Stanford Neurology & Neurological Sciences

Stanford Adult Neurology Open House

Join our PD and residents for an informal Q&A to learn more about our neurology program! We look forward to meeting you!

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Postdoc Service Award Ceremony, 2025

The annual Postdoc Service Award Ceremony for the 2025 cohort of Postdoc Champions was celebrated on October 8^th in order to recognize and celebrate the service of postdocs in our Stanford community. The celebration began with a discussion of the postdoc belonging survey titled “Thriving Beyond the PhD: A Survey Assessment Exploring Success and Sense of Belonging Among Stanford Postdocs” with Chelsie Burchett, PhD followed by the Presentation of Awards and a light reception. We were very pleased that President Jon Levin joined us to kick off the Presentation of Awards by offering some welcome remarks. Award recipients for the Department of Neurology were Hulya Torun, Gil Vantomme and Marwa  Zafarullah.

Stanford Postdoc Champions: Community Impact Awards 2025

Three postdoctoral scholars from the Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences have received the Stanford Postdoc Champions: Community Impact Award. The Stanford Postdoc Champions: Community Impact Awards serve to highlight the individual contributions of postdocs whose service fosters belonging and uplifts their communities. These awards provide a democratic way to acknowledge the work of postdoctoral scholars, and amplify the spirit of inclusion and service set by Stanford University. Congrats to  Gill Vantomme, Hulya Torun, and Marwa Zafarullah!

Lung cancer cells in the brain form electrical connections with neurons that spur tumor growth

Small cell lung cancer cells that metastasize to the brain cozy up to neurons and form working electrical connections, called synapses, according to an upcoming study led by Stanford Medicine researchers (featuring Dr. Michelle Monje). The pulse of electrical signals to the cancer cells strongly promotes tumor growth, the researchers found.

Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute Symposium 2025: The Gut–Brain Axis and Other Brain–Body Connections

Join leading researchers from Stanford and beyond to explore the dynamic interplay between the brain, gut, and body. Discover groundbreaking insights into how these interconnected systems shape health, behavior, and more through scientific talks and a fireside chat. We'll also celebrate our community through the presentation of the Sammy Kuo Awards and a poster session showcasing neuroscience research by Stanford affiliates. 

American Parkinson Disease Association's George C. Cotzias Fellowship

Gaurav Chattree, MD was awarded the American Parkinson Disease Association's George C. Cotzias Fellowship. The George C. Cotzias Fellowship is named in honor of the scientist who had a critical role in developing Levodopa as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease and is awarded with the purpose of encouraging young neurologists to follow in his footsteps.

Stanford Big Ideas in Medicine

Please join us for the third annual Stanford Big Ideas in Medicine Conference Sept. 5th & 6th.  Big Ideas is a thought provoking, multidisciplinary exploration of the latest "Big Ideas" in Neuroscience, Magic Medicines, Living to the Last, and Climate and Health.  Two themes - Magic Medicine and Neuroscience focuse on novel therapeutics including speakers from Abbvie and Astra Zeneca (to be named). Excited to have Josef Parvizi (Stanford Neurology) will be speaking in our Neurscience panel. The conference is almost sold out! Please see our list of amazing speakers from Academia, Business, and Industry.

Registration

Stanford Neuro IGNITE Landing Page Launch

We have just launched our Neuro IGNITE landing page! The Stanford Neuro IGNITE (Innovative GeNetic Investigation and Treatment Evaluation) Center is dedicated to improving the efficiency and volume of clinical trials for rare genetic neurological disorders. 

Experimental Drugs Reverse Autism Symptoms (Research by John Huguenard, PhD and Sung-Soo Jang, PhD)

Research by John Huguenard, PhD and Sung-Soo Jang, PhD has identified hyperactivity in the reticular thalamic nucleus as a driver of autism-like behaviors in mice. This brain region, which gates sensory information, was found to be overactive during stimuli and social interactions, leading to seizures, repetitive behaviors, and social withdrawal.

Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Award for Excellence in Clerkship Teaching

 Jeffrey Dunn, MD was awarded the Stanford Medicine Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Award for Excellence in Clerkship Teaching.

Dr. Sarah Lee Receives Impact Award at the LPCH Annual Medical Staff Dinner

Dr. Sarah Lee, Child Neuro faculty, was awarded the Impact Award at the recent LPCH Annual Medical Staff Dinner. This honor recognizes a faculty or community physician who consistently achieves high standards in the practice of medicine and is looked upon as a role model and leader by his or her peers. 

