Robert Bowser, PhD

Dr. Robert Bowser is an Associate Professor of Pathology and Director of the Center for ALS Research. His research focuses upon the cellular and molecular mechanisms of motor neuron degeneration during ALS and he has recently discovered protein biomarker diagnostics for ALS and useful surrogate markers of ALS disease progression using mass spectrometry based proteomics.  his work has been performed in collaboration with Dr. David Lacomis who provided samples and clinical information from ALS patient and control subjects. Dr. Bowser was the first to uncover a panel of protein biomarkers that can distinguish early state ALS patients (near time of symptom onset) from various control groups. He has lectured on this discovery at various international conferences and was honored as a Proteomic Pioneer by ProteoMonitor Newsweekly. He was also honored in 2005 by Pittsburgh magazine as one of Pittsburgh's 40 under 40 for influential young people shaping the region. 
Dr. Bowser has been the recipient of numerous research grants from the National ALS Association and also a recipient of the ALS Association's Lou Gehrig Challenge Award, the most prestigious research grant provided by the ALS Association. 
Dr. Bowser is also a recipient of numerous NIH grants for ALS research and collaborates with many ALS investigators throughout the country and around the world. Dr. Bowser is a board member of the Western PA Chapter of the ALS Association and volunteers his time to benefit ALS patients and families. He provides lectures to ALS patient support group meetings located throughout the country. Dr. Bowser has also been an invited guest speaker at multiple international MND/ALS symposiums and the ALS Association national meetings. Dr. Bowser is also collaborating in a clinical trial of R+pramipexole to investigate the potential use of this drug in ALS. The multi-center clinical trial is being performed with Dr. David Lacomis as principal investigator. Dr. Bowser is also the Director of the University of Pittsburgh ALS Tissue Bank, a nationally recognized tissue bank that receives funding support from the ALS Association and the Mario Lemieux Foundation.  (see publications)


David Lacomis, MD

Dr. Lacomis is a Professor of Neurology and Pathology as well as Chief, Division of Neuromuscular Diseases.
He directs the MDA-ALS clinic, co-directs the electromyography laboratory, and directs the autonomics testing laboratory. Dr. Lacomis was named among the "Top Doctors" by Pittsburgh magazine, and in both “Best Doctors” and “America’s Top Doctors” nationally. He lectures extensively and is a contributing author for numerous medical journals and books regarding his major clinical interests of ALS, myasthenia gravis and other muscle diseases. Dr. Lacomis is the site Principal Investigator (PI) in the following studies: (1) a Phase II study of KNS-760704-CL201 (R(+) pramipexole) for ALS (2) an open label study of R(+) pramipexole in ALS, and (3) a multicenter study for the validation of ALS biomarkers. He will also be the site PI for the upcoming phase III study of ceftriaxone in ALS. He is also a participant in the PA ALS Registry. With Dr. Robert Bowser, he is studying the biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum, using proteomics techniques in ALS patients compared to controls, trying to find a diagnostic panel and to identify disease-related changes. He is also a co-investigator in the following studies: (1) an NIH-funded multi-center trial of rituximab in the treatment of refractory adult and juvenile dermatomyositis and adult polymyositis, (2) a pilot epidemiology study of ALS risk factors, and (3) a multicenter reliability and validity study of life and composite outcome measures for myasthenia gravis. He also serves as the Director of the Clinical Neurophysiology fellowship, teaching and mentoring three fellows and teaching medical students and house staff from Neurology and Pathology. He serves on the Clinical Neurophysiology Examination Committee for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Lacomis is a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Diseases and two scientific advisory committees. (see publications)