The Biospecimen Use Committee is tasked with reviewing requests from researchers for brain tissue. As can be seen below, the committee is composed of highly respected researchers and clinicians from the fields of psychiatry, neurology, and neuroscience.
Scott J.Dylla, PhD
Independent Biotech Angel Investor, Advisor and Entrepreneur
Scott most recently served as a Vice President of Research and Development at AbbVie (ABBV), functioning also as the Chief Scientific Officer of the Stemcentrx division in South San Francisco, CA until July 2018. Scott co-founded Stemcentrx in 2008, growing the company to 160 employees with numerous clinical assets launched by 2016 when the company was acquired by AbbVie for $6.2B. Prior to founding Stemcentrx, Scott was one of the first scientists at OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, where he spearheaded the identification and characterization of solid tumor cancer stem cells. Scott received his BS in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, a Master’s Degree in Molecular Pathobiology from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, and his doctorate in Immunology & Cancer Biology from the University of Minnesota. Scott moved to California in 2002 to postdoc at Stanford University with stem cell pioneer Irv Weissman, and in 2005 was recognized by the British Council as one of eight outstanding young US-based researchers in the field of stem cell biology.
JenniferFrankovich, MD, MS
Director of PANS Research Program & Co-Director of the Immune Behavioral Health Clinic, Rheumatologist
Dr. Frankovich is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy, Immunology Rheumatology (AIR) at Stanford University/Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital (LPCH). Her clinical expertise is in systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases that co-occur with psychiatric symptoms. She completed her training in pediatrics, pediatric rheumatology, and clinical epidemiology at Stanford University/LPCH. She directs the Stanford PANS Program (2012- present) where she and her collaborators have created a longitudinal clinical database and large biorepository of patient and control biospecimens. In addition to generating clinical data to better understand the PANS illness, she is collaborating with 10 basic science labs who aim to understand the immunological underpinnings of the illness.
BrentHarris, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Departments of Neurology and Pathology Director of Neuropathology Director, Harris Lab Director, Georgetown Brain Bank Co-Director, Histopathology and Tissue Shared Resource Consulting Neuropathologist, DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Dr. Harris is a tenured, academic physician-scientist neuropathologist with interests in neurological disease research, medical education, and neuropathology clinical service. His research focuses on the areas of neurodegeneration and CNS neoplasia. His primary interest is in understanding how mechanisms of neuroinflammation and glial-neuronal communication influence the pathophysiology of neurological diseases. As a neuropathologist and neuropharmacologist he also seeks to uncover novel targets for pharmacological intervention. As Director of Neuropathology and the Georgetown Brain Bank, Dr. Harris works collaboratively with other investigators interested in basic, translational, and clinical neuroscience research projects at GUMC and with other academic and industry partners. Dr. Harris also serves as a neuropathology consultant for the DOJ and the DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and as the Chair for the Neuropathology Committee for the College of American Pathologists.
GalamKhan, MD
Assistant Professor and Assistant Director at the Georgetown Brain Bank and Consultant Pathologist for the Histopathology Shared Resource at Georgetown University Medical Center
Dr. Khan is the Assistant Director at the Georgetown Brain Bank and Consultant Pathologist for the Histopathology Shared Resource at Georgetown University Medical Center. His research spans neuroinflammatory and neurological conditions, exploring the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, and Alzheimer's. Dr. Khan’s dual training in neuroscience, oncology, and neuropathology enables him to investigate the basic mechanisms of neuroinflammatory diseases to ultimately develop targeted therapies. In his role as an academic neuropathologist and physician scientist, Dr. Khan is dedicated to educating residents on, and fostering increased awareness of, neuroinflammatory diseases like PANS/PANDAS.
ElizabethLatimer, MD
Pediatric Neurologist
M. Elizabeth Latimer, MD received her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston Massachusetts. She completed her residencies in Pediatrics and Neurology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, with special certification in Child Neurology. She served as chief of the Child Neurology Division at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC for five years, prior to practicing at Fairfax Hospital in Virginia.
In 2000, Dr. Latimer opened her practice of Child and Adolescent Neurology in Bethesda, MD, where she provided treatment for autism, ADHD, migraines, and other neurological conditions. She’s currently practicing out of her office in Washington DC conveniently located in the heart of Georgetown. In addition to her general neurology and headache practice, Dr. Latimer specializes in caring for PANDAS patients, and cerebral palsy patients who require spasticity management.