Welcome to Stanford Child Neurology! Match 2025

Happy Match Day! Congrats to our newly recruited class, welcome to the family.

Welcome to Stanford Neurology! Match 2025

Happy Match Day! Congrats to our newly recruited class, welcome to the family.

Dr. Shannon Beres Honored with 2025 Silverman Award for Excellence in Community Partnerships

Dr. Shannon Beres has been named the 2025 recipient of the Silverman Award, recognizing her impactful contributions to the lives of children with vision impairments and their families. Presented at the Lowenfeld-Akeson Symposium, Dr. Beres' dedication to enhancing educational and therapeutic knowledge exemplifies the spirit of the award, which honors the legacy of Dr. William Silverman and his commitment to improving care for vulnerable populations.

Congratulations to winners of The Brain Prize 2025

Professors Michelle Monje, Stanford University, and Frank Winkler, Heidelberg University Hospital, have pioneered the field of Cancer Neuroscience. They have revealed a profound connection between cancer and the nervous system, fundamentally changing our understanding of brain tumours and potential treatments.

Pioneering Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation Technology for Parkinson’s Disease

Neurologist Helen Bronte-Stewart has led groundbreaking research that culminated in the FDA's recent approval of adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS), a personalized treatment for Parkinson’s disease. This innovative technology adjusts electrical pulses based on individual brain signals, offering a more effective and tailored approach to managing symptoms for millions affected by the condition.

Revolutionizing Parkinson's Care: QDG Health's 30-Second Test Transforms Treatment Paradigms

As the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease surges, QDG Health introduces an innovative health management system that leverages a simple 30-second finger-tapping assessment to deliver real-time, AI-informed insights into patient motor symptoms. Developed by Dr. Helen Bronte-Stewart at Stanford, this breakthrough technology promises to streamline clinical trials, enhance remote monitoring, and ultimately elevate the standard of care for individuals living with Parkinson's.

Stanford Researchers Discover Tumor's Link to Nervous System, Opening New Treatment Avenues

Stanford Medicine's Dr. Michelle Monje reveals that aggressive brain tumors, like Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), can hijack nervous system signals to promote growth by forming electrical connections with healthy brain cells. Her team is investigating FDA-approved neurological drugs that could disrupt these connections, offering new hope for treating these challenging cancers. This innovative research enhances our understanding of brain tumors and paves the way for targeted therapies in oncology.

Practice doesn’t always make perfect

Groundbreaking research from Stanford Medicine sheds light on how adaptive myelination — a brain process linked to learning — can be co-opted by seizures, exacerbating epilepsy. Led by Dr. Juliet Knowles, this study opens new avenues for potential therapies targeting maladaptive myelination. With nearly 30% of children with epilepsy facing challenges with conventional treatments, this discovery represents hope for more effective, personalized options on the horizon.

Non-invasive brain stimulation opens new ways to study and treat the brain

Researchers at Stanford’s Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute are pioneering innovative non-invasive methods to study and treat complex brain conditions, eliminating the need for invasive procedures. By leveraging technologies such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and focused ultrasound, these advances aim to transform patient care, making neurological treatments safer and more accessible than ever before.

Stanford University Launches NIH-Funded Study on Gut-Brain Connection in Parkinson’s Disease

Stanford University has announced a significant NIH-funded research initiative aimed at exploring the gut-brain connection in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Led by Drs. Kathleen Poston and Laren Becker, this multi-site study seeks to understand how gastrointestinal dysfunction, immune responses, and microbial composition relate to the onset and progression of PD. Collaborating with institutions like Rush University and the Mayo Clinic, the research aims to uncover critical insights that could enhance early diagnosis and treatment strategies for the disease.

Small molecule modulation of p75^NTR engages the autophagy-lysosomal pathway and reduces huntingtin aggregates in cellular and mouse models of Huntington's disease

A new study from the Longo Lab supports a role of the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75^NTR) in pathological protein clearance by engaging the autophagy/lysosomal systems. They show that the small molecule p75^NTR ligand, LM11A-31, reduces mutant huntingtin aggregates in cellular and mouse models of Huntington’s Disease (HD). LM11A-31 successfully completed a Phase 2a clinical trial for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease and these results strengthen its potential as a candidate for HD clinical testing.