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Home - Science - Scientist Directory - Pardo, Gabriel

Gabriel Pardo, M.D.

Director

Associate Member
Arthritis & Clinical Immunology Research Program

Director, OMRF Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence

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My 101

The focus of OMRF’s Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence is to provide optimal medical care while advancing the understanding of MS—a disease of the central nervous system. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the brain and spinal cord caused by inflammation and degeneration. Inflammation causes damage to myelin, the protective covering that surrounds nerve cells. When this covering is damaged, nerve impulses are slowed and sometimes totally blocked. Degeneration can cause nerve cells to die prematurely. This combination of effects causes a variety of symptoms, including problems with vision, tremors, paralysis, painful spasms, imbalance, and cognitive changes.

From an MS clinical research perspective, we are interested in the visual system, cognition, balance and ambulation in MS.

The effects of MS in the brain commonly involve information processing in the visual system. The field of neuro-ophthalmology deals with problems with vision such as information coming from the eyes to the brain (called the afferent system) and the brain control of eyes positioning and movement (called the efferent system). Damage to the nerve pathways in the afferent system causes decrease or loss of vision, or blind spots in the visual fields. Damage to the efferent system creates misalignment of the eyes causes double vision or tracking abnormalities. Through clinical trials, we hope to determine if evaluating certain measurements in the eye can give us insight into degenerative processes in the brain and use those measurements as markers of disease progression.

One area of research we are pioneering is the effect of MS on balance. The delay of messages from the brain to the body can cause overcorrection causing patients to fall. It can alter normal gait, making it impossible to walk independently. We want to design objective ways to monitor changes and how the disease progression can impact patients’ function and safety. This will help identify the problems in a timely manner and assist us in intervening accordingly.

In addition to working with patients to address MS-related motor skills difficulties, sensory issues, cognition, and coordination, the Center participates in clinical trials to evaluate new medications directed at treating the disease.

We also work with scientists in the lab exploring basic science aspects of MS such as genetics and immunology. By learning more about the origins and behaviors of the disease, we hope to be able to slow or stop progression in current patients and prevent MS in others.

Research

Multiple sclerosis poses many scientific challenges that cover the spectrum from molecular research to clinical outcomes.  A hindrance to all type of research and clinical interventions is the relative lack of objective quantifiable measures of disease progression.  These “disease markers” are yet to be identified and validated and may include autoantibodies, cytokines, MRI parameters, anatomical neuronal evaluation, and disability measures.

A clinical research interest of our center is the use of computerized systems to evaluate gait and balance.  This approach identifies changes before they are apparent on regular physical examinations and can be used to accurately monitor progression.  Another is the use of optical coherence tomography to measure potential neuronal loss in the retina as an indicator of a corresponding process in the brain that is secondary to MS-induced inflammation and/or neurodegeneration.

Brief CV

Education
B.S., Colegio San Carlos, Bogotá, Colombia, 1980
M.D. Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Bogotá, Colombia, 1985
Ophthalmology Residency, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Bogotá, Colombia
Neuro-Ophthalmology Fellowship, University of Texas, Galveston, TX
Neurology Residency, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK

Honors and Awards
1990   Hospital Militar Central Resident’s Best Research Project: “Chlamydial Iga Antibodies In Tears Of Humans With Follicular Conjunctivitis”
2000   American Medical Association, Physician’s Recognition Award
2008   Volunteer Hall of Fame, Health Professionals / Research category, NMSS
2010   Honorary Chairman, MS Walk OKC, NMSS
2017   Labe Scheinberg Award in Neurorehabilitation, Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers
2018   Hope Award in Outstanding Community and Humanitarian Services, NMSS

Other Activities
Member, Board of Trustees, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Oklahoma Chapter, 2001 – present
Board Member, MS Bridge, 2003 – present
Vice Chairman, Clinical Action Committee, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Oklahoma Chapter, 2005 – 2006
Chairman, Clinical Action Committee, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Oklahoma Chapter, 2007 – present
Member, National Council of Clinical Action Committee Chairs, National Clinical Advisory Board, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2008 – present
Reviewer, International Journal of MS Care, 2006 – present
Reviewer, Neurology, 2000 – present
Reviewer, Ocular Therapeutics Handbook – Sudden Visual Loss chapter, Editor: Nicky R. Holdeman, 1995

Memberships
American Academy of Neurology
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Medical Association
North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society
Multiple Sclerosis Section
Neuro-Ophthalmology / Neuro-Otology Section AAN
Oklahoma State Medical Association
Oklahoma County Medical Society

Joined OMRF Scientific Staff in 2011

Publications

View more publications

Recent Publications

Engmann NJ, Sheinson D, Bawa K, Ng CD, Pardo G. Persistence and adherence to ocrelizumab compared with other disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis in U.S. commercial claims data. J Manag Care Spec Pharm:1-11, 2021 February, PMID: 33624535

Bermel RA, Waubant E, Pardo G, Bass A, Repovic P, Newsome S, Lindsey JW, Kile D, Pradhan A, Musch B, Zabeti A. Safety evaluation of shorter infusion for ocrelizumab in a substudy of the Phase IIIb CHORDS trial. Ann Clin Transl Neurol, 2021 February, PMID: 33621404, PMCID: PMC7951110

Vollmer TL, Cohen JA, Alvarez E, Nair KV, Boster A, Katz J, Pardo G, Pei J, Raut P, Merchant S, MacLean E, Pradhan A, Moss B. Safety results of administering ocrelizumab per a shorter infusion protocol in patients with primary progressive and relapsing multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord 46:102454, 2020 August, PMID: 33045496

