Douglas S. Goodin, M.D.

Professor, Neurology
Medical Director, MS Center

Dr. Goodin is a Clinical Professor at the University of California-San Francisco and Medical Director of the UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center. Dr. Goodin received his M.D. degree at UC Irvine, and completed his residency at UCSF.

Dr. Goodin is internationally recognized for many academic publications on the advancement in the understanding of Multiple Sclerosis.

Stephen L. Hauser, M.D.

Professor and Chair, Department of Neurology

Steve Hauser is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (S.B., 1971, Phi Beta Kappa) and the Harvard Medical School (M.D. 1975, Magna Cum Laude). He trained in internal medicine at the New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center and in neurology at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Following postdoctoral fellowships in immunology at Harvard Medical School (1980-1983) and the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France (1983-1986), he joined the faculty at Harvard and established an independent laboratory at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Since 1992, he has served as chairman and Robert A. Fishman Distinguished Professor of the Department of Neurology at UCSF.

A neuroimmunologist, Dr. Hauser's research has focused on multiple sclerosis (MS). He was responsible for one of the first clinical trials of immunosuppression on the course of progressive MS. His early work identified the CD4 T-cell as important in MS and also in experimental models of demyelination. With colleagues, he developed the first animal model that faithfully reproduces the neuropathology of MS and identified an autoantibody against a quantitatively minor myelin protein, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, that mediated myelin damage.

During the past decade he has also led a multicenter effort to identify the major genes that confer susceptibility to MS. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association of Physicians, a member of the Institute of Medicine and serves as an editor of the medical textbook Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine.

Daniel Pelletier, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Neurology
 
Dr. Pelletier is a clinician-scientist. He was born and educated in the Province of Quebec, Canada. After first receiving a bachelor degree in Computer Sciences and studying a year in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Connecticut, Dr. Pelletier received his M.D. degree and completed his Neurology training in Quebec City at Laval University. He subsequently received research training in multiple sclerosis and advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques at the Montreal Neurological Institute, Canada. He joined the University of California, San Francisco MS Center in 1999 as a clinical instructor and a recipient of a National Multiple Sclerosis Physician Award Grant for his work in molecular imaging. He received the Harry Weaver Neuroscientist Scholar Award in 2005 from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Dr. Pelletier has special interest understanding the natural history of various forms of MS using non-invasive exploratory neuroimaging techniques and integrating the advances into the daily care of patients.

"Our patients deserve new tools to better understand the evolution of their disease and to provide them with an individualized clinical approach. I hope that my dedication to MS will contribute to helping as many patients suffering from this disease as possible."

Scott Zamvil, M.D., Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Neurology
 
Dr. Scott Zamvil is a neuroscientist and clinical neurologist dedicated to developing novel treatments for multiple sclerosis. He earned his MD and Ph.D. in medical microbiology from Stanford University, and completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Stanford University and a residency in Neurology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA. He then joined the neurology faculty at the Brigham and Women's Hospital. In 1994, Dr. Zamvil was named a Harry Weaver Neuroscience Scholar by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. In 1998 he became a member of the neurology faculty at UCSF.

He is currently funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the National Institutes of Health, the Wadsworth Foundation and the Maisin Foundation. His current line of research, including recent publications in Nature, the Journal of Clinical Investigation and the Journal of Immunology, explores the role of different antigen presenting cells in activation of T cells and the possible therapeutic uses of statins in MS.

Bruce Anthony Campbell Cree, M.D., Ph.D, MCR

Bruce Cree, MD, PhD, MCR is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of California San Francisco Multiple Sclerosis Center. He is board certified in neurology.

After graduating from Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, Dr. Cree earned his medical degree and his PhD from the University of California San Francisco. He completed his residency in Neurology at New York Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia University), New York City, where he was chief resident.  He returned to the University of California San Francisco where he undertook postdoctoral subspecialty training in multiple sclerosis as a Sylvia Lawry fellow. Additionally, he received a Master's degree in Clinical Research at the University of California, San Francisco, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

Dr. Cree has served as an investigator on numerous clinical studies in multiple sclerosis. Much of his research has focused on multiple sclerosis epidemiology and his work has been published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, Annals of Neurology, Archives of Neurology, Genes and Immunity, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Nature Genetics, The Neurologist, Neurology, and Seminars in Neurology.

Emmanuelle Waubant, M.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Neurology

Dr Emmanuelle Waubant was born in France. She trained as a Neurologist and got Board Certified in Neurology in Toulouse, France. She continued her training as a neuroimmunology post-doctoral fellow (1993-1994) in Dr Hauser's UCSF laboratory, focusing on migration of lymphocytes through equivalents of blood-brain-barrier.

After completing her 2 year chief residency in Toulouse, Dr. Waubant returned to UCSF for a 3 year fellowship in Clinical Neuroimmunology at the UCSF MS center. During that time, she trained in clinical research methodology, specifically in MS. Dr Waubant returned to France to head a clinical research center in Paris from June 1999 to August 2001 in the Pitie-Salpetriere University Hospital.

Dr. Waubant is currently an Assistant Professor in Neurology at the UCSF MS Center. She is also the Nancy Davis Medical Director, and heads a collaboration between 6 American MS Centers recognized as Centers of Excellence.

Finally, Dr. Waubant is currently directing the clinical research activities at the MS center.

Darin T. Okuda, M.D.

Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology

Dr. Darin T. Okuda received his M.D. from the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine and completed his residency training in neurology at the Barrow Neurological Institute. He joined the neurology faculty after completing a fellowship in multiple sclerosis and neuro-immunology at UCSF.

