UMMS-UMMHCNovember 2015 -December 2015

MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR

Greetings. We are delighted to begin 2016 with the next edition of our departmental newsletter. This issuehighlights additional new faculty members, some post-doctoral fellows and several members of our administrativestaff. We have been fortunate to have exceptionally talented post-doctoral research fellows; it is always a happytransition when outstanding fellows join the faculty, as is the case for Drs. Almeida and Fallini. Also critical to oursuccess are the individuals who administer the clinics and the laboratories, co-equal cornerstones of ourdepartmental mission of understanding and treating neurological disorders. Finally, we are very pleased towelcome Dr. Ika Noviatwaty to the department as well. Let me take this opportunity to welcome our new teammembers and extend warm wishes to everyone for a healthy and happy New Year.

− Robert H. Brown, Jr., DPhil, MD

Where can we find you whenyou’re not working? What’s yourfavorite way to spend a weekendor Sunday afternoon?Housework on Saturday mornings,but not before going to the gym,which is sort of a freedom! Myfavorite way to spend theweekend is to do a bit of readingfiction books, shopping, or to catchup on TV shows that I missedduring the week. I hope to alsostart taking a variety of dancelessons.

Elizabeth Cyrus-Esther

Where did you grow up?I grew up in a small town in Indiana along with my sisters,occasional pets, and a good mom and dad.

WHO SUPPORTS USWhat would be impossible for you to give up?In the past five years, I have given up lots ofthings, but I am glad to know that whatever stateI am (in), there is NPR, and PBS.Anything else you’d like to tell people aboutyourself?I am very happy to be in the department ofneurology. I am a secretary at heart and this sofar, is fitting the bill! Thanks!Who do I support?I support all administrative needs of theattendings of the neurology department.How long have I worked for the Department ofNeurology:I have worked only 6 days.Where can you be found?I can be found in room S5-708.

Official title: Senior Administrative SecretaryHow can we contact you?Tel. 508.856.6853Email:Elizabeth.CyrusEsther@umassmemorial.org

I grew up in Jakarta, Indonesia and received mymedical degree from Sun Yat Sen University ofMedical Science, China. I later pursuedneurology residency training in the MedicalCollege of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and served asthe chief resident in my final year of training.My epilepsy fellowship training was at theCleveland Clinic Foundation, mainly focused onepilepsy surgery and continuous ICU EEGmonitoring. My research interest has mainlybeen focused on seizure semiology and brainconnectivity. In addition to clinical andresearch activity, I have also been activelyinvolved in quality improvement projects.

Following my graduation from fellowship, Irecently joined the University of MassachusettsNeurology Department as a faculty member inthe Neurology Department and a co-director ofepilepsy surgery program. I will be workingcohesively with the epilepsy and neurosurgeryteam to expand the epilepsy surgery programand to introduce and implement thestereotactic EEG. I am hoping to use mytraining and experience to better serve thecomplex epilepsy patients in CentralMassachusetts and the surrounding NewEngland region.

Away from work, I am busy learning about theBoston area as my boyfriend and I just movedto the area. Together, we enjoy exploring newplaces, restaurants and all the culture Bostonhas to offer. In my free time, I also enjoyballroom dancing and travelling to new andexciting locations around the world.

Ika Noviawaty

WELCOME!

WELCOME TO

NEUROLOGY

WHO SUPPORTS US

Tina Pittman

Who do you support?Provide support to theDepartment ofNeurologyHow long have youworked for theDepartment ofNeurology?11 monthsWhere can we find you?S5-710

How we contact you?Phone: 508-856-4604Email: Tina.Pittman2@umassmemorial.orgList some important aspects of your job:Oversees Administrative Assistants; Onboardingand Departure of Clinicians and Office Staff; OnCall Schedule; Clinical Affiliations; ScheduleChanges; IT requests, etc.

What is your Official Title?

