Our TEAM
Jason Aldred, MD, FAAN
Dr. Aldred is a board-certified neurologist and Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology (FAAN). He completed his neurology residency at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), serving as neurology chief resident. He then completed an additional two-year clinical research fellowship in Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders at the Parkinson’s Disease Research, Educational, and Clinical Center (PADRECC), a collaborative program between the Portland VA and OHSU. Through fellowship training, he honed skills in botulinum toxin injection techniques, patient selection for deep brain stimulation (DBS) and post-operative DBS programming, and advanced medication management for movement disorders. Dr. Aldred also completed formal training in clinical research with a Certificate in Human Investigations through the Human Investigators Program (HIP) at OHSU focused on the design and execution of clinical trials.
Dr. Aldred conducts clinical trials for neurodegenerative diseases specifically focused on Parkinson’s disease & Movement disorders. He serves as clinical associate professor of neurology at the University of Washington WWAM program in Spokane as well as clinical assistant professor of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University in Spokane. He mentors medical students for research projects locally and teaches psychiatry and internal medicine residents at Sacred Heart Hospital residency programs in Spokane.
Read more about what it means when a doctor has received additional training to conduct clinical research: https://www.ohsu.edu/school-of-medicine/human-investigations-program/about-human-investigations-program
Kristine Wessels, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Jill Ciccarello, CEO and Research Program Director
Jill is a native of the northwest. She has been working in biomedical research for the past 21 years. She is a graduate of the University of Washington. She has experience with federally and privately funded research programs. Before coming to Inland Northwest Research, she spent 4 years at a Subject Matter Expert and Science Officer for the US Army Medical Research and Materials Command, working primarily in neurological research, including Parkinson’s, TBI, PTSD and Alzheimer’s. She is proud to help bring innovative neurological research to the Spokane Region.
Melissa Bixby, MS, CCRC
Assistant director of research and
Movement Disorders project manager
Melissa is the Project Manager for Movement Disorders at Inland Northwest Research. She is a certified clinical research coordinator and clinical lab scientist with over 17 years of experience in the medical field. She has an undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Towson University and a graduate degree in biomedical science from Johns Hopkins University. She runs many of the large phase 1 and phase 2 interventional trials that include oral, infusion and intrathecal delivery routes. She is a credentialed coordinator with the Parkinson Study Group and Huntington Study Group where she is involved with other collaborative academic trials with sites around the world. She is heavily involved in several community support and outreach groups for Parkinson’s Disease and Huntington’s Disease and enjoys the time she gets to spend getting to know her patients and their families. Community support, education and access to clinical trials is one largest goals she has for the movement disorders portfolio.
Bonnie Burgess, MA-P
Regulatory Coordinator
Bonnie has worked in clinical research for 15 years. She spent many years as a clinical research coordinator, with experience in cardiac, arthritis and other therapeutic areas. Most recently she has worked as a regulatory and compliance specialist.
AMANDA KIEFER, bs
rESEARCH coordinator
Amanda is a graduate of Gonzaga University, with a degree in Biology. Most recently she worked in the neuro-psychological research department at WSU. She has a strong interest in neurological research and community outreach.
Aaron Dahl, BS
Research Assistant
Aaron graduated form EWU with a pre-med degree. He comes to INWR with clinical experience as a phlebotomist and work with academic oncology research projects. He looks forward to applying his experience in neurological research and movement disorders onto medical school someday.