In addition to striving for excellence in the care of all patients, his research focuses on investigating the natural history of brain lesions in the very early forms of multiple sclerosis through advanced and novel magnetic resonance imaging techniques. He is currently investigating the influence of MS genetic susceptibility on MR imaging outcome measures (brain volumetric changes, impact of lesion phenotypes, and influence of MS burden of disease) and clinical outcomes in all MS subtypes.

"Our current treatments for MS should be individualized based on genetic, clinical, and radiological data. Research studies here at UCSF aim to provide more information for this heterogeneous condition such that specifically designed therapies may be implemented to maximize clinical outcomes in patients."

Dr. Okuda is a Diplomate of The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. and member of the American Academy of Neurology Committee on Ethics.

Dorothée Chabas, M.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Neurology

Dr. Chabas went to medical school at Cochin Port-Royal University, Paris, France. From 1992 to 1998, she did her neurology residency in Paris and became board-certified in neurology in 1998. She also graduated from the Ecole Normale Supérieure of Paris in biological sciences in 1992. She then earned a Master’s Degree and PhD in Immunology from Paris Pasteur Institute, University Rene Descartes.

From 1998 to 2001, she did post-doctoral training in neuro-immunology under the mentorship of Dr. Lawrence Steinman at Stanford University. There, she performed sentinel work regarding the influence of the proinflammatory molecule osteopontin on MS and EAE. She then went back to Paris in 2001 to complete her clinical training in MS as a clinical fellow in the Department of Neurology at Salpêtrière Hospital.

In 2002, Dr. Chabas was awarded as a laureate of the AVENIR program for young researchers sponsored by the national French research institution INSERM. From 2002 to 2005, she ran independent research activity in the INSERM Laboratory U546 at Salpêtrière Hospital, where she and her team focused on various immunological aspects of MS and narcolepsy, while participating in various MS clinical research projects.

In January, 2006, Dr. Chabas joined the UCSF MS Center as an Assistant Professor. She is the co-investigator of the UCSF Pediatric MS Center, one of 6 regional pediatric MS centers of excellence in the US chosen by the National MS Society. Since then, as the Co-Director of the program, Dr. Chabas has dedicated 100% of her efforts to coordinate the clinical, educational and research activities of the program. She is the principal investigator of the UCSF pediatric MS database that she created with the team, which provides opportunities to conduct clinical and scientific research in pediatric MS.

Dr. Chabas has been part of the International Pediatric MS Task Force since 2005, which published consensual definitions and guidelines for pediatric MS in April, 2007 (Neurology). She has been also part of the Steering Committee of the National Network of Pediatric MS Centers of Excellence since its creation in January, 2006.

Elizabeth Crabtree, M.D.

Assistant Clinical Professor, Neurology; Directory of Patient Program Development

Dr. Crabtree spent her childhood near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received her BA from Reed College with high honors, majoring in Biology and Spanish. Prior to medical school, she was involved in immunology research in Palo Alto, CA and spent one year in Japan at the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo. Dr. Crabtree received her MD from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana and then headed to UCLA for her residency in Neurology. She was awarded the Golden Hammer award for teaching. During that time, she also cultivated an interest in multiple sclerosis and neurobehavior. She returned to Tulane for fellowship training in neurobehavior and then joined the faculty. She served as an Assistant Professor of Neurology and Associate Director of the Residency Program until Hurricane Katrina prompted relocation.

Dr. Crabtree and her family relocated to San Francisco. Dr. Crabtree served as the National MS Society Hampton Roads Clinical Fellow at the UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center, and was subsequently asked to join the faculty at UCSF. Her role has been to improve access to clinical care and to develop patient programs for patient needs unmet in the outpatient clinic. She has interests in a multidisciplinary approach to symptom management, fatigue, and improving quality of life for her patients. She recently has joined the Board of Trustees for the Northern California Chapter of the National MS Society and looks forward to focusing on developing patient resources and programs.

Ellen M. Mowry, M.D.

Clinical Instructor, Neurology

Dr. Ellen Mowry received her M.D. at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and completed her neurology residency training at the University of Pennsylvania. She began a fellowship at the MS Center in July, 2007 and will study quality of life in patients who have recently experienced the first symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

This aspect of MS research is important because quality of life measures may reflect aspects of the disease not fully captured by current clinical measures. At UCSF, she will evaluate quality of life early in both adults and children.

Darcy Cox, Psy. D, ABPP-CN

Neuropsychologist, Assistant Clinical Professor
(415) 863 3286

Dr. Darcy Cox is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Neurology and a board-certified neuropsychologist in private practice. Her research and clinical focus is in the area of neuropsychology, with special interests in clinical neuropsychological assessment, coping with injection anxiety, and the relationship between MS-related neuropathology and cognitive difficulties.

Sara Brandt, MA, MFT

Individual and Family Therapy Services
(415) 412-7003

Sara Brandt is a licensed marriage and family therapist with seven years clinical experience in working with children, adolescents and families. She has extensive experience in helping individuals and families address issues related to trauma, such as past abuse, domestic violence. She is trained in EMDR (www.emdr.com), and has experience in working with many different kinds of families. She works to be culturally competent both personally and professionally.

In addition to trauma issues, she works with individual and/or family issues, parenting, self-esteem/personal growth, stress, and other issues. Her theoretical orientation is primarily eclectic (many therapies) with strong emphasis on systems, humanistic and cognitive-behavioral.

See also http://sarabrandt.com/

Mary Owen, N.P.

Research Nurse Practitioner

Ivo Violich

Clinical Research Coordinator

Alan Evangelista

Clinical Research Coordinator
(415) 476-1910
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Cougar Brenneman

Research Assistant

Cougar Brenneman brings five years of experience in technical writing to the technical aspects of his position and twenty years as a professional writer to the communication aspects of the job. He is currently the webmaster for this site. Contact him to address issues with this website.

Michael Ross

Study Coordinator

Daniel Bissonnette

Study Coordinator