Nicholas J. Maragakis, MD
Neuromuscular Medicine
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty
About Nicholas J. Maragakis
Professional Titles
- Director, Center for ALS Specialtiy Care
- Director, ALS Center for Cell Therapy and Regeneration Research
- Medical Director, ALS Clinical Trials Unit
Primary Academic Title
Professor of Neurology
Background
Nicholas Maragakis treats patients with motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This care is coordinated with the Johns Hopkins Center for ALS Specialty Care, a multidisciplinary clinic with expertise in treating patients with ALS and providing support to their caregivers. He serves as medical director of the ALS Clinical Trials Unit, an extension of the multidisciplinary clinic that seeks to facilitate opportunities for patients with ALS to participate in clinical trials that could advance the treatment of this disease.
Dr. Maragakis is interested in the basic science of understanding neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the translational potential of therapeutic compounds developed in the laboratory. His fundamental research interest is in using stem cells — more specifically, stem cell-derived motor neurons and glia — for understanding the development and propagation of ALS.
His laboratory has been involved in creating and characterizing lines of stem cells from patients with ALS using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) methodologies. The laboratory has a large library of iPSCs from patients with familial ALS and from patients with sporadic ALS. The utilization of this library of iPSCs has facilitated the development of a spinal cord-specific iPSC-astrocyte/motor neuron co-culture system, which has been leveraged for the development of assays that can be used for both the basic understanding of ALS astrocyte and motor neuron biology as well as, eventually, drug screening for ALS therapeutics.
His laboratory has taken its long-standing interests in astrocyte biology, as it relates to ALS, to develop a program that investigates astrocyte-specific mechanisms as contributors to the progression (both temporally and anatomically) of disease in ALS. In this vein, there is an interest in astrocytic glutamate transporters and, more recently, astrocyte hemichannels and gap junctions.
Centers and Institutes
CV
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/documents/cv/nicholas-maragakis.pdf
Lab Website
ALS Center - Lab Website
The Maragakis lab's main focus is in understanding disease mechanisms and targeting cell therapeutics for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). In collaboration with Johns Hopkins neuroscientists, his laboratory helped create stem cell lines from ALS patients using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) methodologies. These cells will allow for the development of human cell lines which can be used for both the basic understanding of ALS astrocyte and motor neuron biology, as well as eventually identifying ALS therapeutics. Researchers in the Maragakis lab also focus on the potential therapeutic role of astrocyte replacement in ALS using glial stem cells. By transplanting glial stem cells into ALS animal models, the researchers in the Maragakis lab found that the stem cells can engraft, migrate and differentiate into astrocytes, and subsequently provide neuroprotection to vulnerable motor neuron pools. The team uses stem cell transplantation biology to understand the influences of mutant SOD1 astrocytes on normal, healthy motor neurons. A significant laboratory effort is underway to translate these discoveries into therapies for patients with ALS.
Google Scholar
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=Nicholas+Maragakis&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2C21&as_sdtp=
Selected Publications
5.Haidet-Phillips AM, Gross SK, Williams T, Tuteja A, Sherman A, Ko M, Jeong YH, Wong PC, Maragakis NJ. Altered astrocytic expression of TDP-43 does not influence motor neuron survival. Exp Neurol. 2013 Dec;250:250-9. PubMed PMID: 24120466.
Almad AA, Doreswamy A, Gross SK, Richard JP, Huo Y, Haughey N, Maragakis NJ. Glia. 2016 Apr 16. doi: 10.1002/glia.22989. Connexin 43 in astrocytes contributes to motor neuron toxicity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Haidet-Phillips AM, Doreswamy A, Gross SK, Tang X, Campanelli JT, Maragakis NJ. Human glial progenitor engraftment and gene expression is independent of the ALS environment. Exp Neurol. 2015 Feb;264:188-99. PubMed PMID: 25523812.
Haidet-Phillips AM, Roybon L, Gross SK, Tuteja A, Donnelly CJ, Richard JP, Ko M, Sherman A, Eggan K, Henderson CE, Maragakis NJ. Gene profiling of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived astrocyte progenitors following spinal cord engraftment. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2014 May;3(5):575-85. PubMed PMID: 24604284; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4006486.
