Clinical Research
The Norris Lab prioritizes using human samples and patient surveys to deepen our understanding of how Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome presents in real-life clinical settings. We are collaborating with clinicians in neurosurgery, orthopedics, GI, dermatology, cardiology, OBGYN, genetics, and more to improve diagnosis and treatment for patients with EDS.
EDS Biorepository
Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes often have a large array of associated comorbidities, but traditional research study design only focuses on one comorbidity or body system at a time. Creating a biorepository establishes a clinical research database for long-term gene and biomolecular discovery in EDS patients. This allows us to investigate EDS and related comorbidities as a complex, multisystemic disorders rather than symptoms and conditions in isolation. We collect a wide range of biological samples, including connective tissue, blood serum, plasma, and saliva, and integrate these data with patient-reported outcomes and clinical follow-ups. By following patients through multidisciplinary care from a research perspective, we can better quantify effective treatment guidelines to improve clinical outcomes.
Tethered Cord Sydrome
Tethered cord syndrome is a comorbid condition observed in some patients with EDS. The symptoms can include lower back pain, balance problems, lower extremity weakness, sensory loss, and bowel and/or bladder incontinence, which all overlap with other neurological disorders causing diagnostic challenges. In collaboration with Dr. Sunil Patel, we will be studying filum terminale tissue collected during surgical interventions, with the goal of understanding the biological mechanism of tethered cord syndrome. We will also be studying blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples to identify biomarkers of early disease.
Global Survey
We published a survey-based study of nearly 4000 participants describing the full clinical spectrum of hEDS and HSD in summer 2025. This is a very detailed and in-depth analysis of a large global cohort of hEDS and HSD patients that provides data that aims to help refine our understanding of these conditions and guide physicians in their care.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation
The vagus nerve is one of the longest nerves in the body, extending from the brainstem down to the abdomen, and it plays a key role in regulating various involuntary bodily functions. In collaboration with Dr. Steven Kautz, Dr. Bashar Badran, and Dr. Heather Boger, we are currently conducting a clinical trial centered on Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS). Our study will use both mouse models of hEDS and patient participants to investigate the efficacy of VNS as a treatment for symptoms and comorbidities associated with EDS.
Musculoskeletal Biorepository
In collaboration with Dr. Josef Eichinger and Dr. Daniel Scott, we are creating a biorepository of 10,000 patient samples from synovial fluid joints for current and future research. The study aims to generate a bank of these synovial fluid tissue samples, detect biomarkers of early disease stages of various conditions (including orthopedic manifestations of EDS), and eventually develop therapeutics to reduce the need for orthopedic surgical interventions.
Publications
We have conducted collaborative clinical research studies across various specialties.