with physicians and trial participants to develop newer and safer medications and clinical devices for children and adults for a broad range of health problems. Clinical trials validate laboratory research and provide safety and efficacy information to the Food and Drug Administration. Qualified participants benefit from free medical care, including physical examinations, study medications and/or supplements, and laboratory tests.

The Clinical Trials Center conducts trials in a number of specialty areas including:

• Allergy/Immunology
• Cardiovascular
• Internal medicine
• Neurology
• Orthopaedics
• Pulmonology
• Rheumatology
• Urology

The Clinical Trials Center has two campuses: The uptown campus is located at Children's Hospital and the Metairie campus is located at 2727 Houma Blvd., Suite D.

Rodolfo Bégué, MD
Director, Pediatric Infectious Disease, Children’s Hospital
Associate Professor of Pediatrics,
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Professional School:
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia School of Medicine
Specialty Training:
State University of New York
Brown University School of Medicine
Special Interests:
Travelers’ Health, H. Pylori, Immunizations

Richard Doskey, MD
Pediatric Consultant
Professional School:
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans
Specialty Training:
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
Special Interests:
Special needs children

Abraham Gedalia, MD
Chief, Pediatric Rheumatology and
Professor of Pediatrics,
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Professional School:
Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem
Specialty Training:
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
Special Interests:
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Musculoskeletal pain syndrome, Sarcoidosis, Familial Mediterranean Fever

Michael Hickham, MD
Otolaryngology Consultant
Professional School:
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans
Specialty Training:
Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans
Special Interests:
Allergy, Head and Neck - Oncologic Surgery

Janine T. Lissard, MD
Pediatric & General Medicine Consultant
Professional School:
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans
Specialty Training:
Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans

Vimala Ann Mascarenhas, MD
Pediatric Consultant
Professional School:
Bangalore University, St. John's Medical School, India
Specialty Training:
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans
Special Interests:
Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Ann Tilton, MD
Director of Child Neurology and
Associate Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics,
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Professional School:
University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
Specialty Training:
University of Texas Dallas Southwestern Medical School
Special Interests:
Neuro Rehabilitiation, Spasticity, Neuromuscular Disorders