How we contact you?Email: Kimberly.Benoit@umassmed.eduPhone: 774-455-3760List some important aspects of your job:Payroll, process reimbursements for employeeand non-employees, arrange and maintain travelrecords, ordering for department, reconcileaccounts, documentation records, process andtrack invoices, answer phones, screen calls,arrange travel/planning for guest lecturers,administrate department clubs (journal club,nexus, etc.) and lab meetings.

Who do you support?Neurology Research PI’sDrs. Daryl Bosco, JohnLanders, Fen-Biao Gao,Miguel Esteves, RobertBrown, LawrenceHayward and their labs.Additionally, anyone inNeurology working withgrants/grant relatedresearch studies.

How long have you worked for the Departmentof Neurology? Two yearsWhat is your Office Number? AS6-1046AWhat is your Official Title?Administrative Assistant I

Supports the ASG group with grants, payrolland other HR related business.

Kimberly Benoit

Beth LaPerle

Who do you support?How long have youworked for theDepartment ofNeurology? The entirestaff of NeurologyHow long have youworked for theDepartment ofNeurology?I have been with the Neurology Department since June 2014

How we contact you?Email: Beth.Laperle@UMassmemorial.orgPhone: 508 334 3651List some important aspects of your job:Coordinate the Neuropsychology referrals fromreceiving, to booking the appointments andmaintaining the database. Processreimbursement for attendings, residents,fellows and outside vendors. Assist withcredentialing processes. Process Vacationrequests and maintain database Billingscrubber. I coordinate the NeurAccess: Classic,Sub Specialty and Resident ContinuityPrecepting Calendars monthly

What is your Official Title?Lead Administrative Assistant, Sr

Where can we find you?S5-710

Who do you support?I support anyone in ourdepartment who needsAdministrativeAssistance.How long have youworked for theDepartment ofNeurology?13 years

How we contact you?Phone: (508) 334-6613Email pastorm@ummhc.org .List some important aspects of your job:I compose and type letters, do spread sheets,Outlook calendars, send faxes, make phone calls,copies, scans, process all our incoming mail, andhave trained a volunteer to assist us. I prep,schedule and support the ALS/MDA clinic in theAmbulatory Care Center. In addition, every Friday,I am the Front Desk Receptionist for this clinic.

Mary Ellen Pastor

What is your Official Title?Senior Administrative Assistant

Where can we find you?Room S5-708

How we contact you?Phone: Ext. 63083Email: Naomi.Northrop@umassmemorial.org

Noami Nortrop

Who do you support?Provide support to theDepartment of Neurology’sEducation ProgramHow long have you workedfor the Department ofNeurology?27 yearsWhere can we find you?S5-731What is your Official Title?Educational ProgramsCoordinator

List some important aspects of your job:Compile and process clerkships, residency andfellow ships.

Lois Holmes

Who do you support?Provide support to the Departmentof Neurology’s Education ProgramHow long have you worked for theDepartment of Neurology?6 yearsWhere can we find you?S5-731What is your Official Title?Educational Programs Coordinator

List some important aspects of your job:Compile and process clerkships, residencyand fellow ships.

How we contact you?Phone: Ext. 48173Email:Lois.Holmes@umassmemorial.org

Operations Supervisor for Neurology, RenalMedicine & Geriatric Medicine

List some important aspects of your job:Currently compile the department’s newsletter;faculty appointments; and promotions. Assist inthe process of reappointments, credentialingand clinical privileges. Planning and executingdepartment events, and implementing newprocedures, for the department. Travel andcalendars management for the Chair and ViceChair. Answering phones and coordinating withpatients when necessary, among other basicadministrative duties.

Who do you support?I provide support to theDepartment of Neurology,focusing on both the Chairand Executive Vice Chair.How long have youworked for theDepartment ofNeurology?1 yearWhere can we find you?S5-753 Sarah SierraWhat is your Official Title?Senior Executive AdministrativeAssistantHow we contact you?Phone: 508-334-5989Email: Sarah.Sierra@umassmed.edu

NEW FELLOWS

RESIDENTS’ CORNER

As Chief Residents of Neurology, we welcome you to the Resident’sCorner! We extend you an invitation to meet our residents, theirachievements, personal lives and families. Please join us in formallywelcoming our new residents. We hope you will enjoy our section andcontinue to read about our adventures in future editions.

