Understanding and treating neurological disorders
Welcome to the Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford!
The Department has been a center of excellence for more than four decades and includes over 140 School of Medicine faculty members with primary academic appointments in the Department at our four outstanding teaching hospitals and health care systems. The Stanford Health Care (SHC) new 824,000 square-foot state-of-the-art hospital opened in 2019 with over 600 beds, making it one of the largest inpatient facilities in California. Ranked in the top 10 for Neurology and Neurosurgical Care by US News and World Report, SHC is at the cutting edge of the latest treatments for neurological diseases. SHC boasts a dedicated outpatient Stanford Neuroscience Health Center—a facility like no other on the West Coast—as well as clinics located throughout Northern California. With over 60,000 annual outpatient visits and thus one of the largest neurology volumes in the U.S., Stanford Neurology provides care for a large and highly diverse patient population and supports excellence in clinical care, education, and research.
Antonio Omuro, MD, FAAN
Chair, Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences
Joseph D. Grant Professor and Professor of Neurology
Neurology News
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.
2024 BrightFocus Research Grant Award
Amira Latif-Hernandez, PhD, was awarded a 2024 BrightFocus Research Grant Award for research on synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease. This highly competitive award was granted to only 37 researchers out of a pool of 650 applicants. Congratulations, Amira.
Stanford Postdoc JEDI Champion
Andy P. Tsai, PhD Postdoctoral Scholar in the Tony Wyss-Coray Lab at Stanford, received a 2024 Stanford Postdoc JEDI Champion Award. Stanford Postdoc JEDI Champion Awards are a recognition of current Stanford University postdoctoral scholars who have championed initiatives, activities, or efforts that advance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion at Stanford and beyond. Congratulations, Andy.
2024 Sammy Kuo Prize for Postdoctoral Scholar
Congratulations, Dian Lyu, PhD, in the Parvizi Lab, on your award for Postdoctoral Scholar Paper of the Year for your paper published in Neuron: "Causal evidence for the processing of bodily self in the anterior precuneus".
2024 Outstanding Leadership and Service Award
Dr. Carl Gold won the Neurohospitalist Society 2024 Outstanding Leadership and Service Award presented at the 12th Annual Neurohospitalist Society Meeting held in Baltimore, Maryland. Congrats, Dr. Gold!
The new tech that could improve care for Parkinson’s patients
Dr. Helen Bronte-Stewart and her team at Stanford Medicine have developed a portable device and smartphone app that allow patients to quantify symptoms at home. This innovation could transform care and monitoring for the 10 million affected globally
Why new Alzheimer's drugs may not work for patients
PODCAST: Discover why new Alzheimer's drugs may not be as effective as expected by listening to this podcast featuring insights from Stanford neurologist Michael Greicius, MD, MPH. Gain valuable insights and stay informed about the latest developments in Alzheimer's research.
Stanford Neuroscience
Stanford Health Care provides comprehensive care and treatment for neurological disorders.