Selected Publications

Fjeldstad-Pardo C, Thiessen A, Pardo G. Telerehabilitation in multiple sclerosis: Results of a randomized feasibility and efficacy pilot study. International Journal of Telerehabilitation. 10(2): 55-64. Fall 2018. PMID: 30588276 PMCID: PMC6296802

Pardo G, Jones D. The sequence of disease-modifying therapies in relapsing multiple sclerosis: safety and immunologic considerations. Journal of Neurology. 264(12): 2351-2374. December 2017 (Epub September 6, 2017). PMID: 28879412 PMCID: PMC5688209

McCroskery P, Selmaj K, Fernandez O, Grimaldi LM, Silber E, Pardo G, Freedman M, Zhang Y, Xu L, Cadavid D, Mellion M. Safety and tolerability of opicinumab in relapsing multiple sclerosis: the Phase 2b SYNERGY Trial. Neurology Apr 2017, 88 (16 Supplement) P5369

Schubert RD, Hu Y, Kumar G, Szeto S, Abraham P, Winderl J, Guthridge JM, Pardo G, Dunn J, Steinman L, Axtell R. IFN-β treatment requires B cells for efficacy in neuroautoimmunity. The Journal of Immunology. 194(5): 2110-2116. March 2015. PMID: 25646307 PMCID: PMC4340715

Fjeldstad C, Fjeldstad A, Weir J, Pardo G. Association of vitamin D deficiency with RNFL thickness in MS individuals without history of optic neuritis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. 3(4): 489-493. 2014. PMID: 25877061

Fjeldstad C, Bemben M, Pardo G. Reduced retinal nerve fiber layer and macular thickness in patients with multiple sclerosis with no history of optic neuritis identified by the use of spectral domain high-definition optical coherence tomography. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. 18(11): 1469-1472. November 2011. PMID: 21917458

 

Contact

Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence
Arthritis & Clinical Immunology Research Program, MS 50
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
825 N.E. 13th Street
Oklahoma City, OK  73104

Phone: (405) 271-6242
Fax: (405) 271-2887
E-mail: Gabriel-Pardo@omrf.org

Lab Staff

Cecilie Fjeldstad, Ph.D.
Clinical Research Scientist

Tony Sharp
Physician Assistant

Jennifer Smith
Physician Assistant

Angela "Annie" Swinea
Nurse Case Manager

Micki Drake
Clinical Coordinator

Kellie Kraus
Clinical Coordinator

Bobbette Miller, DPT, NCS
Physical Therapist

Julie Traylor
Clinic Manager

Tracey Nail
Medical Assistant

Stephanie Hollier
Receptionist Secretary

News from the Pardo lab

Dr. Pardo in the Media

News from the Pardo lab

COVID research could impact other projects, OMRF says
September 28, 2020

What kind of affect this will have fighting other diseases is tough to calculate now, but OMRF doctors said it will no doubt have an impact.

OMRF Says COVID Research Could Impact Other Projects
September 28, 2020

The potential life-saving advancements made in COVID research is extraordinarily important, but it’s coming at the expense of other research.

Kesimpta Medication for Multiple Sclerosis Interview With Dr. Gabriel Pardo
September 23, 2020

Dr. Gabriel Pardo helped develop the new multiple sclerosis medication Kesimpta and spoke about the drug.

Woman won’t let MS slow her down; she points to promising research as eyesight diminishes
March 17, 2020

Amy Jo Frazier catches just as many fish as she used to. She still skis black diamonds. She still clears thorn bushes from her five-acre property.

National MS Society honors OMRF
August 29, 2019

The award-winning Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence at OMRF is one of the preeminent MS research and treatment centers in the world.

An OMRF employee finds a new lease on life—at work
August 5, 2019

In MS, immune cells attack the protective covering of nerves in the brain, causing vision problems, tremors, paralysis, painful spasms, imbalance and cognitive changes.

OMRF Multiple Sclerosis Center wins top MS research award
July 11, 2017

The Scheinberg Award recognizes research excellence in the field of neurorehabiliation in MS.

Multiple Sclerosis Center celebrates five-year anniversary
March 15, 2016

OMRF’s Multiple Sclerosis Center turns five years old on March 15.

New publication marks a first for OMRF MS collaborators
April 28, 2015

OMRF researchers another step in translational medicine.

OMRF scientists look ahead to research in 2014
January 2, 2014

A new year brings new challenges for medical researchers.

Multiple sclerosis researcher connects lab and clinic
October 3, 2013

The MS Center of Excellence offers scientists resources to expand research.

New campaign will expand MS, autoimmune research
March 4, 2013

OMRF is raising $5 million to add new scientists and physicians.

New treatments for multiple sclerosis on the horizon
October 11, 2012

Breakthroughs in MS research will bring a wave of new medications to market.

Experimental MS medication tested at OMRF shows promise
December 8, 2011

Diagnosing and treating multiple sclerosis early leads to better results

Multiple Sclerosis Center opens
March 15, 2011

Doctors begin seeing patients at OMRF’s MS Center of Excellence

Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence to Open
January 25, 2011

New center will focus on understanding MS and improving clinical treatment.

Dr. Pardo in the Media

National MS Society honors OMRF
OKNursingTimes.com

OMRF employee gets a new lease on life—at work
OKNursingTimes.com

National MS Society honors OMRF
JournalRecord.com

OMRF employee finds new lease on life at work
OKNursingTimes.com

OMRF employee finds a new lease on life--at work
Oklahoman.com

National award goes to Pardo
JournalRecord.com

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