Molecular Integration in Neurological Diagnosis Initiative

Alice S. Chen-Plotkin, MD
Parker Family Associate Professor of Neurology
 chenplot@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

The MIND initiative is directed by Alice Chen-Plotkin, MD, Parker Family Associate Professor of Neurology. A physician-scientist, she is committed to the translation of scientific discoveries into real-world benefit for patients.
You can follow her on Twitter: @alicechenp
You can read more about her research here.

Thomas F. Tropea, DO
Assistant Professor C-E
 Thomas.Tropea@uphs.upenn.edu

Dr. Tropea is a translational researcher and a neurologist specializing in movement disorders. He is dedicated to moving innovations from the lab into the clinic and is focused on understanding how genetics can alter patient care.  
You can learn more about Dr. Tropea here.

Vivianna Van Deerlin, MD, PhD
Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
 vivianna@upenn.edu

Dr. Van Deerlin is the director of Molecular Pathology at the University of Pennsylvania. She brings her extensive experience with neurodegenerative disease genetics as well as lab test development for the clinical setting to the MIND Initiative.
You can learn more about Dr. Van Deerlin here.

EunRan Suh, PhD
Senior Research Investigator
 suher@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Dr. Suh is a Senior Investigator in the Genetics Core Laboratory at the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research. With her extensive experience in genetic analysis of risk factors and Mendelian genetic causes of neurodegenerative diseases, she will oversee the development and performance of genetic analysis for the MIND Initiative.

Andres Deik, MD, MSEd
Associate professor of Clinical Neurology
 andres.deikacostamadiedo@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Dr. Deik is an Associate professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his Neurology residency and Movement Disorders fellowship at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, in New York City. His fellowship had a special focus on dystonia, and this condition has become his main academic interest. At Penn, most of Dr. Deik's time is dedicated to clinical care, which includes DBS programming and botulinum toxin injections. He is the Associate program director for the Movement Disorders fellowship program at Penn, and is the Director of Experimental Therapeutics, overseeing the clinical trials enterprise at the Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders Center.

Rachel Paul, MS, CGC
Certified Genetic Counselor
 Rachel.Paul3@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Rachel is a genetic counselor working with research and clinical teams across Penn Neurology, including the MIND Initiative, the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center, & the Neurogenetics Therapy Center. As part of the MIND team, Rachel will be meeting with individuals who have enrolled into research studies for genetic test result disclosure. Rachel graduated from the Arcadia University (now University of Pennsylvania) genetic counseling program and is board-certified by the American Board of Genetic Counselors.

Neda Almassi, MS
Clinical Research Coordinator
 Neda.almassi@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Neda graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Master’s degree in Kinesiology. Her interest in neuroscience sprouted into a career in research in 2015. Since then, she has spent her time working on research related to the brain, behavior, and neurodegenerative disease at the Universities of Maryland, Washington, and Wisconsin. She joined the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center at Penn in 2022 to work on both clinical and translational research efforts alongside Dr. Tropea.

Dylan Baum
Clinical Research Coordinator
 dylan.baum@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Dylan Baum graduated from Temple University in 2022 with a dual degree in Neuroscience and Psychology. He is also finishing his Master of Science in Psychological Research. He is a clinical research coordinator in the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center with Dr. Tropea, focusing on the MIND Initiative.

Eliza Brody
Research Specialist
 eliza.brody@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Eliza graduated from Haverford College in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, minoring in Health Studies and Neuroscience. She is a research specialist in the Chen-Plotkin Lab and supports sample collection at the clinic and processing in the lab. 

Isabela Albuja
Research Specialist
 isabela.albuja@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Isabela graduated from Union College in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience. She is a research specialist in the Chen-Plotkin lab and works directly with Dr. Tropea, supporting sample collection at the clinic and processing in the lab.

Allison Ward
Administrative Coordinator
 alward@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Allie provides administrative support to the MIND Initiative Team. Allie first started assisting Dr. Chen-Plotkin in the Fall of 2015. She was delighted for this opportunity to join the MIND Team in September of 2018.