Department: Neurology & Neurological Sciences

Our group’s research focus is the acute treatment and prevention of cerebrovascular disorders. Our primary interest is the use of diffusion- and perfusion-weighted MRI to expand the treatment window for ischemic stroke. We are also conducting clinical studies of both neuroprotective and thrombolytic strategies for the treatment of acute stroke and investigating new antithrombotic strategies for stroke prevention.

Current research project involves testing MRI imaging correlates for cognitive dysfunction in pediatric medulloblastoma treated by cranial irradiation.

Our research focuses on understanding disease mechanisms of stroke injury and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as they relate to the COX-2-prostaglandin pathways. We are identifying prostaglandin receptor pathways that are involved in these disease models, and our objective is to identify which receptors will be translationally relevant in human neurological disease.

My current clinical research involves the development of pathways for the treatment of headache both in the hospital and clinic setting. I also have a strong interest in medication overuse headache and the use of a multi-disciplinary program for treatment.

Our lab is interested in the neuronal-glial interactions that underlie the development and function of the mammlian central nervous system.

My research focus is human motor control and brain pathophysiology in movement disorders. Our overall goal is to understand the role of the basal ganglia electrical activity in the pathogenesis of movement disorders. We have developed novel computerized technology to measure fine, limb and postural movement. With these we are measuring local field potentials in basal ganglia nuclei in patients with Parkinson's disease and dystonian and correlating brain signalling with motor behavior.

Axel Brunger's goal is to understand the molecular mechanism of synaptic neurotransmission. He is particularly interested in the structure, function, and dynamics of key players in the synaptic vesicle fusion machinery. His lab is also working on the mechanism of action of clostridial neurotoxins that target this machinery. A molecular understanding of these complex protein machineries may ultimately lead to new therapeutics to treat human diseases.

Mechanisms of epilepsy, especially temporal lobe epilepsy.

The goal of the Buckwalter Lab is to improve how people recover after a stroke. We use basic research to understand the cells, proteins, and genes that lead to successful recovery of function, and also how complications develop that impact quality of life after stroke. Ongoing projects are focused on understanding how inflammatory responses are regulated after a stroke and how to make recovery faster and better after stroke.

Neuronal death after cerebral ischemia and neural injury using transgenic strategy

Clinical research focused on peripheral nerve and muscle disorders. Also involved with prevention of cerebrovascular disesase in the intraoperative setting. Ongoing clincial studies include treatments for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Inflammatory Demyelinating Neuropathy and HIV neuropathic pain.

My laboratory studies childhood brain tumors with a particular focus on medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children. We utilize both top-down and bottom-up strategies to understand the biology of these tumors and identify new therapeutic avenues to more effectively treat these diseases.

Genetics of movement disorders such as dystonia, parkinsonian disorders, and ataxia. • Identifying multiplex families to find novel genes • Characterizing clinical phenotypes of genetic diseases

Current interest focus on patient education technology and patient/physician communication with a particular emphasis on tools which increase encounter efficiency and improve outcomes. Present projects include development of on-line tools to generate detailed patient histories and delineation of diagnostic impressions based on established criteria, generation of criteria for standardized credentialing of educators in headache, including training, testing and certification.

Our Neuromuscular Division coordinates a comprehensive effort to conquer peripheral nerve and muscle disorders, including the muscular dystrophies, motor neuron disorders, neuromuscular junction abnormalities, and peripheral neuropathies. With patients and families foremost in mind, we have had success defining and combating these diseases, with research focused on identifying genetic causes, developing novel treatment, and maximizing patient function by optimizing current management.

Neural circuits of movement control in health and movement disorders

Clinical electrophysiology of the peripheral and central nervous systems, including nerve conduction velocity; electromyography (EMG); and visual, auditory and somatosensory evoked potentials. Multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis and treatment. Neurological education.

I am a general pediatric neurologist. My interest is in clinical diagnosis and treatment of common neurologic diseases in pediatric patients and teaching feature doctors, neurologists and pediatric neurologists about pediatric neurology.

Translational research in the human application of emerging immunotherapies for neurological disease, focusing on Multiple Sclerosis, CIS, transverse myelitis and Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO). Collaborative research with Stanford and extramural scientific faculty to identify biomarkers of disease activity and treatment response in humans. Clinical trials to assess efficacy of emerging treatments for MS, CIS and NMO, recently including trials of alemtuzumab, oral sphingosine 1 phosphate inhibition..

My clinical research interests focus on the field of pediatric stroke, and include causes of arteriopathies, novel neuroimaging techniques for the diagnosis of arteriopathies, and maximizing functional outcome after stroke in children. As a member of the International Pediatric Stroke Study, we contribute to an international database of children following stroke, thereby facilitating multi-centered research in this area.

Dr. Finley joined the Stanford Stroke Center in 2004 from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. She cares for acute stroke patients and other neurologically critical ill patients in the intensive care unit. Currently, her research interests include hypothermia after cardiac arrest and comparing health care provider's predications of future neurological function in neurologically critical ill patients to their 6-month outcome.

