Stanford Neurology & Neurological Sciences
Welcome to our Department, a recognized center of excellence in neurology and neurosurgical care for over four decades. With a dedicated team of over 140 faculty members and access to four premier teaching hospitals, we are committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge treatments and innovative research. Our state-of-the-art Stanford Health Care facility, opened in 2019, features over 600 beds and is consistently ranked among the top programs in California. We offer a comprehensive range of services, including a unique outpatient Stanford Neuroscience Health Center and numerous clinics across Northern California, accommodating over 60,000 outpatient visits annually. Our commitment to excellence is further exemplified by our partnerships with Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, ensuring compassionate care for a diverse patient population. As we continue to grow alongside the vibrant Northern California community, we remain at the forefront of neurological care, delivering innovative solutions and fostering a culture of education and research.
Antonio Omuro, MD, FAAN
Chair, Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences
Joseph D. Grant Professor and Professor of Neurology
Neurology News
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 p75NTR 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 (p75NTR) in pathological protein clearance by engaging the autophagy/lysosomal systems. They show that the small molecule p75NTR 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.
Newer antiseizure drugs safe for pregnancy, Stanford Medicine-led study shows
A Stanford Medicine-led study published in JAMA Neurology has found that children exposed prenatally to the antiseizure medications lamotrigine and levetiracetam exhibited normal verbal and cognitive abilities at age six, confirming the safety of these drugs during pregnancy. The research highlights these newer medications as safer alternatives to older drugs like valproate, which are linked to harmful effects on fetal development. Additionally, the study underscores the importance of managing epilepsy during pregnancy to ensure the well-being of both mothers and their children.
Cell therapy fights lethal childhood brain cancer in Stanford Medicine trial
CAR-T cells show promise against pediatric diffuse midline gliomas, brain and spinal cord tumors that are among the deadliest cancers, a Stanford Medicine trial found.
Stanford Neuroscience
Stanford Health Care provides comprehensive care and treatment for neurological disorders.