- Yunis Mayasi, M.D., M.S. – Chief Resident- Johana Helenius, M.D., Ph.D. - Chief Resident

Education: I did my medical school at Jordanuniversity of science and technology between2002- 2006, I did two years of neurologyresidency at King Abdullah University hospitalbetween 2009-2011. Finally, I completedNeurology residency at University of Arkansasfor Medical Sciences between 2011- 2015Birthplace: Saudia ArabiaHobbies: Used to play Martial arts

Ayman Al-SalaimehPGY - 5

FUN FACTS

If you need help putting anything together or moving, you can contact Chief Resident Dr. Mayasi Yunis Moving Services.

He also does house calls.

Education: I did my medical education atUniversity of Puerto Rico School of Medicine from2007-2011. Completed Neurology Residency atUMass Medical Center 2011-2015. Currently I amdoing Multiple Sclerosis/NeuroimmunologyFellowship.Birthplace: Puerto RicoHobbies: Traveling, dancing.

Education: I attended medical school atPhiladelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine inPhiladelphia PA between 2007 - 2011, then 1 yearof medical internship at Lankenau Medical Centerin Wynnewood, PA from 2011-2012, followed by 3years of neurology residency at University ofMassachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, MAfrom 2012-2015. I am currently completing aClinical Neurophysiology fellowship at UMass, tobe completed in June 2016.Birthplace: Stroudsburg, PAHobbies: Swimming, traveling, skiing, reading,painting

Education: I did my medical school at University ofMassachusetts between 2005 to 2009, and I did sixyears of combined neurology and psychiatryresidency at University of Massachusestts between2009 to 2015. Finally, I am doing vascular neurologyfellowship at University of Massachusetts between2015 to 2016.Birthplace: Seoul, South KoreaHobbies: I like to spend time with my 3 month olddaughter. I like to catch up on every smile, laughter,tears, and milestones that she goes through.Otherwise, you can find me at a local church, playingpiano every other Sunday. Lately my hobby includeslistening to Mozart with my baby.

Idanis Berrios MoralesPGY - 5

Breta BootsPGY - 5

Adalia Jun-O’ConnellPGY - 7

What path brought you here? The study of motor neuronbiology and function in health and disease has been acentral focus of my research since my pre-graduate studies.In particular, I have been primarily interested in the role ofmRNA post-transcriptional regulation and of axonal proteintrafficking in the development of neurodegenerativediseases. During my graduate and postdoctoral training Ihave focused my research on the investigation of themolecular mechanisms leading to motor neurondegeneration in ALS. The discovery of new disease genes and

What path brought you here? After obtaining a PhD inCell Biology from the University of Coimbra, Portugal, Imoved to San Francisco to start a Post-Doc at theGladstone Institutes, UCSF. Two years later, my mentorrelocated his lab to UMMS, and I chose to give up the niceweather in California and move to Worcester. Thisallowed me to continue the work I started there, and thatI really enjoy. I am a warm-weather person, but I wasexcited about the snow and that first winter did notdisappoint me.

Hélène Tran, PhD

I am a post doc inFen Biao labBirthplace: ParisHobbies: Play piano,sewing and cookingChildren: Matthieu2-years-old son

Shuwen Cao

I am a Post Doc, 2nd yearin Dr. LawrenceHayward’s labGraduation Year: 2012Birthplace: Shanghai,ChinaHobbies: Oil painting,Billiards and SwimmingChildren (Yes/No): No

Yeliz Aydemir

I am a post doc, 6th year Fen-Biao GaoBirthplace:Ankara/TurkeyHobbies: Running,hiking, reading.Children(Yes/No): Yes,I have a 2-year-old son.

