Neuromuscular Program
The University of Chicago Neuromuscular Program provides an outstanding opportunity for patients to benefit from cutting-edge treatments and for trainees to learn basic research and clinical details related to neuromuscular diseases. The Program has a strong suit of offerings including: specialized clinics, sophisticated neurophysiology laboratory testing, ground-breaking research, and clinical trials in neuromuscular diseases. Having trained many clinical and research fellows as well as residents, the neuromuscular disease team is committed to mentoring the next generation of neuromuscular experts.
Clinical Programs
The University of Chicago Medical Center offers multidisciplinary care for a number of neuromuscular diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal muscular atrophy, muscular dystrophies and other myopathies, inherited and acquired neuropathies (e.g. chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy- CIDP), myasthenia gravis and related disorders. The treatment team in all the clinics listed below includes several neurologists with expertise in adult neuromuscular diseases like Dinanath Attele, DO, Carlos Lara, MD, Kourosh Rezania, MD, and Betty Soliven, MD. Additionally, we are supported by a dedicated nurses including Jezreel Pimentel and Paola Mendez Ortega. Appointments are made by calling 773-702-6222.
Research
The primary thrust of the neurocritical care program is clinical and educational. However, we are seriously committed to provocative scholarly projects dedicated to advancing our field. While our portfolio of projects is highly dynamic, our primary areas of present activity are listed in the following sections. Since the neurocritical care program is organizationally linked to the vascular neurology program, reference is made to the research delineated in the cerebrovascular section for further information about additional research on ischemic stroke (laboratory and clinical).For prospective trainees, there are two additional points to emphasize. We embrace working with medical students and residents, and many of the projects below have included trainees both in project design, formal presentation at national/international conferences, and manuscript preparation. In addition, these projects are derived from the present faculty in our section, and we are presently recruiting a third faculty who will bring additional areas of interest to our research endeavors, particularly in the laboratory.
Electrodiagnostic Service
The University of Chicago EMG Laboratory, led by Director Kourosh Rezania, MD and co-Director Helene Rubeiz, MD. The EMG lab provides a robust electrodiagnostic service for approximately 1,400 patients per year. NCS/EMG service is also available at off sites, which includes UChicago RiverEast, UChicago Flossmoor and soon at UChicago Crown Point.
Additional personnel involved in the Neurophysiology Laboratory include: an EMG fellow, a Neuromuscular Medicine fellow, a combined EEG/EMG fellow, a resident rotating in the laboratory, and EMG technician/s. For appointments call (773) 702-1780.
Dr. Lara is the Director of the Neuromuscular Ultrasound service, which helps in the diagnosis of entrapment neuropathies, traumatic nerve injuries, phrenic neuropathies and plexopathies. Neuromuscular ultrasound is painless and provides immediate anatomical and functional information that complement electrodiagnostic tests.
Neuromuscular Pathology Service
Our neuromuscular pathology service is provided by pathologists Dr. Peter Pytel and Dr. Liana Kozanno who evaluate muscle and nerve biopsies from our patients and those sent from a large number of hospitals in Illinois and Midwest areas.
Research
Our research program includes cutting edge investigations into the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying various neuromuscular disorders, biomarkers to facilitate early diagnosis, and potential therapeutic target/s. We separate our research into "basic" and "clinical reserach and trials". You can learn more about our research at the link below.
Fellowship Programs
Our Clinical Neurophysiology and Neuromuscular Medicine fellowship programs are ACGME-accredited. We usually have one CNP/EMG fellow, one CNP (combined EEG/EMG) fellow and one neuromuscular medicine fellow. Our fellowship programs offer robust training experience to acquire skills in the diagnosis and treatment of diverse neuromuscular disorders, performance and interpretation of electrodiagnostic studies, neuromuscular ultrasound and interpretation of nerve and muscle biopsies. Neuromuscular Medicine fellow will also have exposure to pediatric neuromuscular disease at Shriner’s Hospital (Dr. Kenneth Silver) and autonomic function testing at Northshore Hospital (Dr. Richard Wlodarski). There is also an opportunity to participate in clinical research.
Make a Gift
Charitable gifts to the Neuromuscular Disorders Program provide critical support for innovative research as well as new and advanced patient care and services. Your support enables us to advance promising new research and treatment programs, train future generations of physicians and scientists, expand vital support services and share our knowledge with the community.
If you would like to make a donation for this purpose, please make your check payable to: University of Chicago and enclose a letter stating: "the donation is a gift to be used for the Neuromuscular Program at University of Chicago", or “the donation is a gift to be used for Dr.XXX’s research."
Please mail donations to:
The University of Chicago
Gift Administration and Business Data
5235 S. Harper Court, 4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60615
You may also make an online gift via our secure site:
For questions about giving, please contact:
Phone: 773.702.6565
University of Chicago is a non-profit organization and gifts are tax deductible.