Center Overview

Welcome to the Creighton University Division of Allergy & Immunology. We are a division in the Department of Internal Medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine. Our Division is comprised of several elements including clinical practice, basic science and clinical research, an Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Program, and a basic science graduate program. The success of our Division is made possible by the combined efforts of all team members of the Division including faculty, staff, fellows-in-training, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate and undergraduate students. Our primary goal is to provide quality patient care and education and to advance our understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of allergic and immunologic diseases. Through clinical and basic science research, we are able to provide our patients with the newest advances in medicine to better manage their diseases and improve their quality of life.

Our primary hospital affiliation is through Creighton University Medical Center. Our highly trained physicians offer adult and pediatric outpatient clinic services not only at the Creighton University Medical Center location, but also at Ehrling-Bergquist Hospital (Offutt Air Force Base), Veteran's Administration Medical Center, Children's Hospital, and Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, Iowa.

Clinical Research Experience

The Division has been involved with clinical research for over 40 years. We currently conduct Phase I, IIa, IIb, III, and IV research.

Areas in which we specialize include:

Sponsors/CROs we have worked with include:

Facility Description

Patient Facilities

The Division's primary affiliation is through Creighton University Medical Center. Our highly trained physicians offer adult and pediatric outpatient clinic services not only at the Creighton University Medical Center location, but also at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Ehrling-Bergquist Hospital (Offutt Air Force Base), Veterans Administration Medical Center, Children's Hospital, as well as Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, Iowa

Equipment /Procedures Available

• Acoustic Rhinometry
• Aeroallergen, Exercise, Hypertonic Saline and Methacholine Bronchoprovocation Challenges
• Biomarker Assays (Interleukins/Cytokines, Leukotrienes, Histamine, Tryptase, ECP)
• Digital Electrocardiography Machine
• Full Pulmonary Function Laboratory
• Immediate and Delayed Hypersensitivity Skin Testing
• Immunotherapy
• Induced Sputum Studies
• Inpatient Beds
• Nasal Allergen Challenges and Lavage Studies
• Nitric Oxide Measurements (oral/nasal)
• Oral Desensitization
• Parenteral Therapy Facilities
• Phlebotomy
• Pollen Collection
• Radiology Suite for Routine X-Rays, MRIs ,CTs, Nuclear Studies
• Remote Data Entry Capabilities
• Spirometry
• Treadmill Exercise Testing

Investigator Experience

Thomas B. Casale, M.D.
Professor of Medicine and Medical Microbiology and Immunology;
Chief of the Division of Allergy & Immunology

Dr. Casale received his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School, and completed a residency in internal medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Dr. Casale did an Allergy/Immunology fellowship at the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation at the National Institutes of Health, where he was chief medical staff fellow. From 1984 to 1996 he was at the University of Iowa where he attained the rank of Professor of Medicine and Director of Allergy/Immunology.

Dr. Casale is a member of many professional societies including: the American Thoracic Society, and was on their Board of Directors; the American Society for Clinical Investigation; and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and both the American College and American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. He is President of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Dr. Casale has been Principal Investigator or co-investigator on over 150 clinical trials over the past 20 years Dr. Casale's clinical and basic research interests are directed toward determination and treatment of the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in asthma and allergic diseases. He directs a large basic and clinical research group examining immunomodulators for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. He has published over 200 scientific papers, reviews and chapters on these topics.

He has also been very active in the development of educational programs in allergy and immunology. He has organized and directed more than fifty CME programs for local and national meetings and he has been a member of the planning committee for three World Asthma Meetings.

Robert G. Townley, M.D.
Professor of Medicine and Medical Microbiology & Immunology

Dr. Townley is a board certified specialist in Internal Medicine and Allergy and Immunology. He received his medical degree from the Creighton University School of Medicine and was a resident in Internal Medicine at Boston City Hospital and a senior fellow in Medicine and Allergy at the Lahey Clinic in Boston, Massachusetts

Dr. Townley has been Principal Investigator or co-investigator on numerous clinical trials and federally funded grants over the past 40 years. A prolific writer, Dr. Townley has more than 500 publications to his credit including abstracts, journal articles, chapters and three co-authored textbooks. He has presented nationally at meetings of professional societies such as the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, American Thoracic Society and internationally for such organizations as the European Society of Pneumology and International Congress of Internal Medicine. Dr. Townley's clinical and basic research pertains to the immunopharmacology of allergic airway diseases, nitric oxide, nasal and bronchial challenge, and mechanisms involved in airway hyperresponsiveness. .

Againdra K. Bewtra, MBBS, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Againdra K. Bewtra obtained his medical degree (MBBS) and a graduate degree (MD) in Pharmacology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India. Following his residency at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, he completed his Allergy and Immunology fellowship at Creighton University.

