Immunotherapies for Neurologic Diseases

Dr. Marinos Dalakas is Professor of Neurology and Director of the Neuromuscular Division at Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. He is Professor of Neurology and Chief of the Neuroimmunology Laboratory in the Department of Pathophysiology at the University of Athens Medical School in Athens, where he has been Emeritus Professor since 2016. Dr. Dalakas is an appointed member in various scientific societies and is a member of the American Neurological Association, the American Academy of Neurology, the European Neurological Society, and the International Society of Greek Neuroscientists, among other professional organizations. Dr. Dalakas has published widely. His areas of research are broad and include neuroimmunology, neurovirology, genetics, and immunotherapies in neurologic diseases. He has focused on neuropathies, myopathies, dystrophies, ALS, multiple sclerosis, and various autoimmune neurological disorders, with the application and design of new treatments. He completed a 3-year fellowship training in neuromuscular diseases at the Medical Neurology Branch of the NINCDS in Bethesda, Maryland and an additional 5-year training in Neuroimmunology/Neurovirology at NINDS. He subsequently served as Chief of the Neuromuscular Diseases Section of the NINDS, NIH, a position he held for 20 years before joining Thomas Jefferson University.

• SECTION I Introduction to neuro-immunotherapies1. Progress of neuroimmunotherapies: Witnessing an impressive success in the treatment of neurologic autoimmunitiesSECTION II Evolution of autoimmune neurology2. Autoimmune encephalitis, autoimmune dementias, and autoimmune psychotic disorders3. The history of paraneoplastic neurologic disorders of the CNS, PNS, and autonomic nervous systems: Perspective on the past toward a brighter futureSECTION III Basic principles of immune activation in neurologic diseases as related to targeted immunotherapies4. Role of B cells and pathogenic autoantibodies in autoimmune CNS and PNS neurologic diseases5. Role of complement in neurologic autoimmunities: Why need to target complement activation for effective immunotherapy6. Paraneoplastic neurologic disorders and neurologic complications of immune checkpoint inhibitorsSECTION IV Immunotherapeutic agents in autoimmune neurologic diseases: Current and evolving biologics7. The evolution and current status of anti-B-cell therapies in autoimmune neurologic diseases8. Evolving targeted biologics against T cells, cytokines, and intracellular immune targets for multiple sclerosis with implications in other autoimmune neurologic diseases9. FcRn inhibitors: A new era in neurotherapeutics10. Intravenous immunoglobulin use in neurology11. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple sclerosis: Improving understanding and addressing misconceptionsSECTION V Immunotherapies for specific neurologic diseases (how do I do it): A step-by step approach based on evidence-based indications with a view to the future12. Immunotherapies in progressive multiple sclerosis13. Disease-modifying therapy in pediatric multiple sclerosis14. Immunotherapies for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease15. Immunotherapies on autoimmune encephalitis16. Immunotherapies in autoimmune movement disorders and cerebellar ataxia17. Immunobiology and immunotherapies in stiff-person syndrome and glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody-spectrum disorders: Present and future therapeutic prospects18. Immunotherapies on Guillain–Barré syndrome and other acute autoimmune neuropathies19. Immunotherapies in chronic immune-mediated neuropathies20. Autonomic nervous system autoimmunity and proposed immunotherapies21. Immunotherapy considerations for distal sensory-predominant and small-fiber peripheral neuropathies22. Immunotherapies in autoimmune neuromuscular junction disorders: Acute and chronic management23. Immunotherapies in autoimmune inflammatory myopathies: Rationale and therapeutic updates24. The future unfolded: CAR T cells and the transformation of treatment algorithms in autoimmune neurology