Association of post-traumatic epilepsy with outcomes in individuals with severe traumatic brain injury | Department of Neurology (pitt.edu)

The research team hopes that early, aggressive epilepsy screening and efficient treatment of severe TBI in patients can lead to improved functional outcomes after brain injury. James F. Castellano, MD, PhD, author, says, “Our results underscore the importance of the prompt identification and management of epilepsy in patients who have suffered traumatic brain injury.”

Hu Receives RF1 Award from NINDS and NIA | Department of Neurology (pitt.edu)

Xiaoming Hu, MD, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology, is the recipient of a three-year RF1 award for the study, “White matter injury and repair in vascular cognitive impairment and dementia.”

New Blood Biomarker Can Predict if Cognitively Healthy Elderly Will Develop Alzheimer’s Disease | UPMC Physician Resources

Star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes are key to swaying the pendulum in Alzheimer’s disease progression, shows new game-changing research published in Nature Medicine.

Exposure to Antiseizure Medications Does Not Harm Neurological Development in Young Children | UPMC Physician Resources

Most mothers who took prescription antiseizure medications during pregnancy can breathe a sigh of relief: A new study published in Lancet Neurology found that young children who were exposed to commonly-prescribed medications in utero do not have worse neurodevelopmental outcomes than children of healthy women. Page B. Pennell, MD, was senior author of the study.

Yin Receives NIH R01 Award and AHA Transformational Project Award | Department of Neurology (pitt.edu)

Kejie Yin, MD, PhD, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology, is the recipient of a five-year R01 award for the study, “Targeting Krüppel-like transcription factor for white and grey matter protection in vascular cognitive impairment and dementia.”

Pitt and UPMC Partner to De-Risk Disease Therapies

As a clinician, Dr. Ed Burton operates a pre-eminent clinic for sufferers of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a debilitating and fatal neurodegenerative disease with no effective treatments. And as principal investigator for the Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases at the University of Pittsburgh, he is working tirelessly to change that.

He has formed a cross-disciplinary collaboration with Donna Huryn, Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the School of Pharmacy, to create a class of molecules that combat the damage to neurons caused by the disease.

N3-PREP to Train Next Generation of Physician-Scientists | Department of Neurology (pitt.edu)

The University of Pittsburgh Departments of Neurology and Neurological Surgery and Division of Neuropathology have been awarded a five-year NIH NINDS R25 Research Education Grant to help advance academic research careers in neuroscience.

Irritability, Agitation and Anxiety in Alzheimer’s Patients Caused by Brain Inflammation, Pitt Study Says | UPMC Physician Resources

Common neuropsychiatric symptoms that doctors see in Alzheimer’s disease patients originate from brain inflammation rather than amyloid and tau proteins, report University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers in JAMA Network Open.

Recent Publications | Department of Neurology (pitt.edu)

With a staff of award-winning physicians, researchers, and faculty, the Department of Neurology continues to publish groundbreaking research across key topics in the field. Read about some of the research advances the Department has made recently.

UPMC Department of Neurology Research Review: December 2023 | UPMC Physician Resources

Research topics for December 2023 focused on improving stroke outcomes, challenging clots, disorders of consciousness, and more.

Predicting Alzheimer’s Dementia in Oldest of the Old | UPMC Physician Resources

A new study indicates that severity of amyloid deposition in the brain — not just age — may be key to determining who will benefit from new anti-amyloid therapies to delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Oscar Lopez, MD, was a corresponding author of the study.

Pennell Inducted to Association of American Physicians | Department of Neurology (pitt.edu)

Page B. Pennell, MD, Henry B. Higman Professor of Neurology and Chair of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology, was recently inducted into the Association of American Physicians (AAP), a prestigious nonprofit, professional organization founded in 1885 for the advancement of scientific and practical medicine.

Fong-Isariyawongse Accepted to Palatucci Leadership Forum | Department of Neurology (pitt.edu)

Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, MD, FAES, FAAN, was accepted for American Academy of Neurology’s 2023 Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum. This forum took place August 3-6, 2023, in San Diego, California.

UPMC Achieves Certified Treatment Center Designation for ALS | UPMC Physician Resources

The UPMC-ALS Center, led by the Department of Neurology's Tawfiq Al-Lahham, MD, has achieved designation as a Certified Treatment Center of Excellence by the ALS Foundation. 