Owen Peters

I am a 4th post-doc withBob Brown and MarcFreeman Graduation Year:2011 Cardiff University,

UK.Birthplace: Worcester, UK(but brought up in Cardiff,Wales, UK)Hobbies: Cooking, music,skiing, travelChildren: No

MEET OUR POST DOCS

I am a Post Doc (with Drs.Bob Brown and GuangpingGao, Gene Therapy Center)Joined in 2012.Graduation Year:2012, PhD from University ofAlabama at Birmingham.Birthplace: Dalian, China.Hobbies: Soccer andbadminton.Children?: Yes, 1 girl.

Dan Wang

NEW RESEARCH FACULTY!

Where did you grow up? I grew up in Coimbra, Portugal.What would be impossible for you to give up? Chocolate.How do you want to be remembered? As a person who did good science andworked very hard, but still always found time to see the fun in life, both duringwork and outside of it.

What are you most passionate about professionally? My research involves theuse of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells to model and studyFrontotemporal Dementia. It’s not an easy task to work with these cells, but Ienjoy a good challenge. I hope that my studies will contribute to finding atreatment to this and similar diseases.What are you passionate about personally? What do you really enjoy? Whatcan’t you stop talking about? I love travelling and trying new foods. But sincemy daughter was born (almost one year ago) I cannot stop taking about howgreat and fun she is, and how fast she is growing.Where can we find you when you’re not working? What’s your favorite way tospend a weekend or a Sunday afternoon? Most likely at home playing withEmilia and my husband. We love to go out for walks and play with Emiliaoutside. And because Emilia loves to eat, we sometimes go out to try a newrestaurant.

Sandra AlmeidaClaudia Fallini

the study of the altered pathways caused by gene mutations is an exciting areaof investigation and I believe it will greatly contribute to our understanding ofthe pathogenesis of ALS. The possibility to work on newly discovered genes wasan appealing factor that led me to join Dr. Landers’ lab. In addition, UMassMedical School has a strong focus ALS and RNA research, which is the perfectenvironment I was seeking to further my research and career development.What are you most passionate about professionally? My research interests arefocused on the study of the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration. Inparticular I am fascinated by the role of mRNA post-transcriptional regulation inmotor neurons, especially in the axons and dendrites. This pathway has beenoverlooked for a long time, but it is now on the forefront of ALS research.What are you passionate about personally? What do you really enjoy? Whatcan’t you stop talking about? I love reading (whenever I can find a minute…),listening to music, and spending time with my lovely husband and adorabledaughter. But I’m really passionate about food! I love cooking and, of course,eating great food.Where can we find you when you’re not working? What’s your favorite way tospend a weekend or a Sunday afternoon? Most probably at home, playingchase with my almost 2-year-old daughter.Where did you grow up? I was born and raised in a small town outside Milano,Italy. My hometown, Parabiago, is famous for its high-end shoe factories.What would be impossible for you to give up? My family (and coffee)

NEURO BABY

Name: AndyDOB: 4/28/14Yubing Lu, PhD

Name: MatthieuDOB: 07/02/13

Hélène Tran, PhD

Name: EmiliaDOB: 12/17/2014

Sandra Almeida, PhD

MEET OUR GRADUATES

Gabriela Cristina Toro

I am a 4th year graduatestudent with Dr. ChrisMueller.Graduation Year: expecteddate May of 2017Birthplace: Quito-EcuadorHobbies: Rock climbing,Drawing and painting,Teaching SpanishChildren (Yes/No): Nochildren

I am a Graduate Student inDaryl Bosco’s lab; 4th yearGraduationYear: Anticipated 2018Birthplace: Bath, MaineHobbies: Hiking/camping,gardening, readingChildren (Yes/No): No kids,although I do have a cat anda guinea pig that I treat likemy children.

Maeve Tischbein

Name: EmmaDOB: 04/28/14

Claudia Fallini, PhD

Dwijit Guhasarka

I am a Graduate Student 2016 Dr. Miguel Sena-EstevesBirthplace: KolkataHobbies: Acting, travelingChildren: No children

Name: AdamDOB: 12/08/15

Ayman Al-Salaimeh, PhD

Leticia Fridman

I am a Grad student, 5th yearwith Bob Brown.Graduation Year: to bedeterminedBirthplace: Rio de Janeiro,BrazilHobbies: kayaking, archery,swimmingChildren: Yes, 3 cats

Burguete AS, Almeida S, GaoFB, Kalb R, Akins M, BoniniNM (2015) GGGGCC repeatRNA is neuritically localizedand perturbs transportgranule function in a humanC9orf72 repeat expansionmodel. eLife In press.

