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Ellen Mowry, MD
Neurology
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty
About Ellen Mowry
Professional Titles
- Director, Multiple Sclerosis Experimental Therapeutics Program
- Richard T. and Frances W. Johnson Professors
- Co-Director, MS Precision Medicine Center of Excellence
- Associate Program Director, Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infectious Disease Fellowship
Primary Academic Title
Professor of Neurology
Background
Dr. Mowry became interested in multiple sclerosis (MS) prior to beginning college and first performed MS research as an undergraduate biology major at Georgetown University. As a neurology resident at the University of Pennsylvania, she began her multiple sclerosis clinical research activities in conducting a study of visual dysfunction and quality of life in multiple sclerosis. During her fellowship at UCSF, Dr. Mowry evaluated prognostic factors in multiple sclerosis and examined health-related quality of life in multiple sclerosis, particularly as a marker of disease burden. She also earned a Master’s Degree in Clinical Research at UCSF. Dr. Mowry continued as a member of the faculty there before joining the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology as an Assistant Professor in July, 2011; she received a joint appointment in Epidemiology in 2013. She was appointed as the inaugural Richard T. and Frances W. Johnson Professor in 2022.
Over the past several years, Dr. Mowry has worked primarily to perform epidemiologic investigations of multiple sclerosis (MS) risk and prognostic factors and has evaluated both genetic and environmental contributors. While she has had a major role in several such studies, her most significant work led to the identification of the association of vitamin D status with relapse and brain lesion risk in patients with MS (Annals of Neurology 2010, Annals of Neurology 2012, European Journal of Neurology 2015). She also conducted the first pilot study comparing gut bacterial populations in patients with MS and healthy individuals (Journal of Investigative Medicine 2014). She was recently funded to investigate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on the metabolomics profile in patients with MS compared to healthy controls. She enjoys designing and conducting clinical trials in MS and is the Principal Investigator of the Vitamin D to Ameliorate Multiple Sclerosis (VIDAMS) multicenter vitamin D trial (NCT01490502), which is sponsored by the National MS Society and a smaller multicenter pilot study investigating vitamin D pharmacokinetics in MS patients and healthy controls (NCT01667796). She is also the recipient of a Harry Weaver Award from the National MS Society, in which she is investigating the impact of intermittent calorie restriction in MS. Finally, as Director of the MS Experimental Therapeutics Program at Johns Hopkins, she assists colleagues with study design and helps oversee the conduct of MS clinical trials.
Centers and Institutes
X (Twitter)
Clinical Trial Keywords
Multiple sclerosis; vitamin D; diet; microbiome
Clinical Trials Summary
NCT01490502
NCT02454907
NCT01667796
NCT02253264
Videos
Recent News Articles and Media Coverage
Richard T. and Frances W. Johnson Professorship of Neurology Supports a New Generation of Physician-Scientist Leaders, JHU Giving (01/30/2023)
MS4MS Funds Investigation into Multiple Sclerosis Therapies and Outcomes, JHU Giving (5/26/2022)
Software Aims to Find Patterns in Outcomes for Multiple Sclerosis Patients Insight (July 2019)
Dr. Ellen Mowry Talks of Clinical Studies into Vitamin D and MS, Multiple Sclerosis News Today (05/16/2016)
A New Reason to Refill Your Coffee Cup Immediately, Cosmopolitan (03/03/2015)
Vitamin D May Slow Multiple Sclerosis, Study Suggests, US News & World Report (01/20/2014)
Research Interests
Role of environmental factors in the risk and prognosis of MS, vitamin D, diet, microbiome
Selected Publications
Mowry EM, Azevedo C, McCulloch CE, Okuda DT, Lincoln RR, Waubant E, Hauser SL, Pelletier D. Body mass index, but not vitamin D status, is associated with brain volume change in MS. Neurology 2018.
Mowry EM, Krupp LB, Milazzo M, Chabas D, Strober JB, Belman AL, McDonald JC, Oksenberg JR, Bacchetti P, Waubant E. Vitamin D status is associated with relapse rate in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis. Ann Neurol 2010;67:618-624.
Mowry EM, Waubant E, McCulloch CE, Okuda DT, Evangelista AA, Lincoln R, Gourraud PA, Brenneman D, Owen M, Qualley P, Bucci M, Oksenberg J, Hauser SL, Pelletier D. Vitamin D status predicts new brain MRI activity in multiple sclerosis. Ann Neurol 2012;72:234-24.
Bhargava P, Steele S, Waubant E, Revirajan N, Marcus J, Dembele M, Cassard SD, Hollis BW, Crainiceanu C, Mowry EM. Multiple sclerosis patients have a diminished serologic response to vitamin D supplementation compared to healthy controls. Mult Scler J 2016;22:753-760.
Fitzgerald KC, Vizthum D, Barron B, Schweitzer A, Cassard SD, Kossoff E, Hartman AL, Kapogiannis D, Sullivan P, Baer DJ, Mattson MP, Appel LJ, Mowry EM. Effect of intermittent vs. daily calorie restriction on changes in weight and patient-reported outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Rel Disord 2018;23:33-39.
Additional Training
Master's in Clinical Research, UCSF, 2009
Locations
- Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
- 601 North Caroline Street, Floor 5, Baltimore, MD 21287
- phone: 410-955-9441
- fax: 410-955-6402
Expertise
Education
University of California San Francisco School of Medicine
Fellowship, Neurology, 2009University of California San Francisco School of Medicine
Graduate School, 2009University of Pennsylvania Medicine
Residency, Neurology, 2007University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Medical Education, MD, 2003Board Certifications
Neurology
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 2008Insurance
- 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
5 out of 5
51 ratings, 16 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 1/22/2025
Dr Mowry is excellent!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/15/2025
Dr. Mowry is extremely thorough and conscientious. Her recommendations regarding my care have been excellent.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/19/2024
Excellent bedside manner. Listened to my concerns and explained things thoroughly.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/20/2024
Dr Mowry is always respectful, compassionate and welcoming. I appreciate her willingness to explore options for medications and symptoms.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/18/2024
I have a positive impression of my provider
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/23/2024
I've great respect for my neurologist. She is so wonderful. Takes her time. She spoke to family members in the past to explain everything and I feel in good hands with her.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/11/2024
Dr Mowry always does a thorough history and physical. She is a kind and compassionate physician.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/31/2024
I have been Doctors Mowry's patient for 10 years. She has watched over me and guided me through PML and my MS. I was a mess when she became my doctor. With her help and guidance I was able to continue my career until my full retirement age. I am now 67 relatively healthy and looking forward to a long retirement.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/10/2024
Dr. Mowry Has always taken the time to explain my medical condition, Listen to all my questions and concerns, Learn about me as a person and remind me about anything else I can do to stay healthy. She truly makes me feel like she cares and I believe she truly does.
- 4 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/26/2024
She is the best . Always thinking ahead about your health
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/19/2024
Dr. Mowry goes above and betond to endure my concerns are addressed and that I get ghe peoper treatment.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/22/2024
Dr. Mowry is an excellent neurologist. I appreciate how knowledgeable she is and how willing she is to explain various studies, medications and new information as it is published.
- 4 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/8/2024
Dr. Mowry is an excellent provider and is thorough.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/8/2024
As always, Dr. Mowry is kind, courteous, and listens intently to my concerns. Dr. Mowry has always included me and my thoughts into forming a plan of care.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/10/2024
Dr. Mowry is excellent!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/13/2024
Dr. Mowry is the best. Attentive and doesn't rush you out the door