October 5, 2023

Meet Dr. Robert Scheinberg, MD and Dr. Sherry Rotunda, MD – Dermatology Investigators

In our next edition of the Profound Research Spotlight Series, where we proudly shine a light on the remarkable individuals who lead the way in groundbreaking research and innovation, we introduce you to Dr. Sheinberg and Dr. Rotunda, distinguished Board-Certified Dermatologists at the esteemed Dermatology Group of North County. Their exceptional contributions to the field of dermatology and their pursuit of cutting-edge research are at the forefront of our mission to advance scientific knowledge and improve lives. Join us as we explore their profound impact on the field and learn more about these two prominent Principal Investigators.

Dr. Scheinberg has expertise in consulting patients with challenging psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, drug eruptions, lupus, and acne, plus dermatologic surgery, including Mohs. His 30 years of research experience includes studies on melanomas, psoriasis, and phase 3 studies of safety and effectiveness of dermatologic medications. Dr. Scheinberg is also a Clinical Professor at UCSD Medical Center and teaches Dermatology Residents. Find out more about Dr. Scheinberg in our Q&A below.

What led you to clinical research? 

Dr. Scheinberg: The desire to be at the cutting edge of dermatologic research and treatment for the benefit of patients and for the excitement of helping to bring new treatments to all patients.

What is your favorite part about working in clinical research?

Dr. Scheinberg: I like seeing the patient satisfaction that comes from their knowing they are participating in clinical trials for the benefit of themselves and for others. It is also helpful for patients to see I’m keeping up with the latest in dermatologic pathogenesis of disease and management by supporting clinical research studies.

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

Dr. Scheinberg: A patient was deathly afraid that a mole was malignant, and when it came back as a melanoma, she was sure she was going to die. A research study examining the genes of the melanoma allowed me to give her the prognosis that she has at least a 99% chance of not having any chance of dying from this lesion.

Another was the husband of a nurse who used to work in our office who had horrible athlete's foot and toenail fungus for decades that interfered with running and other activities of daily living. A new oral antifungal drug we studied cured him, and he was even on the news with a big smile on his face, running in front of our office and telling the audience how happy he was to no longer have the fungus.

What would you want people to know about clinical research? 

Dr. Scheinberg: Besides helping to treat their own skin problems, participating in the research allows them to be part of emerging therapies that can make many people's lives better in the future.

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

Dr. Scheinberg: Skiing, Boogie Boarding, Running, Hiking, Travel, Visiting and Playing with Children and Grandchildren.

Is there any other information you’d like sponsors or patients to know about you? 

Dr. Scheinberg: I believe in a holistic approach to medicine, incorporating lifestyle and nutrition into medical and surgical treatments. And I really enjoy helping patients understand exactly why they have a problem and why the specific treatment I am prescribing is likely to help them.

Dr. Rotunda practices at the Dermatologist Medical Group of North County and has been there since October 2001. She has always enjoyed challenging medical dermatology cases, including autoimmune diseases such as cutaneous lupus, scleroderma, and bullous pemphigoid. Dr. Rotunda has participated as a sub-investigator and recruitment for various genetic expression studies for atypical nevi, melanomas, and squamous cell carcinomas. Learn more in our Q&A with Dr. Rotunda below.

What led you to clinical research?

Dr. Rotunda: I am truly excited about the ability to bring access to novel therapeutics and/or delivery systems to patients outside of a tertiary care setting. So many patients who might benefit from easier access to these therapeutic options are limited by access being only through major university-based medical centers.

What is your favorite part about working in clinical research?

Dr. Rotunda: My favorite part is the ability to potentially help patients for whom there are no FDA-approved therapies or who have exhausted known therapeutics for their condition.

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

Dr. Rotunda: I have several psoriasis patients over the years for whom we have often found ourselves waiting for the next new drug class to be approved because their disease was no longer being controlled by what was commercially available. I am truly excited to be able to offer early access to new therapeutics for patients like them.

What would you want people to know about clinical research?