Tran H, Almeida S, Moore J,Gendron TF, Du X, ChalasaniU, Nickerson JA, Petrucelli L,Weng Z, Gao FB (2015)Differential toxicity of nuclearRNA foci versus dipeptiderepeat proteins in aDrosophila model of C9ORF72FTD/ALS. Neuron. 87:1207-1214.

Yang D, Abdallah A, Li Z, Lu Y, Almeida S, Gao FB. (2015) FTD/ALS-associated GR protein causes cell death through the Notch pathway.Acta Neuropathol. 130:525-535.

Freibaum B*, Lu Y*, Lopez-Gonzalez R, Kim NC, Almeida S, Lee KH,Badders N, Valentine M, Miller BL, Wong PC, Petrucelli L, Kim HJ, GaoFB#, Taylor JP# (2015) GGGGCC repeat expansion in C9ORF72compromises nucleocytoplasmic shuttling resulting in nuclearretention of RNA. Nature 525:129-133 (*: co-first author. #: co-corresponding author)

Gascon E, Lynch K, Ruan H, Almeida S, Verheyden J, Sun D, Jiao J,Seeley WW, Dickson DW, Petrucelli L, Jakovcevski M, Akbarian S, YaoWD, Gao FB. (2014) MicroRNA-124 alters AMPA receptor compositionand rescues social behavioral deficits in frontotemporal dementia.Nat. Med. 20:1444-1451.

Lee WC, Almeida S, Tay WT, Prudencio M, Zhang YJ, Chew J, SasaguriH, Jansen-West KR, Gendron TF, Bauer P, Xu YF, Gass J, Mackenzie IR,Rademakers R, Cowan C, Gao FB, Petrucelli L. (2014) Targetedmanipulation of the sortilin-progranulin axis rescues progranulinhaploinsufficiency. Hum. Mol. Genet. 23:1467-1478.

PUBLICATIONS

EVENT CALENDAR

Sandra Almeida

Claudia Fallini

Exome-wide rare variant analysisidentifies TUBA4A mutations associatedwith familial ALS. Smith BN, TicozziN, Fallini C, Gkazi AS, Topp S, Kenna KP,Scotter EL, Kost J, Keagle P, Miller JW,Calini D, Vance C, Danielson EW,Troakes C, Tiloca C, Al-Sarraj S, LewisEA, King A, Colombrita C, Pensato V,Castellotti B, de Belleroche J, Baas F,ten Asbroek AL, Sapp PC, McKenna-Yasek D, McLaughlin RL, Polak M,Asress S, Esteban-Pérez J, Muñoz-Blanco JL, Simpson M; SLAGENConsortium, van Rheenen W, DiekstraFP, Lauria G, Duga S, Corti S, Cereda C,Corrado L, Sorarù G, Morrison KE,Williams KL, Nicholson GA,

Blair IP, Dion PA, Leblond CS, Rouleau GA, Hardiman O, Veldink JH,van den Berg LH, Al-Chalabi A, Pall H, Shaw PJ, Turner MR, Talbot K,Taroni F, García-Redondo A, Wu Z, Glass JD, Gellera C, Ratti A, BrownRH Jr, Silani V, Shaw CE, Landers JE. Neuron. 2014 Oct 22;84(2):324-31. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.09.027. Epub 2014 Oct 22. PMID:25374358

Helenius J, Goddeau R, Moonis M,Henninger N: Impact of leukoariosison hehispherical lateralization of theNational Institute of Health StrokeScale Deficits in Acute IschemicStroke.Stroke EPub,Nov10th, 2015

Novak P, Pimenta lDA, Sundar B,Moonis M, Qin L, NovalV;Associations of Statins with sensoryand autonomic gangliopathy.Frontiers in aging NeuroscienceDOI10.3389/fnagi.2015.00191

Kabir A, Ruiz C, Alvarez S, Riaz N,Moonis M. Model-Based clusteringof ischemic stroke.HEALTHINF,2015full text in SCITEPRESS digital library.

