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Neurology and Neurosurgery

ALS Center for Cell Therapy and Regeneration Research

The ALS Center for Cell Therapy and Regeneration Research at Johns Hopkins is committed to identifying the causes of the neurodegenerative disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and discovering new and effective treatment options.

The Center's research focuses on the use of stem cells to research the disease, drug screening, and cell transplantation, as well as the development of pharmaceuticals for treating ALS. However the ultimate goal is to promote parallel research into ultimately preventing ALS altogether, as well as investigate the regrowth or repair of nervous tissues, cells or cell products affected by the disease.

Affiliated Centers

At the ALS Center, Johns Hopkins researchers work with other investigators to aggressively take groundbreaking scientific discoveries and turn them into clinical applications that will improve the quality of life of those diagnosed with ALS.

Our Team

The core group of investigators at the ALS Center brings a unique perspective to ALS therapeutics with specific expertise in working with patients with ALS and other motor neuron diseases, as well as basic science and clinical research interests and programs for this disease.

  • Ahmet Hoke, MD PhD

    • Director, Neuromuscular Division
    • Professor of Neurology

    Research Interests: <p>Peripheral Neuropathy, Traumatic nerve injuries and nerve regeneration</p>

  • Nicholas J. Maragakis, MD

    • Director, Center for ALS Specialtiy Care
    • Professor of Neurology

  • Jeffrey Rothstein, MD PhD

    • Director, Robert Packard Center for ALS Research
    • Professor of Neurology

    Research Interests: <ul> <li>Basic biology of glutamate transporters and their role in acute and chronic neuronal degeneration (e.g. ALS, epilepsy, stroke, spinocerebellar ataxia)</li> <li>Cloning and characterization of novel proteins which may be responsible for the cellular regulation of glutamate transporters </li> <li>Identification of novel drug or peptide therapeutics to delay or prevent motor neuron degeneration in ALS through the use of cell culture and transgenic models of ALS</li> <li>Models of motor axon regeneration regrowth</li> <li>Use of neuronal and non-neuronal stem cell therapies to treat motor neurons diseases including ALS and Spinal Muscular Atrophy</li> <li>Various molecular mechanisms of selective neurodegeneration in motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis</li> </ul>

  • Charlotte Jane Sumner, MD

    • Professor of Neurology

    Research Interests: Spinal muscular atrophy and Inherited Neuropathy

Contact Us

The John G. Rangos Sr. Building
855 North Wolfe St.
Room 248 (second floor)
Baltimore, MD 21205
Phone: 443-287-4341
Appointments: 410-955-8511