Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Dr. Zachary Simmons' primary research focus is on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease). He has published extensively on quality of life in ALS and was the co-developer of the ALS Specific Quality of Life Instrument. Related to this, he has published on ethics of care and end-of-life issues.
Telemedicine, including both synchronous videoconferencing and asynchronous remote monitoring initiatives, are being pursued in collaboration with colleagues in engineering and in speech and communications. These include initiatives in home pulmonary function testing, monitoring of gait and falls and monitoring of speech and swallowing.
Cognitive and behavioral dysfunction in ALS are other active areas of Dr. Simmons' research, including the use of an instrument to measure apathy and the study of a mindfulness program to improve quality of life and to decrease anxiety and depression.
Dr. Simmons is also actively involved in ALS clinical trials, and has served as the site principal investigator for many studies during the past two decades.
Clinical interests
Dr. Zachary Simmons' primary clinical interests are in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease) and other motor neuron disorders.
The multidisciplinary ALS clinic at Penn State Health that he founded nearly 30 years ago, and currently directs, is an ALS Association Certified Treatment Center of Excellence, where more than 200 patients with ALS and other motor neuron disorders receive regular care from a highly trained group of physicians, nurses and other health care professionals.
In the clinic, Dr. Simmons evaluates newly-referred patients for possible ALS and sees them for follow-up care. Patients with related disorders such as primary lateral sclerosis, progressive muscular atrophy, progressive bulbar palsy and hereditary spastic paraplegia are also seen regularly.
Dr. Simmons continues to provide ongoing care for patients with a variety of other neuromuscular disorders and to perform electrodiagnostic studies (nerve conduction studies and electromyography, or EMG).
Professional information
Board-certified in neurology, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 1989
Board-certified in electrodiagnostic medicine, American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, 1989
Dr. Zachary Simmons also holds a joint appointment in the Department of Humanities, Penn State College of Medicine.
Education/Academic qualification
EMG and Neuromuscular Diseases, Fellowship, University of Michigan Medical Center
1990 → 1992
Neurology, Residency, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
1983 → 1986
Medicine, Residency, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
1982 → 1983
MD, University of Florida College of Medicine
… → 1982
BA, Dartmouth College
… → 1978
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Projects
- 5 Finished
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EARLY TREATMENT OF ALS W NUTRITION &NON-INVASIVE POSITIVE PRESSURE VENTILATION
Ehmann, C. & Simmons, Z.
National Center for Research Resources
4/1/07 → 3/31/10
Project: Research project
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TREATMENT OF HYPERANDROGENISM VS INSULIN RESISTANCE IN INFERTILE PCOS WOMEN
National Center for Research Resources
4/1/07 → 3/31/10
Project: Research project
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A MULTICENTER STUDY FOR THE VALIDATION OF ALS BIOMARKERS
National Center for Research Resources
4/1/07 → 3/31/10
Project: Research project
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General Clinical Research Center
Ahluwalia, N., Ahsan, N., Ambrose, A., Ayannusi, O. E., Baker, L. B., Barrett, A. M., Bascom, R., Beard, J. L., Birch, L. L., Bixler, E., Blosser, S., Boehmer, J., Boustred, M. A., Burks, E., Campbell, W. W., Cavanagh, P. R., Challis, J. H., Chuang, C. H., Connor, J. D., Conroy, D. E., Consevage, M. W., Cooney, R., Corwin, E. J., Craig, T. J., Craig, T. J., Cronin, A., Cui, J., Curry, W., Daley, J. C., Davis, W. S., Demers, L., Dodson, W., Dong, C., Downs, D. S., Dunaif, A., Eggli, D., Ehman, C., Ehmann, C., Erickson, D., Eslinger, P., Ettinger, S., Evans, W. J., Evarts, N. C. M., Eyster, N. M. E., Eyster, E. M., Farace, E., Farrell, P. A., Finkelstein, J., Fitzgerald, E., Flaherty, C., Flood, W., Florian, J., Floros, J., Francis, L. A., Galka, E., Gardner, T. W., Gaumond, R., Gilchrist, I., Gordon, R., Graff, G., Granger, D. A., Green, M. J., Han, D., Giblin, P. H., Hartman, T. J., Harvey, H. A., Holman, M. J., Holowatz, L., Holtzclaw, B. J., Imadojemu, V., Janicki, P., Jarvis, S., Jones, B. C., Joshi, R., Kenney, L. W., Khan, M., Kirch, D. G., Kirwan, J. P., Klein, L., Koch, K. L., Koltun, W. A., Kraemer, W., Kris-Etherton, P. M., Kulin, H. E., Lallos, C., Lanoue, K. F., Larsson, L. G., Latash, M. L., Lathrop, M., Lee, P. A., Legro, R., Leong, S., Leuenberger, U. A., Lipton, A., Lloyd, T. A., Lloyd, T., Loomis, J. L., Lott, M. E., Loughran, T. P., Luck, J., Maclean