Clifford G. Andrew, M.D., Ph.D. Neurology Resident 1976-79; Neuromuscular Fellow 1979-80; Assistant Professor of Neurology 1980- 86; Currently: Assistant Professor of Neurology Part-time, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, MD; [email protected]; website www.neurol.org My time at Hopkins came at an important crossroads in my life: having completed my MD/PhD (Biochemistry) at Duke’s Medical Scientist Training Program with mentor Stan Appel, honing my clinical skills for long, continuing career in Neurology. In 1976 the department had 4 professors: Daniel Drachman, John Freeman, Richard Johnson & Guy McKhann who amazed us with trans-Atlantic sailing. There were “young Turk” assistant professors Jack Griffin, and David Zee; and incoming resident Justin McArthur (1981). We learned to “See one, do one, and show one.” and “If you don’t get your work done in 24 hours you just have to stay up late!” During this time we moved laboratories, clinics, and wards to the Adolf Meyer Building and I learned three things: 1) art of compassionate care for patients; 2) the importance of applying rigorous science to evidence-based medicine (1998 Physicians’ Health Study II, 2008 Harvard Personal Genome Project PGP-84, and 2018 NIH All Of Us Research Precision Medicine; and 3) the importance of life beyond career: sailing the Chesapeake Bay in a 22-foot Bristol; raising 6 children, and 8 grandchildren; leadership in Cub, Boy, explorer Scouts, UU Church of Annapolis, teaching Hominid evolution at UUCA’s Camp Beagle “Vacation Darwin School”, USNA Secular Midshipmen, and UU Humanists & Naturalists; section thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail’s 2200 miles from GA to Me. Selected Publications: Andrew CG, Drachman DB, Pestronk A, Narayan O. Susceptibility of skeletal muscle to Coxsackie A2 virus infection: effects of botulinum toxin and denervation. Science. 1984 Feb 17; 223 (4637):714-6. PubMed PMID: 6320369. Almon RR, Andrew CG, Appel SH. Serum globulin in myasthenia gravis: inhibition of alpha-bungarotoxin binding to acetylcholine receptors. Science. 1974 Oct 4; 186 (4158):55-7. PubMed PMID: 4421998. Almon RR, Andrew CG, Appel SH. Acetylcholine receptor in normal and denervated slow and fast muscle. Biochemistry. 1974 Dec 31; 13 (27):5522-8. PubMed PMID: 4457111. Andrew CG, Appel SH. Macromolecular characterization of muscle membranes. I. Proteins and sialic acid of normal and denervated muscle. J Biol Chem. 1973 Jul 25; 248 (14):5156-63. PubMed PMID: 4268694. Andrew CG, Almon RR, Appel SH. Macromolecular characterization of muscle membranes. II. Acetylcholine receptor of normal and denervated muscle. J Biol Chem. 1974 Oct 10; 249 (19):6163-5. PubMed PMID: 4422889. Andrew CG, Roses AD, Almon RR, Appel SH. Phosphorylation of muscle membranes: identification of a membrane-bound protein kinase. Science. 1973 Nov 20; 182 (4115):927-9. PubMed PMID: 4355523. Andrew CG, Almon RR, Appel SH. Macromolecular characterization of muscle membranes. III. endogenous membrane kinase and phosphorylated protein substrate from normal and denervated muscle. J Biol Chem. 1975 May 25; 250 (10):3972-80. PubMed PMID: 236307. Honors and Awards: President, Anne Arundel Medical Society, 1997-1998 Delegate, Maryland Medical Society Med Chi House of Delegates, 1998-2014 “Best Neurologist Annapolis” Annapolis Capital Readers’ Choice Poll 2014 “Best Neurologist Anne Arundel County” Maryland Gazette Readers’ Choice Poll 2014. Rahila Ansari, M.D., M.S. Assistant Professor of Neurology Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Neurologist, Cleveland VA Medical Center My research is in device development to restore function to patients with amputations, or with weakness due to pathologies such as myopathies and spinal cord injuries. My approach to helping these patients utilizes my background in biomedical and polymer engineering, in addition to my clinical training in neurology and neuromuscular diseases. My neurology residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital laid the groundwork for my clinical understanding of neurological pathophysiology and patient needs. The inspiration for my research came from working with Kathryn Wagner in the Johns Hopkins Muscular Dystrophy Clinic. By using “smart” materials and devices my goal has been to augment strength and enhance function, while decreasing muscle strain. One of my projects is to restore a safer gait pattern and reduce the risk of falls in patients with inclusion body myositis, by providing mechanical assistance to the quadriceps using microprocessor based stance-controlled orthotics. Some of my other projects involve using “smart” materials where their stiffness or shape adjusts in response to measured pressure and shear forces. I am developing these technologies to construct prosthetic liners that adjust in real-time to improve fit, while decreasing the risk of skin breakdown. My other principal research area is Functional electrical Stimulation (FeS). In paraplegic patients with cervical spinal cord injuries, walking can be restored by implanting nerve cuff electrodes. These electrodes have multiple contacts, and depending on which contact is used, specific nerve fascicles can be selectively stimulated, which improves fine motor control. My work within the larger FeS Center at Case and the VA focuses on chronic neurophysiologic changes within the nerve and its innervated muscles as a function of stimulation. Additionally, I study the fascicular selectivity and stability of these multi-contact nerve cuff electrodes. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of my work, I have forged multiple interdepartmental and cross-institutional collaborations with basic scientists and engineers, with a common goal of more rapidly translating technology into clinical application. This would not have been possible without the clinical training I received at Hopkins, or without the guidance from my mentors. Selected Publications: Freeberg MJ, Pinault GCJ, Tyler DJ, Triolo RJ, Ansari R. “Chronic nerve health after implantation of femoral nerve cuff electrodes.” Manuscript submitted to Neurology. Freeberg MJ, Ansari R, Pinault GCJ, Lombardo LM, Miller Me, Tyler DJ, Triolo RJ. “Intraoperative stimulated responses predict chronic performance of 8-contact composite flat interface nerve electrodes on human femoral nerves.” Manuscript submitted to IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering. Robinson J, Ansari R, Katirji. “Myopathies and NMJ Disease.” In Salardini A, Biller J (eds). The Hospital Neurology Book, 1st Edition. New York, McGraw-Hill education. 2016. Ansari R, Katirji B. “Serum Muscle enzymes in Neuromuscular Disease.” In Katirji B, Kaminski HJ, Ruff RL (eds). Neuromuscular Disorders in Clinical Practice, 2nd Edition. New York, Springer. 2013. Honors/Awards: American Academy of Neurology Abstract of Distinction - Chronic Nerve Health Following Implantation of Nerve Cuff electrodes, 2018 Spotlight article on Orthotics in IBM research in the O&P Almanac, 2016 Keynote Lecture at Annual American Orthotics and Prosthetics Association Meeting, 2015 Anthony O. Asemota, MD, MPH Department of Neurosurgery Johns Hopkins Hospital Baltimore, MD During my time as a senior research coordinator and subsequently as a postdoctoral research fellow (2012-2014) in the neurology department at Johns Hopkins, I had the exciting opportunity of managing the accelerated cure project (principal investigator - Dr. Arun Venkatesan), a multicenter study investigating potential factors associated with development of multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases. I maintained a repository of blood/serum samples for the Johns-Hopkins arm of the study, and was also charged with collating and organizing relevant patient data following closure of the study. In addition, I participated in various projects where I applied my knowledge of statistics and honed my expertise in studying various neuro-inflammatory and neuro-infectious diseases which led to publications in high-ranking journals and presentations at national meetings. Subsequently I completed a general surgery/oncology research fellowship, and I am presently undertaking a research fellowship in pituitary/skull base neurosurgery at the Johns-Hopkins Department of Neurosurgery and aspiring to complete residency training in neurosurgery. In the current era of big data, my exposure and time in neurology department certainly helped advance my skills and awareness in conducting data- driven research for understanding some of the very challenging and complex epidemiological associations pertinent to neurological diseases. Selected Publications: Asemota AO, George BP, Bowman SM, Haider AH, Schneider eB. Causes and trends in traumatic brain injury for United States adolescents. Journal of Neurotrauma. 2013 Jan 15;30(2):67-75. Asemota AO, George BP, Cumpsty-Fowler CJ, Haider AH, Schneider eB. Race and insurance disparities in discharge to rehabilitation for patients with traumatic brain injury. Journal of Neurotrauma. 2013 Dec 15;30(24):2057-65. Thakur KT, Motta M, Asemota AO, Kirsch HL, Benavides DR, Schneider eB, McArthur JC, Geocadin RG, Venkatesan A. Predictors of outcome in acute encephalitis. Neurology. 2013 Aug 27;81(9):793- 800. Mo AZ, Asemota AO, Venkatesan A, Ritzl eK, Njoku DB, Sponseller PD. Why no signals? Cerebral anatomy predicts success of intraoperative neuromonitoring during correction of scoliosis secondary to cerebral Palsy. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. 2017 Dec 1;37(8):e451-8. Sutter R, Kaplan PW, Cervenka MC, Thakur KT, Asemota AO, Venkatesan A, Geocadin RG. electroencephalography