Neuromuscular Day: Dr. Merit Cudkowicz
Keynote Speaker: Merit Cudkowicz, MD
Neurologist | Clinical Researcher
Chief, Neurology Department
Mass General Hospital
Director, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS
Julieanne Dorn Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
Topic: New Therapies for ALS
Learning objectives:
1. Current Diagnosis and care for people with ALS
2. Recent trial results
3. New research studies
Dr. Merit Cudkowicz is the Julieanne Dorn Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, Chief of Neurology Service at Mass General Hospital. Dr. Cudkowicz’s research and clinical activities are dedicated to the study and treatment of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Dr. Cudkowicz directs the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General Hospital. She is one of the founders and former co-director of the Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS), a group of over 140 clinical sites in the United States, Canada, Europe and the Middle East dedicated to performing collaborative academic led clinical trials and research studies in ALS. In conjunction with the NEALS consortium, she planned and completed several multi-center clinical research studies in ALS. She is Principal Investigator of the Clinical Coordination Center for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke’s Neurology Network of Excellence in Clinical Trials (NeuroNEXT). With her colleagues at Mass General and NEALS, she is currently leading the first ALS Platform Trial initiative to greatly accelerate therapy development.
Dr. Cudkowicz received the American Academy of Neurology 2009 Sheila Essey ALS award and the 2018 Boston Chamber of Commerce Pinnacle Award. She is a pioneer in promoting and developing more efficient methods of developing new therapies for people with ALS. A dedicated educator, Dr. Cudkowicz mentors many young neurologists in clinical investigation of ALS and related neurodegenerative disorders.
Speakers:
Dr. Ari Breiner, University of Ottawa
A population-based study of pregnancy outcomes in women with MG
Dr. Hans Katzberg, UHN
Neuromuscular Ultrasound: Supplementing Function with Structure
Dr. Monica Alcantara, UHN
A population-based study of COVID-19 outcomes in people with Myasthenia in Ontario, Canada
Dr. Dubravka Dodig, UHN
COVID-19-Associated Critical Illness Myopathy with Direct Viral Effects
Dr. Carolina Barnett-Tapia, UHN
Understanding patient preferences regarding new treatments in MG
Adrienne Sulistyo, MSc., University of Toronto
The Anti-Saccade Eye Movement : Task to screen for Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients with ALS
Dr. Charles Kassardjian, St. Michael’s Hospital
Prednis-ONE size does not fit all: A survey of Canadian neuromuscular physicians on chronic corticosteroid management
Anna Huynh, MHSc., S-LP(C), University of Toronto
The impact of cognitive symptoms on coping with bulbar ALS: Perceived needs for bulbar symptom management
Dr. Juan Francisco Idiaquez, UHN
Orthostatic blood pressure change in diabetic neuropathy
Dr. Sara Al Najjar, UHN
Retrospective study on the safety of COVID-19 vaccination in Myasthenia Gravis
These rounds are generously supported by formal partnership with the Division of Neurology by Alexion, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, EMD Serono, Grifols, Paladin, Roche, Sanofi Genzyme, and Teva.