Throughout her years of working in the field of Child and Adolescent Neurology, Dr. Latimer has been involved with several health and non-profit organizations. She was a founding Board Member of the Catholic Coalition for Special Education, and served on the Board between 2004 and 2009.
AvindraNath, MD
Senior Investigator & Clinical DirectorNational Institute of Health/NINDS
Dr. Nath received his MD degree from Christian Medical College in India in 1981 and completed a residency in Neurology from University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, followed by a fellowship in Multiple Sclerosis and Neurovirology at the same institution and then a fellowship in Neuro-AIDS at NINDS. He held faculty positions at the University of Manitoba (1990-97) and the University of Kentucky (1997-02). In 2002, he joined Johns Hopkins University as Professor of Neurology and Director of the Division of Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infections. He joined NIH in 2011 as the Clinical Director of NINDS, the Director of the Translational Neuroscience Center and Chief of the Section of Infections of the Nervous System. His research focuses on understanding the pathophysiology of retroviral infections of the nervous system and the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for these diseases.
MarinaSelenica
Moderator
Marina was born and raised in Michigan with her younger brother, Joseph. After growing up watching her brother suffer from PANDAS that was misdiagnosed for 12 years, she felt compelled to pursue a career in neuroscience. Marina received her BS from Carnegie Mellon University in cognitive neuroscience as a student-athlete, and her MS from Tulane University also in neuroscience. She dedicates both of her degrees in neuroscience not only to her brother, but to all PANS/PANDAS patients and their families.
Marina currently lives in Washington D.C. and is an advisory member of the POND Brain Bank at Georgetown and is the Post-Mortem Core Manager for Target ALS. She is currently applying to medical school and hopes to specialize in neurology. In her free time, she loves playing tennis, volunteering, traveling, running, cooking, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Marina first learned about the Alex Manfull Fund at the Autoimmune Encephalitis Post-Streptococcal Evaluation & Treatment Conference in 2019, and is thrilled to have the opportunity to continue advancing awareness and research of PANDAS as a member of the board.
Dr. KyleWilliams, MD, PhD
Director of The Pediatric Neuropsychiatry and Immunology Program in The OCD and Related Disorders Program at Massachusetts General and Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School
Dr. Kyle Williams completed his residency, fellowship (in child psychiatry), and PhD (in Investigative Medicine/Neuroimmunology) at the Yale School of Medicine and Yale School of Graduate Studies. In 2013 he joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School and founded the Pediatric Neuropsychiatry and Immunology Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he treats children with PANDAS/PANS and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and conduct research on the role of the immune system in shaping behavior.
He’s authored multiple peer-reviewed journal articles and book-chapters on PANDAS, OCD, and Tourette Syndrome, and recognition throughout the years in the form of awards from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Outstanding Resident Award from the National Institute of Mental Health, and recently the Early Career Award in OCD Studies from the University of Toronto. He has conducted research on OCD/PANDAS and Tourette Syndrome, and have evaluated and treated hundreds of children and adults with these conditions.
Most importantly, he greatly enjoys helping people manage and overcome the challenges that OCD, PANDAS, and anxiety disorders can present in their lives and the lives of their children.
Peter J.van der Spek, Prof. dr. Ing.
Professor of Clinical Bioinformatics Department of PathologyErasmus University Medical Center
Prof. dr. Ing. Peter J. van der Spek is a molecular geneticist at the department of Pathology & Clinical Bioinformatics of the Erasmus University Medical Center, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. He began his training in Human Genetics in 1989 at the Erasmus MC Rotterdam and graduated in 1996. Van der Spek explored the Human Genome for candidate drug targets, for pharmaceutical companies such as Akzo-Nobel/Organon and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Pharmaceutica. In 2003 Peter J. van der Spek was appointed as full professor and head of the department of Bioinformatics at the Erasmus University Rotterdam. His fundamental, epidemiologic and diagnostic research focuses on five main areas: 1) Cancer predisposition genes with a special interest in DNA repair pathways 2) Cardiovascular relevant genetic mutations such as channelopathies. 3) Neurological development and genetic neuro-degenerative diseases characterized by chronic fatigue (ME/CFS) linked to mitochondrial DNA 4) Genetics of auto-immune and auto-inflammatory disorders with a focus on genetic primary immune deficiencies such as SCID. 5) Last but not least, rare pediatric genetic disorders (including PANS and PANDAS) with unknown causal molecular mutations are studied by applying state of the art Next Generation Sequencing technologies and OMICS techniques. Professor van der Spek has published many original papers on these topics. His bioinformatics expertise has opened the door towards understanding of the molecular pathways relevant to diagnose and develop therapeutic solutions to treat those diseases. He is closely involved in the development of innovative translational molecular personalized medicine strategies in many international projects.
