Research & Publications †
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Biographical Sketch
Dr. Pillai trained as a medical doctor at the University of Kerala, Trivandrum, India graduating in 1999. He obtained a PhD from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL in 2005. He subsequently pursued Residency in Neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY from 2005-2009. He was the first author in multiple publications examining cognitive changes in epilepsy and dementia during this time. Dr. Pillai moved to the University of San Diego to complete a Clinical Fellowship in Dementia and Geriatric Neurology from 2009-2011. Here he was closely involved in helping people with memory disorders and cognitive behavioral changes from neurodegenerative diseases. As a young scholar honoree from the San Diego Alzheimer's Association, Dr. Pillai further developed in research in Alzheimer's dementia and Huntington's disease. Dr. Pillai joined the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in January 2012. He now works to help people with cognitive changes from neurological disorders and to develop diagnostic and treatment strategies for people with cognitive difficulties from neurodegenerative diseases.
Industry Relationships
Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide medical education about recent trends. The collaborations are reviewed as part of the Cleveland
Clinic's procedures. The Cleveland Clinic publicly discloses payments to its physicians and scientists for speaking and consulting of $5,000 or more per year, and any equity, royalties, and fiduciary relationships in companies with which they collaborate. The Cleveland Clinic requires its doctors to approve the public disclosures of their scientific collaborations with industry. As of 6/17/2013 the review process regarding Dr. Pillai's disclosure had not been completed. Patients should feel free to contact their doctor about any of the relationships and how the relationships are overseen by the Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about the Cleveland Clinic's policies on collaborations with industry and innovation management, go to our Integrity in Innovation page.
Public Health Service-Reportable Financial Conflicts of Interest. Cleveland Clinic scientists and physicians engage in basic, translational and clinical research activities, working to solve health problems, enhance patient care and improve quality of life for patients. Interactions with industry are essential to bringing the researchers’ discoveries to the public, but can present the potential for conflicts of interest related to their research activities. Click here to view a listing of instances where Cleveland Clinic has identified a Public Health Service (PHS)-Reportable Financial Conflict of Interest and has put measures in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, the design, conduct and reporting of the research is free from bias.