Susan Spencer Awardee Proposes a New Approach to Epilepsy Cl... : Neurology Today (lww.com)

The AAN presented the Susan S. Spencer Clinical Research Training Scholarship in Epilepsy to Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD, at its Annual Meeting in April. The award will support his work using big datasets to optimize and streamline epilepsy clinical trials.

Stetler Accepted Into AAAS Fellowship | Department of Neurology (pitt.edu)

R. Anne Stetler, PhD, assistant professor in the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology, has been accepted into the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences’ (AAAS) newest class of science and technology policy fellows. The fellowship, which will take place in Washington, D.C., will utilize Dr. Stetler’s experience studying the mechanisms underlying stroke pathogenesis.

UPMC Presbyterian Receives National Recognition From AHA | Department of Neurology (pitt.edu)

UPMC Presbyterian has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke GOLD PLUS quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

Kumari Awarded Research Fellowship from Alzheimer's Association | Department of Neurology (pitt.edu)

Namrata Kumari, PhD, a post-doctoral research associate in Abby Olsen’s research lab, has been accepted into the Alzheimer’s Association International Research Fellowship Grant Program. 

Doherty Named UPMC Award Winner | Department of Neurology (pitt.edu)

Leana Doherty, MD, has been announced as a winner of UPMC’s Excellence in Patient Experience Awards. 

Raul G. Nogueira, MD, FAHA, FSVIN, Receives World Stroke Organization's Presidential Award | UPMC Physician Resources

Congratulations to Raul G. Nogueira, MD, FAHA, FSVIN, division chief of cerebrovascular medicine, director of the UPMC Stroke Institute, and endowed professor of neurology and neurosurgery, who received the World Stroke Organization's 2023 Presidential Award at the World Stroke Congress in Toronto, Ontario, for his tremendous contributions to stroke thrombectomy. 

Tewari Completes AIHM Fellowship | Department of Neurology (pitt.edu)

Jigyasa Tewari, MD, FAIHM, clinical assistant professor in the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology, has completed a two-year fellowship for working professionals through The Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM).

UPMC Top Doctors List

Finding a Biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease | UPMC Physician Resources

In this UPMC Physician Journal feature, meet Tharick Pascoal, MD, PhD, neurologist and associate professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, as he and his team conduct research to find a biomarker based on tau proteins in the brain, which may help clinicians provide an earlier and more accurate diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease.

Continuing Medical Education Courses

Post-Traumatic Epilepsy: A Human Model of Epileptogenesis | UPMC (upmcphysicianresources.com)

In this CME, James F. Castellano, MD, PhD, discusses how to identify post-traumatic epilepsy, implement prompt treatment of post-traumatic epilepsy, and explain the outcomes after severe traumatic brain injury.

Conferences and Events

UPMC Department of Neurology Presentations at AAN 2023 | UPMC Physician Resources

Faculty, fellows and residents from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology participated in a number of sessions at the 2023 American Academy of Neurology annual meeting on April 22-27 in Boston. 

Zaydan to Present Multiple Sclerosis Clinic Model at PVA Healthcare Summit and Expo | Department of Neurology (pitt.edu)

Islam M. Zaydan, MD, director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence at the Pittsburgh VA hospital, presented the Pittsburgh VA’s comprehensive MS clinic model at the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Healthcare Summit and Expo, August 14-17 in Orlando, Florida. 

Department Participation - 148th ANA Annual Meeting | Department of Neurology (pitt.edu)

There were several members of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology taking part in Special Interest Group (SIG) sessions and presenting as authors on abstracts. 

EEG and Epilepsy Clinical Intensive | Department of Neurology (pitt.edu)

Several members of the Department of Neurology presented or acted as moderators during the 2.5 day course, EEG and Epilepsy in Clinical Practice, presented by UPMC Procirca, the Center for Clinical Neurophysiology, and the University of Pittsburgh. The program was an opportunity for a wide range of professionals to expand their knowledge and acquire and improve competencies for providing care to patients with epilepsy and related conditions.

Neurology and Neurosurgery Faculty Represent UPMC at AES 2023 | UPMC Physician Resources

UPMC neurology and neurosurgery faculty were well-represented at AES 2023 with a variety of presentations and poster sessions.

Clemens Hosts BEED at the University of Pittsburgh | Department of Neurology

Paula R. Clemens, MD, hosted a Becker Education and Engagement Day (BEED) at the University of Pittsburgh. BEED is an initiative developed by Becker advocates, clinical sites, advocacy groups and researchers aiming to unite the Becker community.