Leonardo Cohen, MD
Entry Id: TP-45

Also see http://intra.ninds.nih.govand http://intra.ninds.nih.gov/Lab.asp?Org_ID=71

The goal of our activity is to understand the mechanisms underlying plastic changes in the human central nervous system and develop novel therapeutic approaches for recovery of function based on these advances. Most of our work has focused in plasticity of the human motor system. More recently, we became interested in the study of plastic changes across sensory modalities (blindness). We have studied plastic changes in patients with lesions in the central nervous system like hemispherectomy, stroke, and spinal cord injury and in the peripheral nervous system like amputations. In healthy volunteers, we studied plastic changes associated with transient deafferentation.

The main technique employed is transcranial magnetic stimulation. In this respect we are interested in the development of this technique as a tool to help us to understand mechanisms of human plasticity and to modulate plastic changes in humans. A multimodality approach is applied to the understanding of mechanisms of plasticity including PET scanning, fMRI, MEG and EEG when appropriate. Our research protocols are focused in the evaluation of patients with stroke, amputations, and blindness and to the study of plasticity in healthy volunteers (see NIH Clinical Center home page).

Our work in the last few years has focused on the assessment of plastic changes in human motor function after a variety of interventions and injuries. We have advanced in the understanding of the mechanisms, time-profile and site where plasticity takes place after a variety of disorders. Our future goals are to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying plasticity of function in humans and its functional relevance. On the basis of these mechanisms, we are starting to design and test interventions to improve motor disability after human diseases, for example stroke.

Structure of the Clinical Training Program
This is a two-year fellowship designed for someone planning a career in academic neurology with a focus on the clinical neurophysiology and neuroimaging of recovery of function after stroke and other cortical injuries. Additional features of this program include the development of Clinical expertise in diagnosis and treatment of movement disorders. Trainees will develop expertise in at least one branch of clinical neurophysiology (for example transcranial magnetic stimulation) or neuroimaging (functional MRI or PET). Research will focus on the physiology and pathophysiology of recovery of function after injury including mastering the technique of transcranial magnetic stimulation, EEG analysis or functional neuroimaging. By the end of the first year, an original research protocol should be written that would be executed in the second year. Fellows are expected to attend the weekly journal club and the weekly unit meeting where they are exposed to the different protocols and techniques utilized in the unit. They are also expected to attend the meetings of the NIH integrative neuroscience interest group. Written evaluation of performance will be at 6 month intervals. Fellows should take the Clinical Center Course in Clinical Research in their first year. At least one additional course should be taken in biostatistics. Fellows attend the Branch's outpatient clinic each Monday afternoon which focuses on movement disorders and also the Stroke Neurorehabilitation Clinic.

• Perez M, Tanaka S, Wise S, Sadato N, Tanabe HC, Willingham DT and LG Cohen. (InPress) Neural substrates underlying intermanual transfer of a newly acquired motor skill, Current Biology.
• Duque J, Mazzocchio R, Stefan K, Hummel F, Olivier F and LG Cohen. (InPress) Memory formation in the motor cortex ipsilateral to a training hand, Cerebral Cortex. Full Text/Abstract
• Perez M, Wise SP, Willingham DT and LG Cohen (2007) Neurophyisological mechanisms involved in transfer of procedural knowledge, Journal of Neuroscience 27, 1045-53. Full Text/Abstract
• Stefan K, Cohen LG, Duque J, Mazzocchio R, Celnik P, Sawaki P, Ungerleider L and J Classen (2005) Formation of a motor memory by action observation, Journal of Neuroscience 25, 9339-9346. Full Text/Abstract
• Hummel F, Celnik P, Giraux P, Floel A, Wu W-H, Gerloff C and LG Cohen (2005) Effects of noninvasive cortical stimulation on skilled motor function in chronic stroke, Brain 128, 490-499. Full Text/Abstract
• Amedi A, Floel A, Knetch S, Zohary E and LG Cohen (2004) Transcranial magnetic stimulation of the occipital pole interferes with verbal processing in blind subjects, Nature Neuroscience 7, 1266-1270. Full Text/Abstract
• Werhahn KJ, Mortensen J, VanBoven RW, Zeuner KE and LG Cohen. (2002) Enhanced tactile spatial perception and cortical processing during acute hand deafferentation , Nature Neuroscience 5, 936-8. Full Text/Abstract
• Sadato, N., Campbell, G., Ibañez, V., Deiber, M.-P., and Hallett, M.: Complexity affects regional cerebral blood flow change during sequential finger movements