, D. A., Macneill, C., Manni, A., Mastro, A. M., Mccabe, P., McGarrity, T., McNulty, P. H., Miller, B. A., Miller, C. K., Miraliakbari, R., Molenaar, P. C. M., Momen, A., Monahan, K. D., Mulfinger, L., Muscat, J. E., O’Bryan, T. A., Ouyang, A., Page, M. J., Pallone, M. N., Parker, B., Paul, I. A., Pawelczyk, J. A., Paz, H. L., Petit, M. A., Phelps, D. S., Podskalny, G. P., Powers, S. K., Pritchard, T. C., Proctor, D. N., Pu, M., Raja-Khan, N., Ramer, J., Ramirez-Zea, M., Ray, C. A., Reeves, W. C., Reynolds, H. Y., Ridout, S. J., Rodichok, L., Rodrigues, I., Rolls, B., Rolls, B. J., Rolls, B. J., Rosales, F. J., Ross, C. A., Rybka, W., Scott, K., Shoemaker, N. J. K., Shoemaker, K. J., Shoemaker, J. K., Shriver, M. D., Sieverling, E., Simmons, Z., Singareddy, R. K., Sinoway, L. I., Smith, J. P., Spiller, E., Stauffer, L. A., Streufert, S., Subramanian, T., Susman, E. J., Thiboutot, D., Thomas, N., Thorndyke, L. E., Torgerson, C. S., Trussel, N. J., Ulbrecht, J., Ultman, J. S., Vesell, E., Vgontzas, A. N., Watterberg, K. L., West, S. G., Williams, N. I., Wilson, R., Wilson, T. R., Xiong, N., Xu, L., Yang, Q. X., Paz, H. L., Albaugh, V. L., Aronson, K. R., Belani, C., Betterman, K., Cavener, D. R., Claxton, D. F., Corwin, R. L., De Souza, M. J., Elavsky, S., Gao, Z., Giampetro, D., Gill, D. J., Goldenberg, D. N., Graham-Engeland, J. E., Huang, X., Kimchi, E. T., Lang, J. C., Liao, D., Lohse, B., McBrier, N. M., Rauh, E., Scalzi, L., Sciamanna, C., Selan, J., Skulas-ray, A. & Vender, R. L.
8/15/95 → 5/31/11
Project: Research project
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Adaptive Platform Trials to Transform Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Therapy Development
for the Healey ALS Platform Trial Study Group, HEALEY ALS Platform Trial Study Group, Biostatisticians, Investigators, Clinical Operations Team & Medical Monitors, Feb 2022, In: Annals of Neurology. 91, 2, p. 165-175 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access6 Scopus citations -
An online non-meditative mindfulness intervention for people with ALS and their caregivers: a randomized controlled trial
Pagnini, F., Phillips, D., Haulman, A., Bankert, M., Simmons, Z. & Langer, E., 2022, In: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration. 23, 1-2, p. 116-127 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Scopus citations -
Cell environment shapes TDP-43 function with implications in neuronal and muscle disease
NYGC ALS Consortium, Dec 2022, In: Communications Biology. 5, 1, 314.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Scopus citations -
Ethical Perspectives on Treatment Options with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Patients
Yeo, C. J. J., Simmons, Z., De Vivo, D. C. & Darras, B. T., Mar 2022, In: Annals of Neurology. 91, 3, p. 305-316 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access3 Scopus citations -
Hastening the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Mitsumoto, H., Kasarskis, E. J. & Simmons, Z., Jul 12 2022, In: Neurology. 99, 2, p. 60-68 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Scopus citations
Prizes
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Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching
Aber, Robert (Recipient), Anderson, Alyssa (Recipient), Aynardi, Michael (Recipient), Browning, Kirsteen (Recipient), Chen, M. (Recipient), Chu, David C. (Recipient), Cios, Theodore (Recipient), Cruz, A. (Recipient), Cruz, J. (Recipient), Dalal, Priti (Recipient), Dambro, Anthony (Recipient), Disori, K. (Recipient), Dodge, Daleela (Recipient), Duda, Laura (Recipient), Evey, Loren (Recipient), Fotos, Joseph (Recipient), Fredrick, N. Benjamin (Recipient), Freeman, Michael (Recipient), Gordin, Vitaly (Recipient), Graziane, Julie (Recipient), Hempel, Eliana (Recipient), Hennrikus, Eileen (Recipient), Horwitz, Alexandra (Recipient), Izer, Jenelle (Recipient), Jhaveri, Punit (Recipient), Kalantari, Annahieta (Recipient), Karpa, K. (Recipient), Kaur, Gurwant (Recipient), Keil, Ralph (Recipient), Khalid, M. F. (Recipient), Kimball, Scot (Recipient), Knoedler, John (Recipient), LaClair, Michelle (Recipient), Lam, Charlene (Recipient), LaRegina, Carol (Recipient), Lighthall, Jessyka (Recipient), Mailman, Richard (Recipient), McCormick, Jennifer (Recipient), McGinn, Johnathan (Recipient), McShane, Michael (Recipient), Millard, Roberta (Recipient), Myers, Abigail (Recipient), Nasir, Munima (Recipient), Oh, John (Recipient), Pathare, A. (Recipient), Peterson, Brandon (Recipient), Potochny, John (Recipient), Roberts, S. Michael (Recipient), Romanoski, Natasha (Recipient), Ross, Stephen (Recipient), Rudnitsky, Gail (Recipient), Schade, Meredith (Recipient), Simmons, Zachary (Recipient), Smink, Gayle (Recipient), Stella, Salvatore (Recipient), Stephens, Mark (Recipient), Surapaneni, Sowmya (Recipient), Verbeek, Thomas (Recipient), Waning, David (Recipient), Williams, Emmanuelle (Recipient), Williams, Duane (Recipient), Wilson, Mary Ellen (Recipient) & Zaorsky, N. (Recipient), 2020
Prize