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

Research by Tony Wyss-Coray, PhD, Demonstrates that Aging Slows the Breakdown of Synaptic Proteins

Recent research unveils new links between the brain’s waste management systems and neurodegeneration. The findings may provide insights for early disease identification.

Rebecca Levy, MD, PhD, featured in Neurology Today Article on the Role of Genetic Counselors

Rebecca Levy, MD, PhD, was recently featured in a Neurology Today article on how the role of genetic counselors is growing in the field of neurology.

Niyatee Samudra, MD, Speaks on KQED Forum About Brain Fog

Niyatee Samudra, MD, was featured on KQED Forum. Dr. Samudra spoke on brain fog, menopause, and dementia.

13th Annual Neuroscience Forum

We are pleased to announce the 13th Annual Neuroscience Forum will be held on Friday May 22, 2026, at the Center for Academic Medicine. We are honored to have Dr. Jaimie Henderson joining us as our Keynote Speaker.

The goal of this Annual Event is to highlight research accomplishments of Residents, Medical Students, Trainees, Post-Graduates, and Fellows in the Neurosciences and related fields. This is an exciting thought-provoking day of research highlights, providing an invaluable educational and collaborative experience for all in the field of Neurosciences.

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!

RSVP with the QR code in the image. Click to zoom.

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. Congratulations, Dr. Dunn!

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