The Biospecimen Use Committee
The Biospecimen Use Committee is tasked with reviewing requests from researchers for brain tissue. As can be seen below, the committee is composed of highly respected researchers and clinicians from the fields of psychiatry, neurology, and neuroscience.
Scott most recently served as a Vice President of Research and Development at AbbVie (ABBV), functioning also as the Chief Scientific Officer of the Stemcentrx division in South San Francisco, CA until July 2018. Scott co-founded Stemcentrx in 2008, growing the company to 160 employees with numerous clinical assets launched by 2016 when the company was acquired by AbbVie for $6.2B. Prior to founding Stemcentrx, Scott was one of the first scientists at OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, where he spearheaded the identification and characterization of solid tumor cancer stem cells. Scott received his BS in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, a Master’s Degree in Molecular Pathobiology from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, and his doctorate in Immunology & Cancer Biology from the University of Minnesota. Scott moved to California in 2002 to postdoc at Stanford University with stem cell pioneer Irv Weissman, and in 2005 was recognized by the British Council as one of eight outstanding young US-based researchers in the field of stem cell biology.
Dr. Frankovich is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy, Immunology Rheumatology (AIR) at Stanford University/Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital (LPCH). Her clinical expertise is in systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases that co-occur with psychiatric symptoms. She completed her training in pediatrics, pediatric rheumatology, and clinical epidemiology at Stanford University/LPCH. She directs the Stanford PANS Program (2012- present) where she and her collaborators have created a longitudinal clinical database and large biorepository of patient and control biospecimens. In addition to generating clinical data to better understand the PANS illness, she is collaborating with 10 basic science labs who aim to understand the immunological underpinnings of the illness.
Dr. Harris is a tenured, academic physician-scientist neuropathologist with interests in neurological disease research, medical education, and neuropathology clinical service. His research focuses on the areas of neurodegeneration and CNS neoplasia. His primary interest is in understanding how mechanisms of neuroinflammation and glial-neuronal communication influence the pathophysiology of neurological diseases. As a neuropathologist and neuropharmacologist he also seeks to uncover novel targets for pharmacological intervention. As Director of Neuropathology and the Georgetown Brain Bank, Dr. Harris works collaboratively with other investigators interested in basic, translational, and clinical neuroscience research projects at GUMC and with other academic and industry partners. Dr. Harris also serves as a neuropathology consultant for the DOJ and the DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and as the Chair for the Neuropathology Committee for the College of American Pathologists.
Dr. Khan is the Assistant Director at the Georgetown Brain Bank and Consultant Pathologist for the Histopathology Shared Resource at Georgetown University Medical Center. His research spans neuroinflammatory and neurological conditions, exploring the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, and Alzheimer's. Dr. Khan’s dual training in neuroscience, oncology, and neuropathology enables him to investigate the basic mechanisms of neuroinflammatory diseases to ultimately develop targeted therapies. In his role as an academic neuropathologist and physician scientist, Dr. Khan is dedicated to educating residents on, and fostering increased awareness of, neuroinflammatory diseases like PANS/PANDAS.
M. Elizabeth Latimer, MD received her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston Massachusetts. She completed her residencies in Pediatrics and Neurology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, with special certification in Child Neurology. She served as chief of the Child Neurology Division at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC for five years, prior to practicing at Fairfax Hospital in Virginia.
In 2000, Dr. Latimer opened her practice of Child and Adolescent Neurology in Bethesda, MD, where she provided treatment for autism, ADHD, migraines, and other neurological conditions. She’s currently practicing out of her office in Washington DC conveniently located in the heart of Georgetown. In addition to her general neurology and headache practice, Dr. Latimer specializes in caring for PANDAS patients, and cerebral palsy patients who require spasticity management.