Completed program 1998:

Babak Boroojerdi, M.D.	Department of Neurology, University of Aachen, Germany
George Wittenberg, M.D.	Department of Neurology, Bowman Gray Medical School
Fortunatto Battaglia, M.D.	Department of Neurology, University of Sardinia, Italy
Ulf Ziemann, M.D., Ph.D.	Department of Neurology ,University of Frankfurt, Germany
Cathrin Buetefisch, M.D.	Department of Neurology, University of Cologne, Germany
Robert Chen, M.D.	Department of Neurology, University of Toronto, Canada
Joseph Classen, M.D.	Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, Germany
Christian Gerloff, M.D.	Department of Neurology, University of Tuebingen, Germany
Pablo Celnik, M.D.	Department of Rehab, FLENI, Univ of Bs As, Argentina
Joaquim Liepert, M.D.	Department of Neurology, University of Jena, Germany
Joaquim Brasil-Neto, M.D.	Department of Neurology, University of Brasilia, Brazil
Angel Cammarotta, M.D.	Department of Neurology, FLENI, Univ of Bs As, Argentina
Reginald Cole, M.D.	Neurologist in private practice, Howard University, Washington,DC
Peter Fuhr, M.D.	Department of Neurology, University of Bern, Switzerland
Helge Topka, M.D.	Department of Neurology, University of Tuebingen, Germany
Stephania Bandinelli, M.D.	Department of Geriatrics, University of Florence, Italy

Qualified candidates should have finished neurology residency training. Additional training in clinical neurophysiology or neuroimaging would be valuable. Appointment can be in the Civil Service or the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service. Initial appointment is for two years.

Past predoctoral trainees:

Jennifer Mortensen, Medical Student- 2000-2001
University of Iowa sponsored stipend
Present position: Medical School, University of Iowa

Heidi Schambra, Medical Student under CRTP program- 2001-2002
BS, 1997, Brown University, Providence, RI
MD, 2003,Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Neurology Residency, Harvard University - Partners, Boston, MA
Present position: NINDS Intramural NRSA in Dr Cohen's lab

Gianpiero Liuzzi- 2002
B.S., 2002, University of Witten/Herdecke
Special Volunteer

Wolf Ivens- 2002
B.S., 2002, University of Witten/Herdecke
Special Volunteer

Tomoko Kitago- 2002-2003
B.S., 1998, Princeton University
Special Volunteer

Christian Gingert- 2003
B.S., 2002, University of Witten
Special Volunteer

Ulrike Nagorsen- 2003
M.S., 2002, Technical University of Berlin
Guest Researcher

Andrew Dorsch, Medical student under Howard Hughes program - 2003-2004
MD. Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Present position: Neurology Resident, UCLA, CA

Markus Bahnemann- 2004
Diploma, 1999, German-American John F. Kennedy School
Special Volunteer

Thomas Reinhold- 2005
B.S., 2000, University Friedrich Schiller
Guest Researcher

Prateek Gandiga, Medical Student under CRTP program- 2004-2005
Present position: Internal Medicine resident, Wash U, St Louis

Aaron Baughman- 2005
B.S., 2002, Georgia Institute of Technology
Special Volunteer

Cornelia Weber, PhD student funded by DFG, Germany- 2005-2006
Present position: PhD program, Univ of Tuebingen, Germany

Tyler Ard, Predoctoral student- 2007
Present position: IRTA NIMH/NINDS MEG lab


Present predoctoral trainees:

Ethan Buch- 2005-present
NIH-Oxford University PhD program (GPP)
Co-Supervisors: Leonardo G. Cohen and Matthew Rushworth

Valeria Petkova- 2008-present
NIH-Karolinska PhD program (GPP)
Co-supervisors: Leonardo G. Cohen and Henrik Ehrsson

