About Us

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Hemant K. Pandey, M.D., is a local neurologist with significant contributions to clinical research and neurological science, dedicated to advancing Alzheimer’s care through compassionate practice and innovative research. With more than 20 years of experience in brain and nerve health, he leads several medical and research centers, including TrialSphere Clinical Research (formerly MD First Research Chandler), the Brain and Spine Center, and Nuronz.

He completed his neurology training at West Virginia University Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia, graduating as Chief Resident, and went on to complete a fellowship in Electrophysiology encompassing Electromyography (EMG) and Electroencephalography (EEG) at the University of Texas Health Science Center MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He is board certified in Neurology with subspecialty board certifications in Sleep Medicine, Vascular Neurology, and Clinical Neurophysiology, and is a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

With over two decades of research experience, Dr. Pandey has focused on Alzheimer’s disease in both early and advanced stages, migraine treatment and prevention, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. Since 2018, he has led Alzheimer’s studies that connect patients to leading research opportunities and emerging therapies while maintaining personalized, high-quality care. His work has helped shape new treatment paradigms and improve patient outcomes, bridging scientific discovery with everyday clinical practice.

Research Contributions:
Dr. Pandey has led numerous clinical studies advancing the understanding and treatment of neurological disorders and has served as principal investigator for over 30 studies. His research has contributed to new therapies and tools in practice, and he has authored and co-authored more than 20 scientific publications, including abstracts, posters, and peer-reviewed articles.

Leadership and Community Impact:
Dr. Pandey served as Stroke Director of the Stroke Program at Chandler Regional Medical Center and as a leader in the Mercy Gilbert Medical Center Stroke Program, strengthening local stroke care and emergency response systems. He also serves as a speaker and advisor for major pharmaceutical companies including Eli Lilly, Eisai, and Novo Nordisk, and advises plasma biomarker innovators C2N and Lucent AD, supporting earlier detection and more targeted treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Actively engaged with local community organizations, he promotes brain health education and supports patients and families affected by neurological disorders.

Dr. Pandey is known for diagnosing and treating various forms of dementia and values patient support groups for the close connection they create with patients and loved ones navigating cognitive illness.

“To be able to be of service brings me joy—either as a neurologist, a scout dad, a teacher in Chinmaya, or as an Indian hosting festivities at home—and is something I feel privileged about,” he says.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Rajiv Parikh, M.D., is a board-certified family medicine physician and clinical researcher with more than two decades of experience in patient care and clinical investigation. He brings extensive medical knowledge, steady clinical leadership, and a friendly, collaborative approach to the research setting, supporting high-quality studies that advance treatment options for diverse patient populations. Known for clear, tactful communication with both medical and non-medical teams, he handles sensitive patient information with the highest level of professionalism and integrity.

Dr. Parikh has served as a Principal and Sub-Investigator with MD First Research Chandler LLC since January 2019. His research background includes participation in multicenter clinical studies across a wide range of therapeutic areas, including major depressive disorder, type 2 diabetes, neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, vaccines for adolescents and young adults, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, drug-resistant focal-onset epilepsy, and post-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19. This breadth reflects his versatility as an investigator and his commitment to translating research into meaningful clinical impact.

In parallel with his research work, Dr. Parikh has led a private family practice in Tempe, Arizona since 2000, providing comprehensive, relationship-driven care across the lifespan. His clinical expertise includes family medicine and primary care with a strong focus on chronic conditions such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, obesity, anxiety and depression, and pediatrics, giving him a broad perspective that strengthens both participant safety and study quality. He is recognized for remaining composed under pressure, bridging cultural differences with ease, and building inclusive teams that support excellent research conduct.

Dr. Parikh completed residency training in both Family Medicine and Pediatrics at UC Irvine Medical Center in Irvine, California, following pediatric residency and internship training at Baroda Medical College and SSG Hospital in India, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery. He is affiliated with Banner Desert Medical Center and Banner Heart Hospital in Mesa, Arizona. Through his combined experience in community medicine and clinical research, Dr. Parikh plays a vital role in advancing studies that improve care today and shape the therapies of tomorrow.

CLINICAL RESEARCH INVESTIGATOR

Jan Levine, RN, MSN, FNP-BC, is a neurology nurse practitioner and clinical research professional with 17 years experience caring for patients with complex neurological conditions and supporting high-quality clinical studies. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Arizona State University and her Master of Science as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Grand Canyon University. Board-certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center, she also maintains current training in Good Clinical Practice and Basic Life Support.

Jan’s clinical background includes nearly ten years at Phoenix Neurological Associates, where she diagnosed and treated patients in both hospital and outpatient settings, with an emphasis on headache and migraine disorders, stroke, peripheral neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, pain syndromes, and movement disorders. Her long-standing work in neurology is matched by deep experience in research operations, including participant recruitment, eligibility review and enrollment, clinical assessments, and careful monitoring and management of adverse events in alignment with study protocols.

From 2021 to 2024, Jan served as a Nurse Practitioner with CND Life Sciences, playing a primary role in synucleinopathy diagnostic research. She performed skin biopsy procedures according to approved protocols, ensured accurate data capture in electronic systems, and upheld the highest standards of ethics, subject safety, and regulatory compliance, including SOPs, OSHA requirements, GCP guidelines, and local regulations. Her recent scholarly focus centers on skin biopsy diagnostic testing for synucleinopathies such as Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, pure autonomic failure, multiple system atrophy, and REM sleep behavior disorder.

A respected contributor to the neurology community, Jan has presented at the American Academy of Neurology and published in medical journals. She brings a rare combination of clinical depth, procedural expertise, and research rigor to every study, helping ensure participants receive attentive care while advancing discoveries that improve neurological health.

SUB-INVESTIGATOR

Simon Parkinson, MSN, ARNP, FNP-C, CNRN, is a board-certified nurse practitioner with training in family practice and neuroscience nursing, and long-standing experience in general neurology and neurosurgery. Raised in North Wales, he trained as a nurse in London and moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1999 to work at the Barrow Neurologic Institute. He served there as an ICU staff nurse from 1999 to 2005 and later returned as a nurse practitioner from 2007 to 2011. He earned his BSc (Hons) in Nursing from Anglia Polytechnic University and completed his Master of Nursing and Family Nurse Practitioner training through the University of Phoenix.

Simon has practiced as a nurse practitioner in family medicine, neurosurgery, and neurology, developing strong clinical expertise in the care of patients with headaches and migraine prevention, neuropathy, neck and back pain, movement disorders, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease. He is experienced in performing EEGs and ambulatory EEGs, EMGs, botulinum toxin injections for migraine and cervical dystonia, Deep Brain Stimulation management for Parkinson’s patients, and Vagus Nerve Stimulation for refractory epilepsy. He holds board certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner, maintains Arizona licensure as an advanced nurse practitioner, and is a Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse.

At the Brain and Spine Center, Simon has served as a nurse practitioner since 2012 and as Director of the Nurse Practitioner Program since 2015. He is also the founder and neuromodulation specialist at Electrocellz LLC. Since 2017, he has contributed to clinical research as a Sub-Investigator with TrialSphere Clinical Research (formerly MD First Research Chandler), supporting studies in Alzheimer’s disease, dementia-related agitation, migraine prevention, and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, as well as completed studies including acute and preventive migraine therapies and post-surgical pain management.

With specialized research training and deep familiarity with neurological outcome measures and patient assessments, Simon brings precision, safety focus, and compassionate care to every study, helping advance therapies that improve life for patients and families affected by neurological disease.