Multiple Sclerosis In The Crossfire 2008: The Emerging Face of MS

Professor of Neurology,
Wayne State University School of Medicine,
Director, Wayne State University MS Clinical Research Center,
Director, Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit MI

Dr. Omar Khan is Professor of Neurology at Wayne State University School of Medicine, in Detroit, Michigan. He is the Director of the Wayne State University Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Research Center, with over 3000 patients in the MS Clinic.

Dr. Khan has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers, abstracts, and book chapters. He has received numerous awards, and has served as faculty for the American Academy of Neurology, and the European Charcot Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis Research. Dr. Khan is an elected member of the American Neurological Association and also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS).

Dr. Khan has served as principal investigator on several landmark exploratory and muti-center clinical trials. His areas of interest include imaging and genetics of multiple sclerosis, and developing therapeutic approaches to treat multiple sclerosis. Dr. Khan's research is supported by the NMSS, the NIH, the Department of Veteran's Affairs, and the industry.

Staff Neurologist and Medical Director,
Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis,
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology,
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH

Dr. Robert J. Fox is Staff Neurologist and Medical Director at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis, Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University, neurology residency training at the University of Pennsylvania, and a master’s degree in Clinical Research from Case Western Reserve University. He serves as an advisory committee member and principal site investigator for many clinical trials, including coordinating principal investigator for a Phase III clinical trial of fumarate in relapsing remitting MS. Dr. Fox’s current research interests focus on innovative MRI techniques to evaluate MS treatments and tissue recovery after injury, where he is principal investigator and co-investigator on grants funded by the NIH and National MS Society. Dr. Fox serves as a member of various advisory and review committees for the National MS Society, on the General Advisory Council for the Cleveland Clinic General Clinical Research Center, and as a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry regarding the development of new treatments for MS.

Director, Neuroimaging Research Unit,
Department of Neuroscience,
Scientific Institute and University Ospedale,
San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
John Whitaker Visiting Professor
of the American Neurological Association

Dr. Massimo Filippi is Director of the Neuroimaging Research Unit at the Scientific Institute and University, Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy, as well as the John Whitaker Visiting Professor of the American Neurological Association.

Dr. Filippi is a worldwide expert in the use of MRI in clinical neurology. He is a member of various Scientific Societies and Academies, including the Scientific Committee of the Italian MS Society, the Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials of New Drugs in MS, of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in the US, and the Task Force on the Future of MRI-based Techniques in Neurology of the EFNS. Dr. Filippi is also a member of the Editorial Boards of JNNP, as well as a number of scientific and medical journals (e.g. Multiple Sclerosis), and acts as a reviewer for several scientific journals. Dr. Filippi has authored or co-authored more than 400 peer-reviewed papers and is editor of several books and journal supplements.

Dr. Filippi’s research focuses on the use of MRI-based technology to improve understanding of how neurological diseases determine progressive accumulation of irreversible physical disability and cognitive impairment. His contributions to the understanding of the pathophysiology of irreversible neurological disability have resulted in significant scientific progress.

Assistant Professor of Neurology,
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Director, Multiple Sclerosis Center,
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

Dr. Clyde Markowitz is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, in Philadelphia. He is an attending neurologist and Director of the MS Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Markowitz earned his BS in business administration and marketing at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He participated in a post-baccalaureate pre-medical program at Columbia University, and he later earned his MD from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He also completed his internship, residency and postdoctoral research and clinical fellowship at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.

Dr. Markowitz is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, the Association for Research in Nervous and Mental Disease, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He also serves on the professional advisory committee for his local chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Dr. Markowitz is the author or co-author of a number of publications, and he serves as an ad hoc reviewer for Multiple Sclerosis, Neuro-Rehabilitation, Neural Repair and The Consultant.