Leonor Romero- 2007-Present
M.S., 2004, University of Milan

Leslie Shupenko- 2007-present
M.S., University of California


Past postdoctoral trainees:

Christian Gerloff, M.D.- 1995-1997
MD, University of Tuebingen, Germany
Chairman, Department of Neurology, University of Hamburg, Germany

Joaquim Liepert, M.D.- 1997
MD, University of Essen, Germany
Present position:
Consultant Neurologist, Chief, Department of Neurorehabilitation, University of Allensbach, Germany

Robert Chen, M.D.- 1996-1998
MD, University of Toronto, Canada
Present position: Associate Professor of Neurology and Catherine Manson Chair. University of Toronto, Canada

Ulf Ziemann, M.D.- 1997-1999
MD, University of Gottingen, Germany
Present position:Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Frankfurt, Germany

Cathrin Buetefisch, M.D.- 1997-1999
MD, University of Köln, Germany
Present position: Associate Professor of Neurology, University of West Virginia, USA
R01 funded (PI)

Fortunatto Battaglia, M.D.- 1998- 1999
MD, University of Messina, Italy
Present position: Assistant Professor of Physiology, Columbia University, NY

George Wittenberg, M.D.- 1998-2000
MD, Harvard Medical Shool
Present position: Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Maryland, USA
NIH funded (PI)

Babak Boroojerdi, M.D.- 1998-2000
MD, University of Essen, Germany
Present position: Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Aachen, Germany

Alain Kaelin-Lang, M.D.- 1999-2000
MD, University of Bern, Switzerland
Present position: Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Bern, Switzerland

Adriana Conforto, M.D.- 2000-2001
MD, University of Sao Pablo, Brasil
Present position: Professor of Neurology, University of Sao Paolo, Brasil
R21 funded (PI)

Lumy Sawaki, M.D.- 1999-2002
MD, University of Sao Pablo, Brasil
PhD, University of Kobe, Japan
Present position: Assistant Professor of Neurology, Bowman Gray Med School, SC
Director, Neurorehabilitation Fellowship Program
R01 funded (PI)

Konrad Werhahn, M.D.- 1999-2002
MD, University of Munich, Germany
Present position:
Associate Professor of Neurology and vice-chair, University of Mainz, Germany

Abdalla Adam - 2002
M.D., 1986, University of Khartoum
Unknown present position

Katjia Stefan, MD- 2001-2003
MD, University of Dusseldorf, Germany
Present position:Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical an Experimental Neurophysiology and Neurology, University of Rostock, Germany

Nagako Murase, MD- 2001-2003
MD, University of Kyoto, Japan
Present position:
Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Kyoto, Japan

Riccardo Mazzocchio, MD- 2001-2003
MD, University of Rome, Italy
Present position: Assistant Professor of Neurology, University of Siena, Italy

Hyae Jung Seo, MD- 2001-2004
M.D., 1991, Yonsei University College of Medicine
Assistant Professor, University of Yonsei, Korea

Ellena Huse- 2002
Ph.D., 2000, Univ. of Tubingen
B.S., 1995, University of Mannheim
Department of Psychology, University of Tuebingen, Germany

Esteban Fridman, MD- 2002
M.D., 1994, National University of La Plata
Department of Neurology, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Phillip Krause, MD- 2004
MD, University of Munich, Germany
Present position: Assistant Professor of Neurology, University of Munich, Germany

Carolyn Wu, PhD- 2000-2004
PhD, University of Tennessee
Present position: Neuroimaging Contractor, NINDS (Dr Alan Koretsky’s lab)

Agnes Floel, MD- 2002-2004
MD, University of Munster, Germany
Present position: Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Munster, Germany

Bernhard Voller, MD- 2003-2004
MD, University of Vienna, Austria
Present position:
Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, University of Vienna, Austria

Sabine Meunier, MD- 2003-2004
MD, La Salpetriere University, Paris, France
Present position: Professor of Neurology, University of Paris, France

Kwon Jeongii- 2003-2004
MD, University of Seoul, Korea
Present position: Assistant Professor, University of Seoul, Korea

Pascal Giraux, MD- 2003-2004
MD, University of Lyon, France
Present position: Professor of PMNR and Chief of Rehabilitative Medicine, University of Lyon, France

