The Department of Neurology has setup Translational Centers of Excellence (TCE). The goal of the TCE program is to support pilot projects to accelerate high impact areas, uniquely suited to the Department of Neurology, aiming towards self-sustainability.
Neuroengineering/Center for Neuroengineering and Therapeutics (CNT): Director Brian Litt, MD
The CNT was created 4.5 years ago with the goal to create a broad interdisciplinary community between the PSOM and the SEAS to further the development of computational and bioengineering innovation to map brain activity and lead to the innovative diagnostic and treatment modalities for neuropsychiatric disorders. The CNT is working to develop and test new devices that can restore brain and nervous system function after it has been lost to disease or disability. Major faculty include: Brian Litt, MD, Director, Katherine Davis, MD, Timothy Lucas, MD, PhD, Kacy Cullen, PhD and Flavia Vitale, PhD. The CNT also houses a T32 grant entitled “Training Grant in Neuroengineering and Medicine". The CNT is expanding its scope in translational work and giving rise to the Penn Center for Health, Devices and Technology (Penn Health-Tech), from its programs and staff.
Penn Comprehensive ALS Center: Director Lauren Elman, MD & Colin Quinn, MD
The Penn Comprehensive ALS Center was founded on the principle of providing complete, multidisciplinary care for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis while helping to advance the science of this disease and providing opportunities for individuals to participate in clinical trials. Those who are cared for at the Center have access to personalized care in the form of advanced pulmonary management, physiatry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and swallowing therapy, nutrition management, and genetic counseling in addition to neurologic care. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have been responsible for some of the most important pathologic and genetic contributions to the field over the last two decades. We are also leaders in the clinical trial world and individuals followed at our clinic have participated in more than 15 trials over the last 12 years.
Neuroepidemiology, Health Care Outcomes and Disparities: Co-Directors Allison W. Willis, MD, MS & Nabila Dahodwala, MD, MS
The primary purpose of the Neuroepidemiology, Health Care Outcomes and Disparities TCE is to provide the infrastructure for residents, fellows and faculty members to answer important questions pertaining to the health, care and outcomes of neurological conditions and neurological disease patients.
Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics: Director Anjan Chatterjee, MD, PhD
We explore beauty, language, cognition, and the brain using converging evidence from behavioral, neuroimaging, and lesion studies. We investigate a wide range of cognitive processes, including those underlying aesthetic experiences, the use of figurative and spatial language, and event representation. We're also interested in ethical questions raised by neuroscientific progress.
Center for Neuroinflammation and Experimental Therapeutics: Director Amit Bar-Or, MD
Brain Science Center: Director John A. Detre, MD
The interdisciplinary Brain Science Center in the Penn Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences provides infrastructure support for research on human cognition, perception, affect, disordered cognition, and extension to preclinical models. By consolidating state-of-the-art methodological expertise in these domain areas as services, the Brain Science Center seeks to facilitate cutting-edge research using a largely shared set of methods and tools for elucidating brain-behavior relationships in health and disease.
Penn Center for Neuro-Cardio Protection (PCNC): Director Steven Messe, MD
Neuralert, co-founded by Professor Steven Messé, MD from Penn Medicine’s Department of Neurology and Research Assistant Professor James Weimer, PhD from Penn Engineering’s Department of Computer and Information Science, is developing a novel approach that addresses the problem of late or undetected stroke in hospitalized patients. The system uses non-invasive, wearable devices which continuously monitor at-risk hospitalized patients for stroke symptoms and automatically alerts clinical staff resulting in more rapid assessment and treatment of the patient.
Brain Stim Center: Director Roy Hamilton, MD
20e3The Penn Brain Science, Translation, Innovation, and Modulation (brainSTIM) Center brings together a team of leading neuroscientists, neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and engineers from the University of Pennsylvania who use groundbreaking neuromodulation techniques to research, repair, and enhance human brain function. In order to accomplish this goal, the brainSTIM Center has created a framework for cooperation that cuts across departmental and institutional boundaries. The center promotes intellectually rewarding, productive, and novel scientific collaborations in the field of neuromodulation by leveraging critical skills and resources, creating unique opportunities for growth, innovation, and sustainability for neuromodulation research.
Precision Neuroscience Clinic - MIND Initiative: Director Alice Chen-Plotkin, MD
Penn Epilepsy Center: Director Kate Davis, MD
The Penn Epilepsy Center is recognized as the leading comprehensive epilepsy program in the region and among the top in the nation. Our multidisciplinary team delivers personalized care, incorporating the latest advancements in epilepsy treatment, including cutting-edge medication trials, innovative brain imaging techniques exclusive to Penn for seizure mapping, and advanced EEG analysis.
Autoimmune Neurology: Director Eric Lancaster, MD, PhD
The Center for Autoimmune Neurology was officially formed in January 2014, but our work in this field dates back a decade. Our Center is dedicated to helping patients with autoimmune and paraneoplastic disorders affecting the nervous system. These disorders often cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and can affect memory, behavior, and other brain functions. In the past, most cases of encephalitis could not be explained, and treatment was inconsistent and given without any rational understanding of the disease. More recently, a large and growing family of autoimmune causes of encephalitis and other related disorders has been discovered, many of them by our group here at the University of Pennsylvania. This has created a need for physicians to provide proper care to patients with these diseases. We have established this Center for Autoimmune Neurology to bring together neurologists and neuroscientists to care for these patients, and learn more about the underlying diseases and how to treat them.
Penn Memory Center: Director David Wolk, MD
The Penn Memory Center is a single, unified Penn Medicine source for those age 65 and older seeking evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, information, and research opportunities related to symptoms of progressive memory loss, and accompanying changes in thinking, communication and personality.We offer state-of-the-science diagnosis, treatment and research, focusing on individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and other age-related progressive memory disorders. The PMC is supported in part by the National Institute on Aging.
Penn Neurogenetics Therapy Center: Director James Dowling, MC, PhD
The mission of the Penn Neurogenetics Therapy Center (PNTC) is to catalyze the translation of genetic diagnosis into precision, gene-based therapeutics for people with neurogenetic disorders. This involves a team approach which allows us to provide a complete perspective, from making complex genetic diagnoses to seamless delivery of new genetic-based therapies as they become commercially available. The PNTC has a core team of experts including neurologists with basic science backgrounds and translational experience, genetic counselors, as well as clinical research supporting staff, including a director of operations, business manager, project managers, coordinators, and assistant.
Neuronal Mechanism for Auditory Learning: Director Maria Geffen, PhD