David Charles

Stephen Purcell
June 5, 2024

It’s been 16 years since sweet-spot brain stimulation slowed Parkinson’s progression for Hermitage man

In 2008 at VUMC there were a group of doctors trying something unheard of on a handful of patients who signed up for their study. Half would receive deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in attempt to slow the progression of their early-stage Parkinson’s disease, and the others would not.

By Craig Boerner
photo of David Charles and Mallory Hacker
June 7, 2023

Deep brain sweet spot might be key to halt Parkinson’s

A sweet spot in the deep brain with direct lines of communication to motor regions far out on the cerebral cortex might hold a key to halting the progression of early-stage Parkinson’s disease.

By Paul Govern
photo of David Charles and Mallory Hacker
June 30, 2020

Pilot study suggests Parkinson’s disease progression can be slowed

A pair of ultra-thin electrodes surgically implanted deep into the brain might slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease, according to five-year outcomes from a 30-patient randomized clinical trial conducted by investigators at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

By Paul Govern
March 24, 2020

Spasticity underdiagnosed

Spasticity — a consequence of stroke and other disorders of the central nervous system — may be underdiagnosed and undertreated in nursing home residents.

By Paul Govern
photo of David Charles and Mallory Hacker
August 30, 2018

Parkinson’s study to track impact of DBS on earliest patients

A decade after taking part in the first clinical trial of deep brain stimulation (DBS) administered during very early-stage Parkinson’s disease, participants will return to Vanderbilt University Medical Center this year to be re-evaluated.

By Tom Wilemon
photo of David Charles and Mallory Hacker
June 29, 2018

DBS treatment may slow tremor progression in early-stage Parkinson’s patients

June 29, 2018 – Analysis of data from a clinical trial conducted at Vanderbilt suggests that deep brain stimulation (DBS) administered to patients with very early-stage Parkinson’s disease slowed the progression of rest tremor. The study, published June 29 in Neurology, is significant because it is the first evidence of a treatment that may possibly delay the progression of one of the cardinal features of Parkinson’s disease.

By Tom Wilemon
June 22, 2017

Grant money available for telehealth innovations

Grant money is available to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) community in order to support programs that increase ambulatory visits conducted via telemedicine.
By Tom Wilemon
September 1, 2016

Trial to test whether DBS slows Parkinson’s progression

A consortium led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) researchers has received funding as it makes plans for a multicenter trial that could determine whether deep brain stimulation (DBS) slows the progression of Parkinson’s disease in early-stage patients.
By Tom Wilemon
August 18, 2016

Telemedicine usage increasing rapidly for many service lines

Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute cardiologist Allen Naftilan, M.D., Ph.D., puts a stethoscope to his ears and listens to the heartbeats of patients more than 90 miles away.
By Tom Wilemon
April 5, 2016

Charles represents VUMC at White House Rural Telehealth gathering

Last week, David Charles, M.D., chief medical officer of the Vanderbilt Neuroscience Institute, vice-chair of the Department of Neurology and medical director of Telemedicine, represented Vanderbilt University Medical Center at a White House Convening on Rural Telehealth.
By John Howser
August 27, 2015

Symposium sheds light on potential of telemedicine

For patients suffering from a stroke, the key to a positive outcome often hinges on how quickly they can receive a brain-saving medical intervention.
By VUMC News and Communications
September 4, 2014

CNS program now giving residents lab experience

In the same way scientists from the Vanderbilt Clinical Neuroscience Scholars (CNS) Program have benefited from their experiences in the clinical setting, an initiative is underway for Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery residents to have an opportunity to do bench work in the basic science labs.
By Craig Boerner
May 1, 2014

Number of neurointensivists grows nationally and at VUMC

By Jill Clendening
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