He is very active in the teaching of medical students, residents, fellows and graduate students. In addition, he is actively involved in research in allergic diseases and asthma. His main interest is in molecular signaling mechanisms in eosinophil functioning. He has an ongoing protocol in the replacement therapy of C-1 esterase inhibitor in the treatment of hereditary angioedema.

Jeffrey R. Stokes, M.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine
Allergy & Immunology Fellowship Program Director

Dr. Stokes is board certified in Pediatrics, Pediatric Pulmonary, and Allergy and Immunology. He received his medical degree and did his residency at the University of Kansas Medical School. Dr. Stokes did both his Pediatric Pulmonary and Allergy/Immunology fellowships at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals & Clinics. From August 1998 - June 2002 he was a staff physician at The Asthma and Allergy Center in Papillion, NE.

Dr. Stokes joined the faculty at Creighton University in July 2002. From 2003-2005, Dr. Stokes served as the Assistant Program Director for the Fellowship Program. In 2005, Dr. Stokes became Program Director of the Creighton University Allergy & Immunology Fellowship Program. Dr. Stokes is a member of several professional societies including: the American Thoracic Society, the Nebraska Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; he is a fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, and a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.

Dr. Stokes' research interests are directed toward the treatment of asthma and allergic diseases. He has been an investigator on over 80 clinical trials and is currently the principal investigator on a study investigating dyspnea and obesity in African-American females. He has published over 18 scientific papers, reviews and chapters on these topics.

Russell J. Hopp, D.O.
Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine
Chief, Pediatric Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology

Dr. Hopp received his osteopathic medical degree in 1975, completed his pediatric residency in 1979, and his Allergy & Immunology fellowship in 1984. Dr, Hopp is certified in Pediatrics and Allergy and Immunology. He has been at Creighton University since 1984. Dr. Hopp's clinical interests include asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, recurrent infections and food allergy.

Dr. Hopp is an accomplished speaker in the areas of asthma, allergy and clinical immunology, and has made over 175 national and international invited presentations. He has authored or co-authored over 100 articles and chapters, and published more than 75 abstracts. He has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, American Lung Association, and the Health Future Foundation. Dr. Hopp is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Asthma, Clinical Reviews of Allergy, Pediatric Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, and Pediatrics in Review. Dr. Hopp is the medical director of Camp SuperKids, the camp for asthmatic children in Nebraska, and serves as medical consultant to the Omaha Public Schools for policy on asthma and allergy.

Dr. Hopp has Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology clinics at Creighton University Medical Center, 601 N 30th Suite 6820 and at Children's Hospital, 8300 Dodge St. The Children's clinic is run in conjunction with six Pediatric Pulmonologists. Dr. Hopp is the Director of Pediatric Allergy at Creighton University School of Medicine and at Children's Hospital. He also co-directs a specialty clinic in Food Allergy and Food Hypersensitivity Disorders at Children's Hospital.

Dr. Hopp's research interests include asthma and allergy pathophysiology, asthma and allergy pharmacotherapy, epidemiology of asthma and allergic rhinitis, pathophysiology of airway reactivity, the interaction of sinusitis and chronic serous otitis media, food allergy, and eosinophilic esophagitis

Staff Expertise

Patrick DeNier
Operations Manager

F. Tony Romero, M.S.
Regulatory Affairs/Budget/Contract Specialist

Jean Kessler, RN, CCRC
Clinical Research Coordinator

Lori Mahon, RN, BSN, CCRC
Clinical Research Coordinator

Janie Misfeldt, MA, CCRC
Clinical Research Coordinator

Jean M. Casale, BS, CMA
Clinical Research Coordinator

Anna Secor, MA
Clinical Research Coordinator

Robbin Lewis, LPN
Head Clinic Nurse

Patient Demographics

The Omaha area has a population of over 800,000. The Division's clinical research patient database alone is currently comprised of over 3,000 patients and is constantly growing through the various recruitment efforts including media advertising, health fair involvement as well as volunteer work. Our diverse patient population is drawn not only from the Omaha metropolitan area (urban/suburban), but also from the surrounding communities in Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa (rural).

Other Information

The Division uses the Creighton University Institutional Review Board. In an effort to meet the sponsors and protocol requirements as well as accommodate our patient's schedules, our Research Center is open five days a week (6 AM - 6 PM),including Saturdays and Sundays, as required.

Contact Information

Tony Romero, MS, or Jean Kessler, RN, CCRC
Research Coordinators
Creighton University Division of Allergy and Immunology
601 N. 30th Street, Suite 3M-100
Omaha, NE 68131
USA
Phone: 402-280-5975 or 402-280-4403
Fax: 402-280-5961
EMail: romero@creighton.edu
Web Site: http://medicine.creighton.edu/allergy/homepage.html

If you are interested in contacting this center to discuss placing a clinical trial there, please complete and send the E-mail form below. A representative from the research center will then follow up with you.