Faculty

Bjorn E. Oskarsson, M.D.

Location

Jacksonville, Florida

Contact

Oskarsson.Bjorn@mayo.edu Clinical Profile

SUMMARY

Bjorn E. Oskarsson, M.D., studies adult motor neuron disease (MND) including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), progressive muscular atrophy (PMA), and related diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and inclusion body myopathy (IBM). He investigates the causes and ways to measure these diseases and explores new treatments.

Focus areas

  • Clinical trials in ALS. Dr. Oskarsson conducts multiple clinical trials aimed at slowing, and eventually curing, ALS. This work includes: phase I trials (high risk, no benefit), phase II trials (first in human inpatient trials, dose ranging, early efficacy), phase III trials (pivotal efficacy trials) and phase IV trials (post-marketing). He also works on repurposing and biomarker discovery trials.
  • Biomarker collection. Dr. Oskarsson collects blood, spinal fluid and postmortem tissue of patients with MND. The samples are used by the Mayo Clinic ALS research teams and have led to the discovery of the most common known cause of ALS.
  • Muscle cramps in MND. Dr. Oskarsson has proved the benefit of mexiletine on muscle cramps in ALS and conducts and participates in other muscle cramp-related projects.

Significance to patient care

Dr. Oskarsson's research projects aim to make quicker and more-accurate diagnoses, identify targets for drug therapy, attempt drug therapy to slow or halt disease progression, and help improve quality of life for patients with MND.

Professional highlights

  • Lead investigator, COMBAT ALS Ibudilast, 2020
  • Secretary, Western ALS Study Group, 2015-2020
  • Sponsor investigator, Mexiletine for the Treatment of Muscle Cramps in ALS, 2008-2018
  • Lead investigator, FLX-787 To Ease Muscle Cramps in Patients With ALS, 2016

PROFESSIONAL DETAILS

Primary Appointment

  1. Consultant, Department of Neurology

Academic Rank

  1. Associate Professor of Neurology

EDUCATION

  1. Certificate - Clinical Science - Training in epidemiology, evidence-based health care, outcomes research, clinical trials, and translational research topics University of Colorado Denver
  2. Fellow - Neuromuscular University of Colorado Denver
  3. Residency - Neurology University of Colorado Denver
  4. Internship - Medicine University of Colorado Denver
  5. Residency - Neurology Lund University Hospital
  6. Visiting Scholar - Dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials in the evaluation of radiculopathy. Advisors: M. Chang, E. Yuen & D. Farrell, University of Washington Medical Center, Department of Neurology University of Washington Medical Center
  7. MD Lund University School of Medicine
  8. Research Scholar - Adsorption and desorption of 125I-NGF to and from synthetic filaments. Advisors: M. Kanje, Lund University Department of Animal Physiology, & G. Lundborg, Lund University School of Medicine, Department of Hand Surgery, Lund, Sweden Lund University
  9. Research Assistant - Bioartificial nerve grafts with NGF. Advisor: G. Lundborg, Lund University School of Medicine, Department of Hand Surgery Lund University School of Medicine
  10. Medical School University of Gothenburg School of Medicine

Clinical Studies

Learn about clinical trials that address specific scientific questions about human health and disease.

See my studies.

Explore all research studies at Mayo Clinic.

Publications

See the peer-reviewed findings I have published as a result of my research.

Review publications.

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Areas of Research

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BIO-20486118

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