Friedhelm Hummel, MD- 2002-2005
MD, University of Tuebingen, Germany
Present position: Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Hamburg, Germany

Michael Schaefer, PhD- 2003-2005
PhD, University of Berlin, Germany
Present position: Postdoctoral fellow, University of Magdeburg, Germany
MD, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Present position: Assistant Professor of PMNR, Johns Hopkins University, MD
R01 funded (PI)

Martin Lotze, MD- 2005-2006
MD, University of Tuebingen, Germany
Present position: Professor of Radiology and Neuroradiology, University of Greifswald, Germany

Nam-Jong Paik, MD- 2005-2006
MD, University of Seoul, Korea
Present position: Chairman, Department of PMNR Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Isabelle Loubinoux, PhD- 2006
PhD, University of Toulouse, France
Present position: Principal Investigator, INSERM. University of Toulouse, France

Patrick Ragert, PhD- 2005-2007
PhD, University of Bochum, Germany
Present position: Fellow, Department of Neurology, University of Dusseldorf, Germany

Yves Vandermeeren, MD- 2005-2007
MD, PhD, University of Louvaine
Present position: Assistant Professor of Neurology, University of Louvaine, Belgium

Niels Birbaumer, PhD- 2005-2007
PhD, University of Tuebingen
Present position: Chairman, Department of Psychology, University of Tuebingen, Germany

Michael Camus, PhD- 2005-2007
PhD, University of Marseille, France
Present position: Fellow, Dep of Mathematics, University of California, Davis

Bernard Sehm, MD- 2006-2007
MD, University of Greifswald, Germany
Present position: Neurology Resident, University of Greifswald, Germany

Orlando Swayne, MD- 2006-2007
MD, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, UK
Present position: Fellow. Department of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK

Present postdoctoral trainees:

Michael Dimyan, MD- 2006-present
Neurology Residency, Harvard University 2005
NINDS NRSA funded

Heidi Schambra, MD- 2007-present
Neurology Residency, Harvard University 2006
NINDS NRSA funded

Alissa Fourkas, PhD- 2006-present
PhD in Movement Science, University of Wales Bangor, United Kingdom 2002
Post doc in Psychology, University of Rome, Italy 2005
Funded by University of Tuebingen-NINDS

Timea Hodics, MD- 2007-present
Neurology Residency, George Washington University 2001
Cerebrovascular Neurology fellowship, BIDMC Harvard University, Boston MA 2002
Assistant Prof of Neurology and Co-director of the Stroke Service at Georgetown University Hospital 2006
NINDS K 23 funded.

Janine Reis, MD- 2006-present
Neurology Residency, University of Marburg, Germany 2005
Funded by Humboldt Foundation, Germany

Susanne Morton, PhD- 2006-present
PhD in Movement Science, Washington University, St Louis 2003
Post Doc in Neuroscience, Kennedy Krieger Inst, Johns Hopkins University 2005
NINDS K03 funded

Monica Perez, PhD- 2005-present
PhD in Physical Therapy, Univ of Miami, Florida 2003
Post Doc in Neuroscience, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark 2005
NINDS NRSA funded

Michelle Harris-Love, PhD- 2005-present
PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences, Univ of Maryland 2004
NINDS NRSA funded

Jose Bueri, MD- 2006-present
M.D., 1977, University of Buenos Aires
Network only Special Volunteer
Present Position: Professor, Chairman, University of Buenos Aires Department of Neurology

Satoshi Tanaka- 2006-present
Ph. D., 2005, Graduate University for Advanced Studies
Funded by JSPS, Japan


Trainees coming on board in 2008:

Kathrine Deutsch, PhD- 2008-present
PhD in Kinesiology, Penn State University
NINDS NRSA funded

Stephanie N Maxfield,PhD student- 2008-present
Master in Physical Therapy, Baylor University, 2001
T-32 NIH training grant (Georgetown Univ, PI B Bregman)

Nik Sharma, MD, MD,PhD- 2008-present
PhD, University of Cambridge, UK, 2007
PI's budget, NINDS NRSA application pending

Sunbin S Song, PhD - 2008-present
PhD, Georgetown University 2007
Georgetown Univ / NINDS NRSA application pending

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