Dr. Rotunda: While your participation in a clinical research trial may or may not benefit you directly, it will most certainly benefit others like you by helping to contribute to the medical communities’ overall knowledge of a disease and its treatment.

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

Dr. Rotunda: I enjoy spending time with my family, baking, traveling, and marveling at God’s creation.

Is there any other information you’d like sponsors or patients to know about you?

Dr. Rotunda: I want to provide personalized treatment options for patients that maximize improvement, minimize risk, and take into account their overall health status, concomitant illnesses, and any other concerns they may have about their disease and treatment options. For certain disease states, the inherent risk from the disease is reasonably high, which often means some of the treatments also come with moderate or even high risk. It is my job to help explain this to patients so that they can make informed decisions about how they want to proceed.

The expertise, dedication, and groundbreaking research of Dr. Scheinberg and Dr. Rotunda have not only elevated the field of dermatology but have also touched the lives of countless patients. As we conclude this spotlight, we are reminded of the profound impact that passionate individuals can have on our collective well-being. We encourage you to stay engaged with Profound Research as we continue to spotlight those who shape the future of science and healthcare. We eagerly anticipate sharing more visionary leaders in our upcoming editions of the Profound Research Spotlight Series.

August 31, 2023

Meet Dr. Frishberg, MD

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.

August 22, 2023

Meet Dr. Sahagian, MD, FAAN

Welcome to our Profound Research spotlight series, where we have the privilege of introducing you to our esteemed Principal Investigators at the forefront of groundbreaking discoveries. We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on Dr. Sahagian, a remarkable and visionary researcher who has been instrumental in shaping the landscape of modern neurology. Dr. Sahagian's contributions have not only expanded our understanding of the complexities of the human brain but have also brought hope and healing to countless individuals grappling with neurological challenges.

Dr. Sahagian is a board-certified neurologist with expertise in neuromuscular and electrodiagnostic medicine with over 25 years in clinical research. He cares for patients at the Neurology Center of Southern California and serves as the Medical Director of Neurosciences at Scripps Health. He’s currently involved in several research projects in areas that include myasthenia gravis, polyneuropathy, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, neurological biomarkers, migraine, and mild cognitive impairment.

Learn more below about the life, work, and profound impact of Dr. Sahagian.

What led you to clinical research?

Dr. Sahagian: I have always been interested in research. After earning my Chemical Engineering degree, I decided to pursue a career in medicine because I wanted to have a more direct impact on people’s lives. I initially thought I would focus on bioengineering research, but I quickly realized that I enjoyed clinical care. This led me to participate in clinical research, where I could combine my interest in research with my passion for helping patients.

What is your favorite part about working in clinical research?

Dr. Sahagian: My favorite part about working in clinical research is the opportunity to help patients. I am passionate about finding new treatments that can improve the lives of people with neurological diseases. I also enjoy the challenge of conducting research and contributing to the advancement of medical knowledge.

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

Dr. Sahagian: One success story that sticks out to me is the case of a patient with myasthenia gravis who was able to go into remission after participating in one of our research trials. This patient had been struggling with the disease for many years and had tried many different treatments with suboptimal response. After participating in our trial, he was able to stop all his medications and has remained in remission.

What would you want people to know about clinical research?

Dr. Sahagian: I would want people to know how important clinical research is to the process of developing new treatments for diseases. It is also an opportunity for patients to potentially change the course of their health journey and help to advance medical knowledge. I would also want them to know that if they are interested in participating in clinical research, I would encourage them to talk to their doctor.

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

Dr. Sahagian: Outside of clinical research, I enjoy spending time with my family, hiking, surfing, record collecting, writing about music, and gardening.

Profound Research is honored to have Dr. Sahagian serving as our Chief Scientific Officer and a leading force in our pursuit of knowledge. We eagerly anticipate the future breakthroughs and advancements that his expertise will undoubtedly bring to the world of neurology. Stay tuned for more of our spotlight series to learn about our team at Profound Research.

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