Northwest Louisiana Nephrology is a full time private practice clinic with 10 full time practicing Physicians of which 9 are Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology, and 1 Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. The practice has 2 office clinics and 4 satellite clinics in the surrounding ARKLATEX areas. The Physicians oversee and are Medical Directors of 13 Hemodialysis units,1 Peritoneal Dialysis unit and a Transplant Clinic. The practice is affiliated with 7 private hospitals and 4 LTAC facilities in Shreveport, and serves the citizens of the metropolitan area of Shreveport/Bossier and Northwest Louisiana, East Texas, and Southeast Arkansas.

This practice has being participating in research since 2000, founded by the Nephrologists in this practice. The research department consists of 10 nephrologists serving as PI and Sub PI, CFNPs serving as Sub PI, Full time RN, CCRC Research Coordinator /Administrator and full time Staff and Lab assistant.

MISSION STATEMENT: To provide assured quality clinical research services and outcomes, thereby helping to improve the quality of life for patients with Chronic Kidney Disease, transplant, and HD/PD, dialysis.

• Anemia
• Diabetes
• Electrolyte Disorders
• Glomerulonephritis
• HD/PD
• Hypertension
• Kidney biopsies
• Kidney Stone Disease
• Nephrology/ Acute and Chronic Renal Failure
• Osteoporosis
• Proternuria/Hematuria
• Renal Transplantation
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Iron Deficiency

SPONSORS/CROs

• Abbott Laboratories
• Amgen
• Averion
• Care Stat
• GelTex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Luitpold
• nTouch Research
• Ortho Biotech
• PPD
• Paraxel
• Covance
• Watson
• Roche
• Advance Magnetics
• Speedel
• Affymax
• Quintiles
• Abgenix
• Boehringer Ingelheim
• Spectrum

• Research experience since 2000
• 10 full time practicing Nephrologists and 2 CFNP
• Full-time, clinical research coordinator
• Full-time research Staff and full time lab assistant
• Experience in Phase I, II, III, and IV Clinical Trials
• Flexible Central IRB, Local if needed

Northwest Louisiana Nephrology has been in private practice for the past 25 years. The practice has expanded over the years to include 10 nephrologists, of which 9 are board certified, 2 CFNP, 1 RN (CCRC), (current member with ARCP), 1 LPN and 1 Lab assistant. 2 office clinics, a Transplant clinic and 5 satellite clinics. The Physicians are affiliated with 7 hospitals and 5 LTACs hospital serving the population with both outpatient/inpatient services. Research is conducted at the Buckner Clinic, and HD/PD centers.

Our facility is 20 minutes form the Shreveport Regional Airport. We are within 5-30 minutes from 7 HD/PD centers and hospitals and 30-90 minutes from 6 HD centers. The Research office is within 10-15 minutes from major hotels and we have the major rent-a car company or the use of cabs.

Our practice has dedicated area for research and is equipped with a phone line for computer and personal phones. Additionally, we have an EKG machine, vital checks, Lab with refrigerated centrifuge, refrigerator for medication and -20 degrees freezer, and dry ice capabilities.

Philip J. Garavaglia, M.D.
American Board of Internal Medicine, and Nephrology Sub-specialty
2 years research experience

Robert N. McCoy, M.D.
American Board of Internal Medicine, and Nephrology Sub-specialty
Research Fellow 1981-1986 2 years research experience

Raja I. Zabaneh, M.D., F.A.C.P., FAMHP
American Board of Internal Medicine, and Nephrology Sub-specialty
15 years research experience

Marwan O. Kaskas, M.D., FASN
American Board of Internal Medicine and Nephrology Sub-specialty
12 years research experience and GCP certified

Sylvia D. Noble, M.D.
American Board of Internal Medicine and Nephrology Sub-specialty
2 years research experience with certification -ARCP for P.I. and GCP

Stephen R. Patton, M.D.
American Board of Internal Medicine and Nephrology Sub-specialty
2 years research experience and GCP certified

Micheal D. Rokaw, M.D., FASN
American Board of Internal Medicine and Nephrology Sub-specialty
9 years research experience

Melissa L. Lynn, M.D.
American Board of Internal Medicine and Nephrology Sub-specialty
2 years research experience

Arnold E. Barz, M.D.
American Board of Internal Medicine and Nephrology Sub-specialty
1 1/2 years research experience and GCP certified

Nakul Parimoo, M.D.
American Board of Internal Medicine and Nephrology Sub-specialty.
1 year research experience

Patricia A. Kennedy, CFNP
Louisiana State Board of Nursing eligible and American Nurses Credentialing Center for Family Nurse Practitioner
GCP certified

