Licensed Instruments
As Director for the Neurocognitive Assessment Unit at Duke University, NeuroCog Trials Founder and CEO, Dr. Richard Keefe, has developed many of the key cognitive instruments currently used in the field. Today, NeuroCog Trials licenses a full spectrum of cognitive batteries dedicated to facilitating clinical research.
The Brief Assessment of Cognition (BAC)
A six-test battery currently being used in trials of compounds for medical patients, the BAC was approved by the FDA as a measure of cognition in clinical trials of Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). One of the tests (symbol coding) is a part of the final core MATRICS battery, and another (Tower of London) is a component of the supplemental MATRICS battery. There are two variations of the BAC:
- The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS)
The BAC modified for schizophrenia trials, this battery has been used in over 20 multi-site clinical trials of cognitive enhancement. - Brief Assessment of Cognition in Affective Disorders (BAC-A)
This relatively new instrument is currently being used in multi-site clinical trials assessing cognitive treatment change in patients with bipolar disorder and depression. It includes the six tests from the BAC, plus tests of affective interference and emotional disinhibition.
As neurocognition testing expands to non-traditional domains, the BAC and its modifications (BACS and BAC-A) will be useful in determining not only where cognition is affected, but also, importantly, where it is not.
Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS)
SCoRS is one of two interview-based assessments considered as possible co-primary measures by an FDA-NIMH Panel.
Virtual Reality Functional Capacity Assessment Tool (VRFCAT)
NeuroCog Trials recently received NIH funding to complete the development of a computerized virtual-reality assessment instrument, the VRFCAT. It will be used for assessing everyday functional capacity, and should be available in the near future. The VRFCAT may be used for any clinical trial that requires an assessment of everyday functioning.
Study-Specific Tools
Dr. Keefe and the NeuroCog Trials team worked with other experts to develop the CATIE neurocognitive batteries for schizophrenia and dementia trials, and have developed other batteries of tests for study-specific purposes.