Clinical neuro-oncology: My research explores the epidemiology, natural history, and disease patterns of brain tumors in childhood, as well as prospective clinical trials for treating these neoplasms. Research interests also include neurologic effects of cancer and its therapies, and childhood headaches.

Dr. Fisher is interested in clincal, laboratory and translational aspects of epilepsy research. Prior work has included: electrical deep brain stimulation for epilepsy, studied in laboratory models and clinical trials; drug delivery to a seizure focus; mechanisms of absence epilepsy studied with in vitro slices of brain thalamus; hyperthermic seizures; diagnosis and treatment of non-epileptic seizures, the post-ictal state; driving and epilepsy; new antiepileptic drugs; surgery for epilepsy.

Our laboratory is studying synapse formation, stability and elimination at a variety of levels, e.g. from molecules to behavior. A primary focus of the lab is to understanding the role that individual molecules play in the assembly and function of synaptic junctions. In addition we evaluating a variety of potential treatments for cognitive impairment in Down syndrome in part by assessing the impact specific drugs on cognitive function in mouse models of Down syndrome.

Dr. Goyal specializes in the diagnosis, management, and electrophysiological testing of neuromuscular diseases. Through collaboration with a multidisciplinary team including therapists, research scientists, and ancillary staff, her work focuses on providing state of the art, comprehensive care to patients living with neuromuscular diseases. Her clinical research interests include ALS and sleep, hereditary neuropathies, and neuromuscular junction disorders.

Dr. Greicius' research involves the use of functional MRI in conjunction with other imaging modalities to detect and characterize neural networks in healthy adults and patients with neuropsychiatric disorders. The main research objective is to develop novel imaging biomarkers that will enhance the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, major depression, and schizophrenia.

1. Clinical informatics and electronic health records 2. Neonatal and fetal neurology 3. Prenatal diagnosis neurodevelopmental anomalies 4. Personalized Health and Wellness Records

My research interests encompass several areas of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery, including frameless stereotactic approaches for therapy delivery to deep brain nuclei; deformable patient-specific atlases for targeting brain structures; cortical physiology and its relationship to normal and pathological movement; neural prostheses; and the development of novel neuromodulatory techniques for the treatment of movement disorders, pain, and other neurological diseases.

Research interests: (1) Risk factors for age-associated cognitive decline and dementia, (2) Therapeutic strategies to improve cognitive function in aging and dementia, and (3) Brain–behavior relations as they pertain to human cognition.

Dr. Karen G. Hirsch cares for critically ill patients with neurologic disorders in the intensive care unit and for patients with cerebrovascular disease in the inpatient stroke unit. Dr. Hirsch's research focuses on novel imaging techniques such as functional brain imaging in patients with cardiac arrest and traumatic brain injury. She also studies methods of non-invasive measurement of cerebral blood flow, oxygenation, and cerebrovascular autoregulation and how these parameters might be target..

Neuromuscular physiology Immunology of myasthenia gravis

The response and recovery of human visual cortex, oculomotor systems and related cognitive functions after acquired neurological disorders is a main area of interest.

We study the role of oxygen free radicals in oxidative tissue damage and degeneration. Our research tools include transgenic and knockout mice and tissue culture cells for in vitro gene expression.

We are interested in the neuronal mechanisms that underlie synchronous oscillatory activity in the thalamus, cortex and the massively interconnected thalamocortical system. Such oscillations are related to cognitive processes, normal sleep activities and certain forms of epilepsy. Our approach is an analysis of the discrete components (cells, synapses, microcircuits) that make up thalamic and cortical circuits, and reconstitution of components into in silico computational networks.

Clinical interests include autonomic disorders, small fiber neuropathies and the development of effective methods of testing and treating these disorders. Prior work has focused on small fiber painful and autonomic neuropathies; syndromes of orthostatic intolerance and syncope; gastrointestinal motility dysfunction; cyclic vomiting; protacted Gastroesophageal Reflux; non-allergic rhinitis syndromes; and the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and normal or abnormal sleep. Addition..

Dr. Kerchner is a behavioral neurologist who cares for patients with Alzheimer's disease and other age-related neurodegenerative illnesses. He studies the use of ultra-high field MRI and other advanced neuroimaging technologies to reveal how these diseases affect the microscopic structure and circuitry of the brain, with the intent of creating new strategies for early diagnosis. Dr. Kerchner also supervises the participation of patients in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease.

Optimizing target selection for Deep Brain stimulation, neuropsychological aspects of Movement disorders.

1. Imaging of Cerebral Perfusion with MRI and Xenon CT 2. Determining selection criteria that identify stroke patients who are most likely to benefit from iv tPA 3. Combining iv tPA with intraarterial mechanical thrombectomy for acute stroke 4. Detection of Atrial Fibrillation in patients with stroke and TIA using long term ambulatory cardiac monitoring 5. Prognosis of critically ill neurological patients

Neurophysiology, Epilepsy and Tuberous Sclerosis