D. Blake Smith, CFNP
Louisiana State Board of Nursing eligible and American Nurses Credentialing Center for Family Nurse practitioner
GCP certified

Yeona DaCosta-Auld, RN BSN, CCRC
Research Coordinator-, Administrative
5 years of clinical research

Vickie Driskill, LPN
Research Staff
1 year of clinical research

RESEARCH STUDIES:

November 2001- December 2001	Prevalence of Anemia in Patients With Early Renal Insufficiency Protocol PR99-06-002 Ortho Biotech, Inc.
November 2001 – November 2005	A Randomized, Open Label, Parallel Design Study of Renagel Phosphate Binder Versus Calcium-Based Phosphate Binders in Hemodialysis Protocol GTC-68-401 GelTex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 3 Year Study
April 2002– September 2002	A Phase III Prospective, Randomized Placebo Controlled, Double-Blind Multi-Center Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Zemplar Capsules in Reducing Serum Intact Parathyroid Hormone Levels in End Stage renal Disease Subjects on Hemodialysis Protocol HD 2001-014 Abbott Laboratories 28 Week Study
May 2002– September 2002	A Phase III Prospective, Randomized Placebo Controlled, Double-Blind Multi-Center Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Zemplar Capsules in Reducing Serum Intact Parathyroid Hormone Levels in End Stage renal Disease Subjects on Peritoneal Dialysis Protocol 2001-015 Abbott Laboratories 28 Week Study
May 2002– June 2003	A Placebo-controlled, Double–blind, Multicenter Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of an Oral Calcimimetic Agent ( AMG 073) in Secondary Hyperparathyroidism of Chronic Kidney Disease ( Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis) Protocol AMG 073 20000188 Amgen 28 Week Study
July 2002– January 2006	Correction of Hemoglobin and Outcomes in Renal Insufficiency “CHOIR” Protocol PR00-06-014 Ortho Biotech Products, L.P. 3 Year Study
July 2002 – November 2003	“A Randomized Open Label Clinical Evaluation for PROCRIT (Epoetin Alfa) for Maintenance Phase treatment of Patients with Anemia due to Chronic Kidney Disease”. PROMPT Protocol PR01-06-021 Ortho Biotech Products, L.P. 16 Week Study
August 2002- October 2004	A Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Venofer [ Iron Sucrose Injection] in Anemic Patients Receiving Peritoneal Dialysis Protocol 1VEN02021 Luitpold 71 Day Study
March 2003- December2004	A Randomized, controlled, Open-Label Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Ferrlecit vs. Oral Iron in Iron Deficient Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Being Treated with Erythropoietic therapy Protocol FER0201 Watson Laboratories, Inc. 10 Week Study
March 2003-January 2005	A Randomized, controlled, Open-Label Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Ferrlecit vs. Oral Iron in Iron Deficient Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Protocol FER0202 Watson Laboratories, Inc. 10 Week Study
July 2003- October 2006	A prospective, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, forced-titration, multicentre, parallel group, one year treatment trial to compare MICARDIS (telmisartan) 80mg versus COZAAR (losartan) 100mg in hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients with overt nephropathy (AMADEO Study) Protocol 502.397 Boehringer Ingelheim 58 Weeks Study
November 2003—2004	CONTROL, Cinacalcet, Open Label Study to Reach K/DOQI Level Phase 2; Protocol # AMG-073 2002 Amgen 52 week study
July 2003-December 2004	A Randomized, Double-blind Study Comparing Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa) and Recombinant Human Erythropoietin in the treatment of Anemia in African American Subjects with Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) Receiving Hemodialysis Protocol Aranesp 20010125 Amgen 33 Weeks Study
November 2003 – 2004	TARGET Treatment Strategies to Achieve Recommended K/DOQI Goals in ESRD Patients on Cinacalet Phase II Protocol #AMG-073 20020390 Amgen 52 week study
May 2004- October 2006	A Phase III, Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Two Parental Dose, Regimens of Ferumoxytol (compared with oral iron) as an Iron Replacement Therapy in CKD Patients not on Dialysis Protocol 62745-6 Advance Magnetics Inc. 35 day study
August 2004-Current	TREAT- Trial to Reduce Cardiovascular Events with Aranesp Therapy Protocol 20010184 Amgen 4 year Study
November 2004- December 2005	A Phase III, Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blinded Study to Evaluate Efficacy of StaphVAX, a Bivalent Staphylococcus aureus Glycoconjugate Vaccine in Adults on Hemodialysis. Protocol NABI-1371 Nabi Biopharmaceuticals 425 day Study
