International BBB Consortium

The International Blood-Brain Barrier  (BBB) Consortium is directed from OHSU, and combines basic science, research and comprehensive patient care to treat patients with brain tumors.

OHSU has developed protocols and guidelines for opening the blood-brain barrier with input from the universities participating in the International BBB Consortium.

The International BBB Consortium is coordinated from OHSU by Nancy Doolittle, Ph.D., R.N., and includes the following universities and foundations:

Ohio State University Medical Center

Columbus, Ohio

Program Director:

Clinical Study Coordinator:

Susan Bell, R.N., M.S. (614) 293-3143

Cleveland Clinic Foundation 

Cleveland, Ohio

Program Director:

Gene H. Barnett, M.D. (216) 445-1379

Good Samaritan Hospital, Hatton Institute

Cincinnati, Ohio

Program Director:

Robert Albright, M.D. (513) 936-5370

Clinical Study Coordinator:

Nancee Albright, R.N. (513) 862-2251

University of Oklahoma Health Science Center

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Program Director:

Mary Kay Gumerlock, M.D. (405) 271-4912

Clinical Study Coordinator:

Carol Young, R.N. (405) 271-4912

University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Program Director:

Matthew Hunt, M.D. (612) 626-0975

Clinical Study Coordinator:

Katie Halbert, R.N. (612) 624-8117

Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center

Jerusalem, Israel

Program Director:

Tali Siegal, M.D. 972 2 677-6951 

University of Kentucky 

Lexington, Kentucky

Program Director:

Byron Young, M.D. (859) 323-5864 

Centre Hospital Universitaire de Sherbrooke

Quebec, Canada

Program Director:

David Fortin, M.D. (819) 346-1110 

Protocols currently open at BBBD Consortium centers:

Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

A Phase I/II Study of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma Treated with Methotrexate/BBBD, and Adding Rituximab (an anti CD-20 Antibody) and Carboplatin to the Treatment Regimen

• Oregon Health & Science University, IRB #1012
• Ohio State University Medical Center, IRB #2012C0025

Phase II Clinical Trial of Patients with High-Grade Glioma Treated with Intra-arterial Carboplatin-based Chemotherapy, Randomized to Treatment with or without Delayed Intravenous Sodium Thiosulfate as a Potential Chemoprotectant against Severe Thrombocytopenia

• Oregon Health & Science University, IRB #922
• University of Minnesota, IRB #1106M01141

Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma

Phase I/II Study of Carboplatin, Melphalan and Etoposide Phosphate in Conjunction with Osmotic Opening of the Blood-Brain Barrier and Delayed Intravenous Sodium Thiosulfate Chemoprotection, in Subjects with Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma or Oligoastrocytoma

• Oregon Health & Science University, IRB #8507
• University of Minnesota, IRB #1010M91012

Central Nervous System Embryonal & Germ Cell Tumors

Phase I/II Study of Intra-arterial Melphalan Given with Intra-arterial Carboplatin, Osmotic Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption and Delayed Otoprotective Sodium Thiosulfate for Patients with Recurrent or Progressive CNS Embryonal or Germ Cell Tumors

• Oregon Health & Science University, IRB #5056
• University of Minnesota, IRB #1104M97944