Throughout her years of working in the field of Child and Adolescent Neurology, Dr. Latimer has been involved with several health and non-profit organizations. She was a founding Board Member of the Catholic Coalition for Special Education, and served on the Board between 2004 and 2009.
Dr. Nath received his MD degree from Christian Medical College in India in 1981 and completed a residency in Neurology from University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, followed by a fellowship in Multiple Sclerosis and Neurovirology at the same institution and then a fellowship in Neuro-AIDS at NINDS. He held faculty positions at the University of Manitoba (1990-97) and the University of Kentucky (1997-02). In 2002, he joined Johns Hopkins University as Professor of Neurology and Director of the Division of Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infections. He joined NIH in 2011 as the Clinical Director of NINDS, the Director of the Translational Neuroscience Center and Chief of the Section of Infections of the Nervous System. His research focuses on understanding the pathophysiology of retroviral infections of the nervous system and the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for these diseases.
Marina was born and raised in Michigan with her younger brother, Joseph. After growing up watching her brother suffer from PANDAS that was misdiagnosed for 12 years, she felt compelled to pursue a career in neuroscience. Marina received her BS from Carnegie Mellon University in cognitive neuroscience as a student-athlete, and her MS from Tulane University also in neuroscience. She dedicates both of her degrees in neuroscience not only to her brother, but to all PANS/PANDAS patients and their families.
Marina currently lives in Washington D.C. and is an advisory member of the POND Brain Bank at Georgetown and is the Post-Mortem Core Manager for Target ALS. She is currently applying to medical school and hopes to specialize in neurology. In her free time, she loves playing tennis, volunteering, traveling, running, cooking, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Marina first learned about the Alex Manfull Fund at the Autoimmune Encephalitis Post-Streptococcal Evaluation & Treatment Conference in 2019, and is thrilled to have the opportunity to continue advancing awareness and research of PANDAS as a member of the board.
Dr. Kyle Williams completed his residency, fellowship (in child psychiatry), and PhD (in Investigative Medicine/Neuroimmunology) at the Yale School of Medicine and Yale School of Graduate Studies. In 2013 he joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School and founded the Pediatric Neuropsychiatry and Immunology Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he treats children with PANDAS/PANS and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and conduct research on the role of the immune system in shaping behavior.
He’s authored multiple peer-reviewed journal articles and book-chapters on PANDAS, OCD, and Tourette Syndrome, and recognition throughout the years in the form of awards from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Outstanding Resident Award from the National Institute of Mental Health, and recently the Early Career Award in OCD Studies from the University of Toronto. He has conducted research on OCD/PANDAS and Tourette Syndrome, and have evaluated and treated hundreds of children and adults with these conditions.
Most importantly, he greatly enjoys helping people manage and overcome the challenges that OCD, PANDAS, and anxiety disorders can present in their lives and the lives of their children.
Prof. dr. Ing. Peter J. van der Spek is a molecular geneticist at the department of Pathology & Clinical Bioinformatics of the Erasmus University Medical Center, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. He began his training in Human Genetics in 1989 at the Erasmus MC Rotterdam and graduated in 1996. Van der Spek explored the Human Genome for candidate drug targets, for pharmaceutical companies such as Akzo-Nobel/Organon and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Pharmaceutica. In 2003 Peter J. van der Spek was appointed as full professor and head of the department of Bioinformatics at the Erasmus University Rotterdam. His fundamental, epidemiologic and diagnostic research focuses on five main areas: 1) Cancer predisposition genes with a special interest in DNA repair pathways 2) Cardiovascular relevant genetic mutations such as channelopathies. 3) Neurological development and genetic neuro-degenerative diseases characterized by chronic fatigue (ME/CFS) linked to mitochondrial DNA 4) Genetics of auto-immune and auto-inflammatory disorders with a focus on genetic primary immune deficiencies such as SCID. 5) Last but not least, rare pediatric genetic disorders (including PANS and PANDAS) with unknown causal molecular mutations are studied by applying state of the art Next Generation Sequencing technologies and OMICS techniques. Professor van der Spek has published many original papers on these topics. His bioinformatics expertise has opened the door towards understanding of the molecular pathways relevant to diagnose and develop therapeutic solutions to treat those diseases. He is closely involved in the development of innovative translational molecular personalized medicine strategies in many international projects.