August 2004-CurrenMay 2006t	A Prospective Community Cohort Observational Study to Examine the Prevalence of Abnormalities of Parathyroid Hormone, Calcium, Phosphorus and Vitamins in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Phase IV Abbott SEEK Abbott Laboratories, Inc. 1 year
April 2004-July 2006	A Phase III An open-label, randomized, multi-center, parallel group study to demonstrate correction of anemia using subcutaneous injections of RO0503821 in patients with chronic kidney disease who are not on renal replacement therapy Protocol BA16738 Hoffmann-LaRoche Ltd. 53 week study.
July 2004-October 2005	Clinical Utility Of Caduet in Simultaneously achieving Blood Pressure and Lipid endpoints in a Specific Patients Population (CAPABLE) Protocol A3841025 Pfizer 20 week study
April 2005 to Current	A Randomized , Open-Label Study to Asses the Safety of Epoetin Alfa Manufactured by Deep Tank Technology and Epoetin Alfa Manufactured by Roller Bottle technology in Subjects with Chronic Kidney Disease Not on Dialysis Protocol 20040259 Amgen Phase 3 – 56 weeks
December 2005 to Current	A randomized, Double-Blind, Equivalence Study of the Efficacy of Epoetin Alfa Manufactured by Deep Tank Bioreactor Technology and Epoetin alfa Manufactured by Roller Bottle Technology for the Treatment of Anemia in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Receiving Hemodialysis Amgen Protocol 20050113 Phase 3 – 30 week study
March 2005 to July 2006	A three- month, open-label, two cohort study to investigate the safety and tolerability of Myfortic in combination with Neoral or Tacrolimus in renal transplant recipients with GI intolerance Novartis MyTime Protocol CERL080
September 2005 to Current	Avosentan (SPP301) Diabetic Nephropathy A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group study to assess the effect of the Endothelin receptor antagonist avosentan on time to doubling of serum Creatinine, end stage renal disease or death in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy Speedel ASCEND Protocol SPP301CRD15 Phase 3 4 year study
July 2005 to Current	Comparison of the Safety and Efficacy of a Unique Intravenous Iron Preparation (VIT-45) versus Oral Iron in the Treatment of Anemia in Non-Dialysis Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease Luitpold Protocol 1VIT04004 IND # 57,103 Phase 3 -56 days Phase 3 – 56 days
October 2005 to Current	Open Label Extension Evaluating the Long Term Safety, tolerability and Efficacy of an Iron Maintenance Dosing Strategy Utilizing Intravenous VIT-45 in the treatment of Anemia in the Non-Dialysis Dependant (NDD) Chronic Kidney disease (CKD) Luitpold Protocol VIT05005 – IND # 63,243 Phase 3 – 44 weeks
August 2005 to Current	A Phase-IV, Open-Label, Multi-Center Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of Fosrenol Compared to Exiting Therapy in Adults with End Stage renal Disease treated for Hyperphosphatemia. Shire Protocol SPD 405-401 Phase 4 -13 weeks
March 2005 to Current	An Open-Label, Multi-Center study to Document the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Long Term Administration of RO0503821 in Patients with Chronic Kidney Renal Anemia Roche Protocol BH18387 Phase 3 – 104 Weeks
August 2005 to October 2006	A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo Controlled. Parallel Group, Multiple Dose Study to assess the Safety, tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of ABX10241 in Hemodialysis Subjects with Secondary Hyperparathyroidism Abgenix Protocol ABX-0504 Phase 1 -26 weeks
October 2005 to Current	A Phase 2, Open-Label, Multi-Center, Sequential, Dose Finding Study if the Safety, Pharmacodynamics, and Pharmacokinetics of AF37702 Injection (Hematide) Administration Intravenously for the Maintenance Treatment of Anemia in Chronic Hemodialysis patients Affymax Protocol AFX01-03 Phase 2 - 15 weeks
August 2005- Current	Dialysis patient’s Response to IV iron with Elevated Ferritin DRIVE Watson Protocol FER0401 Phase IV 7-weeks

1000 clinic patients
250 renal transplant patients
700 hemodialysis patients
50 peritoneal dialysis patients

The practice does see 1000 new patients per year either as outpatient or inpatient referrals.

Our site uses a Central IRBs

• WIRB
• RCRC
• NEIRB
• Quorum
• SAIRB
• Coast
• Chesapeake Research Review
• Sterling IRB

Local IRB used

• Willis Knighton IRB

For more information, please contact:

Yeona DaCosta-Auld
Research Coordinator
Northwest Louisiana Nephrology
1800 Buckner Street, Suite C-120
Shreveport, LA 71101 USA
Phone: 318-220-9792
Fax: 318-220-9794
E-mail:

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.

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Last updated on June 20, 2008