Stanford Report, June 15, 2005

Longo will head neurology department

BY AMY ADAMS

Moving west will be both a homecoming and an opportunity for Frank Longo, MD, PhD, who will arrive Jan. 1, 2006, as the new chair of neurology and neurological sciences at the School of Medicine.

Longo is currently chair of neurology at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He said he's leaving a strong program, but is excited by Stanford's commitment to neurology research, as exemplified by the creation of its new Neuroscience Institute.

"When you look at programs nationally, the Neuroscience Institute stands out as unique," Longo said. He said he's looking forward to continuing to develop Stanford's strong programs in stroke and epilepsy and to building up other programs, such as the clinical aspects of multiple sclerosis.

Stanford's emphasis on translating basic science into clinical treatment was also a draw. "I'd like to further grow translational research in neuroscience at Stanford," Longo said.

Longo will succeed professor William Mobley, MD, PhD, as department chair. Mobley is the director of the Stanford Neuroscience Institute.

A California native, Longo received an MD/PhD from UC-San Diego in 1981. He was later professor and vice chair of neurology at UC-San Francisco, until he left in 2001 for his position at UNC. In 1995 Longo became a Beeson Scholar for Aging Research.

"I am really thrilled by Dr. Longo's decision," said Dean Philip Pizzo, MD. "He will be wonderful addition to Stanford and a great leader."

While at UNC, Longo launched a program for prevention, detection and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, which he expanded to create a major regional center this year. He also led the formation of a program for treating Parkinson's disease using electrodes implanted deep in the brain, a technique called deep-brain stimulation. He developed a similar program while at UCSF and hopes to expand Stanford's existing work in this area.

Longo has an interest in one of Stanford's strengths—stroke treatment. Under his leadership UNC researchers pioneered the use of a device to remove blood clots that cause stroke.

Longo will bring with him ongoing research in new drugs to prevent the degeneration that takes place in people with Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases. Although none of his work relies on stem cells, Longo said that his research on promoting new nerve growth in the brain could be furthered by California's commitment to funding stem cell research.