Kabir A, Ruiz C, S.Alvarez A, Moonis M. ``Model-based clusteringof ischemic stroke patients'', full paper, Proc. Eighth InternationalConference on Health Informatics (HEALTHINF 2015), inconjunction with the Eighth International Joint Conference onBiomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies (BIOSTEC2015), Lisbon, Portugal, Jan. 12-15, 2015

C. Wang*, S. A. Alvarez, C. Ruiz, and M. Moonis. ``Semi-Markovmodeling-clustering of human sleep with efficient initializationand stopping'', full paper, Proc. Seventh International Conferenceon Bio-inspired Systems and Signal Processing (BIOSIGNALS2014), in conjunction with the Seventh International JointConference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies(BIOSTEC 2014), Angers, France, Mar. 3-6, 2014

Wang c, F. Usher U, S. Alvarez A, Ruiz C, Moonis M. Clustering ofhuman sleep recordings using a quantile representation of stagebout durations, in Gabriel, J., Schier, J., Van Huffel, S., Conchon,E., Correia, C., Fred, A., Gamboa, H. (Eds.), BiomedicalEngineering Systems and Technologies 5th International JointConference, BIOSTEC 2012, Vilamoura, Portugal, February 1-4,2012, Revised Selected Papers, Communications in Computer andInformation Science, Volume 357, Springer, 2013. ISBN 978-3-642-38256-7

Kabir, A., C. Ruiz, S.A. Alvarez, N. Ashfaq, and M. Moonis."Model-Based Clustering of Ischemic Stroke Patients". EighthInternational Conference on Health Informatics (HEALTHINF2015). Lisbon, Portugal. Jan,12-15, 2015.

Seshadri S, Moonis M. Dipping to recover Amyloid Peptides.Editorial Neurology EPub,Nov 4th ,2015 Husaini BA, GudlavalletiASV, CainV, Levine R, Moonis M: Hospitalization Costs ofDementia And Risk Factors: Examining Variations by Race andGender. IJCM, October 2015 (accepted for publication)

Shrivastava P, Bhasin A, Talwar T, Moonis M: PharmacologicalAgents in Post Stroke Recovery. J of Neurology and Stroke.2014,1(6): 40-46 EOSINOPHILIA

Husaini B, Levine R, Cain V, Novotny M, Emerson J, Orum G,Bazargan M, Hull P, Khan M, Moonis M: Stroke burden and riskfactors during1997–2008: Examining the effect of ethnicity andgender: Astrocyte (1):9-16, 2014

Baqar Husaini, Van Cain, Meggan Novotny, Robert S. Levine,Majaz Moonis. Stroke rates decline yet burden of stroke remainshigh for African-Americans. APHA 11,2014

Moonis M, Kumar R, Henninger N, Kane K, Fisher M: Pre andPost Statins Improve Acute Stroke outcome. Indian Journal ofCommunity Medicine 10/2014; 39(4):214-7. DOI:10.4103/0970-0218.143021

Majaz Moonis, M.D.

SPECIAL EVENTS

University of Massachusetts Department of Neurology Dinner in Honor of Dr. Marc Fisher

(L to R) Raphael Carandang, Marc Fisher, Ayman Al-Salaimeh, Jeffrey Saver, Muhammad Ramzan, Rick Goddeau, Ajit Puri and Majaz Moonis at the Sole Proprietor in Worcester November 30th 2015.

Neurology Residents Case Presentation for Dr. Marc Fisher

IF YOU MISSED IT!

Brain cake by Dr. Wiley Hall John Ryan and the brain cake

As of August, 2016, Dr. David Paydarfar will be the founding chair in the new Department of Neurology at Dell Medical School in Austin, Texas.

Nancy Maloughney

IF YOU MISSED IT!

IF YOU MISSED IT!