Taga A, Dastgheyb R, Habela C, Joseph J, Richard J-P, Gross SK, Lauria G, Lee G, Haughey N, Maragakis NJ. Role of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived spinal cord astrocytes in the functional maturation of motor neurons in a multielectrode array system. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2019 Dec;8(12):1272-1285. doi: 10.1002/sctm.19-0147. Epub 2019 Oct 21 PMID:31631575 PMCID:PMC6877769
Locations
- Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
- 601 North Caroline Street, Floor 5, Baltimore, MD 21287
- phone: 410-955-9441
- fax: 410-955-6402
Expertise
Education
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Fellowship, Clinical Neurophysiology, 1999Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Residency, Neurology, 1998University of Utah Health
Medical Education, MD, 1994Board Certifications
Neurology
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 2000Insurance
- Aetna
- CareFirst
- Cigna
- First Health
- Geisinger Health Plan
- HealthSmart/Accel
- Humana
- Johns Hopkins Health Plans
- MultiPlan
- Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
- Point Comfort Underwriters
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- UnitedHealthcare
- Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)
Ratings & Reviews
4.9 out of 5
77 ratings, 31 reviewsThe Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/27/2025
Excellent
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/13/2025
Dr. Maragakis is very kind & always explains things clearly & never makes me feel rushed. I'm sure he's at the top in his field & I feel very fortunate to have him as my neurologist.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/27/2025
Dr Maragakis extremely knowledgeable and personable. It was a pleasure to meet with him and easy to talk to him.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/2/2024
Dr. Maragakis is an excellent doctor. He has treated me for about 20 years. He is always responsive to my needs and questions.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/14/2024
Very knowledgeable and professional
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/31/2024
Dr. Maragakis and his team are wonderful. They have really helped me to deal with my ALS.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/28/2024
He was patient because l arrived late,he did a good work
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/7/2024
This provider made me feel like he was going to do everything it takes to get it right !!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/30/2024
Very good, Professional, Informative.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/26/2024
Dr. Maragakis is an outstanding Physician. Very knowledgeable, thorough, caring. Answers questions completely. Listens carefully. I feel very fortunate to have him as my physician.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/23/2024
Very concerned about my health.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/16/2024
He knew my history and condition and provided me with good statrategies going forward as my disease progresses
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/26/2024
This Doctor was very good
- 4 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/19/2024
The doctor was attentive.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/5/2024
Dr. Maragakis was very knowledgeable, professional, and caring. He brought so much positivity and good vibes that I could fight [ ].
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/25/2024
Everyone wants to do the best they can to help me with my ALS.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/15/2024
Excellent gentle caring expert knowledgeable
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/15/2024
Dr. Maragakis was AMAZING! He was kind, caring and compassionate. He took his time asking questions, listening to me and explaining everything to me in a very easy way to understand. I had family In the room and he focused on me first and then my family.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/11/2024
Very good
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/8/2024
My doctor had just the right temperament to help me relax in all the chaos that was going on and the doctor did listen closely.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/8/2024
Felt very comfortable with Dr. Maragakis
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/24/2024
My first John Hopkins experience was excellent! Thank you!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/17/2024
Dr.Maragakis was considerate, friendly, professional, thorough, understanding, & patient.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/10/2024
Clearly communicated his observations and evaluation of symptoms, allowing opportunity for questions throughout visit. Allowed my daughter, a physician, to listen to his remarks and questions.gracious, proffessional and precise in explanigdedtails about his analysis and diagnosis.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/9/2024
Very satisfied. Easy to talk to.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/15/2024
Dr Maragakis was excellent in every way. Punctual, polite, a careful listener, a skilled examiner, a kind demeanor when he delivered the worst news of my life
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/8/2024
I am very appreciative for the time spent with me during my visit.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/1/2024
Couldn't have been better!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/28/2024
Dr. Maragakis is very responsive to all my questions and answered my concerns on the portal right away.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/28/2024
Dr. M is a kind provider with the ALS Clinic. I'm very grateful to have this resource.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/25/2024
Took some time to schedule an appointment. My disease was well explained. The only downside - I did not get enough information about the medication recommended; the benefits versus the side effects. I researched that for myself later.