Our department treats research as the driving force of excellence in patient care.

 

The Department of Neurology — part of the Houston Methodist Neurological Institute — pursues new technologies to improve functional measurements applicable to a range of neurological conditions. Our team fosters an optimal research environment for our faculty to further the understanding of neurological diseases and translate findings to clinical care, bolstered by rich collaborative opportunities available at the Texas Medical Center.

81

Active Clinical Trials

67

Peer Reviewed Publications in 2024

11

Specialized Centers & Programs
Neurology Labs

Appel Lab/Peggy & Gary Edwards ALS LAB

Research Areas:

  1. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  2. Neurodegenerative diseases
  3. Alzheimer’s disease
  4. Neuromuscular disorders

Chung Lab/Neuroinflammation Lab

Research Areas:

  1. Glia biology
  2. Neuroinflammatory responses
  3. Sphingolipid metabolism
  4. Functional genomics using drosophila

Jun Li Lab

Research Areas:

  1. Inherited peripheral nerve diseases
  2. Myelin biology
  3. Peripheral nerve electrophysiology
  4. Electromyogram

Masdeu Lab/Neuroimaging Lab

Research Areas:

  1. Alzheimer’s disease
  2. Brain lesions
  3. Neuroimaging
  4. Psychoses

READISCA/SCA1 and SCA3

Lead Investigator: Tetsuo Ashizawa, MD

Research Areas:

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) and type 3 (SCA3)

Yun Lab/Brain Cancer Research Lab

Research Areas:

  1. Brain cancer
  2. Tumor immunology
  3. Neuro-inflammation
  4. Single cell genomics

Research Highlights

From The Humble Fly, Great Discoveries Are Made
Drosophila fruit fly key in discovering rare, unknown diseases, and developing new treatments for known maladies.
PAK2 and Myelination in Peripheral Nervous System
Drs. Bo Hu and Jun Li identify key factor influencing nerve myelination and find therapeutic target for PND.
Alzheimer’s Disease: Mild Cognitive Impairment
A Phase IIa trial to determine tolerability of L-serine for MCI patients and assess efficacy. 
Early Parkinson’s Disease
A Phase 2a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study of UCB0599 in subjects with early Parkinson's disease
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