Faculty Research

James W. Albers, MD, PhD ( jwalbers@umich.edu )
Professor of Neurology
Director, Electromyography Laboratory
Co-Director, Neurobehavioral Toxicology Program (Department of Psychiatry)

Dr. Albers' research focuses on clinical and electrophysiological evaluations of the peripheral nervous system. His research investigations apply epidemiological principles to examine the influence of systemic diseases and occupational and environmental exposures to potential neurotoxicants on neuromuscular function. His research interests include study of potential pharmaceutical treatments for neuropathy, such as those associated with diabetes, and longitudinal investigations of inflammatory nerve diseases, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy. He participated in the Diabetes Care and Complications Trial, a national epidemiology study which established that intensive diabetes therapy effectively delays the onset and slows the progression of diabetic neuropathy, and he continues to study the epidemiology of diabetic neuropathy. Other epidemiological studies include investigation of the relationship between occupational exposure to cumulative trauma and repetitive motion in the development of focal nerve injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. His interest in clinical neurobehavioral toxicology includes study of neurotoxic medications, such as cisplatin, as well as occupational exposures to solvents, elemental mercury, dioxin, and organophosphorus insecticides.