Department of Neurology

Neurology Research Day

 

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2026 Keynote Speaker

Laurie Gutmann, M.D., was named chair of the Department of Neurology at Indiana University School of Medicine in October 2020. She also serves as co-director of the Neuroscience Institute, an umbrella entity designed to facilitate collaboration among neuroscience disciplines at IU School of Medicine and IU Health.

Gutmann brings a tremendous amount of clinical, research, education and administrative experience to the role and has demonstrated strong leadership abilities as vice chair of clinical research and director of the Neurology Office of Clinical Trials for the Department of Neurology at the University of Iowa, along with serving as associate director of clinical research for the Iowa Neuroscience Institute.

Her leadership on the national level includes serving eight years as a director for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN), including three years as chair of the Neurology Council, and serving on the Neurology Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), chairing the committee for the last three years. Working with a diverse group of colleagues, Gutmann helped revise the Neurology Program requirements for the ACGME, and she has led or participated in several initiatives for the American Academy of Neurology encompassing workforce development, women’s leadership and educational programs.

Previously, Gutmann served as a program officer for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and was faculty at West Virginia University and at University of Iowa. Her work helped build a multidisciplinary stroke research program at West Virginia and the multidisciplinary Myotonic Dystrophy Clinic and funded myotonic dystrophy research program at Iowa. She has been co-principal investigator on an NINDS site infrastructure grant for early clinical trials in rare neurological disorders (NeuroNEXT). She also developed the Neurology Office of Clinical Trials at Iowa which is now self-sustaining and supports over 60 clinical trials. Additionally, Gutmann and three collaborators developed an NINDS-funded Clinical Trials Methodology Course which trains up to 30 new clinical trial investigators a year.

Gutmann earned her undergraduate degree from Oberlin College and her medical degree from West Virginia University.

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Day at a Glance

8:30 – 8:55 AM  Breakfast

9:00 – 9:05 AM  Opening Remarks – Noor Pirzada, MD

9:10 – 10:05 AM  Platform Presentations

10:15 – 11:15 AM  Keynote Speaker – Laurie Gutmann, MD

11:15 – 11:30 AM  Neurology Jeopardy

11:30 – 12:30 PM  Lunch

12:35 – 1:30 PM  Platform Presentations      

1:35 – 2:45PM  Poster Viewing/Judging

3:00 – 3:30 PM  Awards/Closing Remarks

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Submissions For 2026

Learn more about submitting abstracts and posters.

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2026 Platform Presentations

Endovascular Standalone Coiling Embolization for Subdural Hematoma in Patients with an Anastomosis Between Ophthalmic Artery and the Middle Meningeal Artery: A Report of Four Cases
Mahdi Barzegar, Ahmad Naqvi, Khaled Gharaibeh, Adam A. T. Mierzwa, Hisham Alhajala, Mouhammad A. Jumaa, Syed Zaidi

Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt-Associated Neuropsychiatric Symptoms: A Literature Review and Two Case Reports
Olivia R. Thomas, Madhu Vishnu Sankar Reddy Rami Reddy, Jacob Wood, Jacob Tan, Tressel Holton, Katherine Simer, S. McCord, MD, S. Vuong, MD, D. Maixner, MD, J. Hammond, MD, PhD, R. E. McCullumsmith, MD, PhD

Clinical Profile, Seizure Semiology, and Outcomes of Patients on Lacosamide Monotherapy: A Retrospective Observational Study and review of literature
Syed Muhammad Owais, Hira Burhan, Fahham Asghar, Ajaz Sheikh, and Imran Ali

The Truth is in the Hops - Detection of Neuromuscular Deficits in Post-ACLR Individuals through Functional Tasks Rather than Traditional Strength Testing
Erica Werner, BS; Isaac Arefi, BS; Robert Fogle, BS; Jason Suh, BS; Alexandra Murray Stewart, PT, DPT, PhD; Grant Norte, PhD, AT, ATC, CSCS; Amanda Murray, PT, DPT, PhD

Rabies Encephalitis in a Renal Transplant Recipient: Progressive EEG Correlates of Brainstem Dysfunction
Fahham Asghar, Elysia James, Emily Gong, Rabia Zubair, Kimberly Cole, Imran Ali and Ajaz Sheikh

Defining Glioblastoma Therapeutic Resistance: Insights from PTK/STK Kinome Profiling 
Aastha D. Bhavsar, BA (Co-First Author), Hunter Eby, BS, Ali S. Imami, MBBS, MS, Jacob Wood (Co- First Author), BS, Kathryn N. Becker, MD/PhDJason Schroeder, MD, Corey Weistuch PhD and Robert McCullumsmith, MD/PhD

2026 Poster Presentations

Medication Awareness in an Adult Neurology Clinic: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Amin Sanei Moghaddam, Jae Eun Lee, Ajaz Sheikh, Zeeshan Haider, Hira Burhan

From Scalp to Depth: Unraveling the steo-EEG (SEEG) coorelates of Sleep Micro-stages within Macro- stages
Michelle R Cherian, Hira Burhan, and Ajaz Sheikh

Pediatric Gliosarcoma: Long-Term Survival and Secondary High-Grade Glioma 
Aastha Bhavsar, BA (First author, presenting author), Warren Back, MD, Jordan Norris, MD, Jason Schroeder, MD

Isaac Syndrome: Novel Treatment with efgartigimod alfa (Vyvgart)
Clare Miller, MD, Zainab Zahra, MD, Clayton Buback, MD and Elesh Dasani

Hemochromatosis-Associated Myelopathy Mimicking Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia: A Case Report 
Faraz Zia, Paige Prologo-Richardson MD, and Sabeena Malik MD

Hamstrings Advancement through Muscle Strengthening (HAMS): Outcomes and Feasibility of an 8-week Hamstrings Exercise Intervention in ACLR Subjects  
Erica Werner, BS; Isaac Arefi, BS; Robert Fogle, BS; Briggs Hehl, BS; Alexandra Murray Stewart, PT, DPT, PhD; Grant Norte, PhD, AT, ATC, CSCS; Amanda Murray, PT, DPT, PhD

EMG Activity and Hamstrings Morphology as Measures of ACLR Recovery: Insight from these Unique Indicators
Erica Werner, BS; Isaac Arefi, BS; Robert Fogle, BS; Ben Nagy, BS; Alexandra Murray Stewart, PT, DPT, PhD; Grant Norte, PhD, AT, ATC, CSCS; Amanda Murray, PT, DPT, PhD

Integrative Multi-layered Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Dysregulation of Ribosomal and Translational Control in Postpartum Depression
Sarah Owda, John Vergis, and Dr. Robert Smith

Thalamic Glioblastoma Associated with Direct Trigeminal Neuralgia Invasion 
Aastha D. Bhavsar, BA, Brandon Sharkey MD, Kathryn Becker MD PhD, Ethan Kosco BS, Kevin Reinard MD and Jason Schroeder MD

Efficacy and Safety of Adjunctive Intravenous Tirofiban with Endovascular Treatment for Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Ahmed Ba Theeb, Khaled Gharaibeh, Syed Owais, Joyeta Razzaque, Aizaz Ali

Comparative Outcomes of Anti-Seizure Monotherapy in Focal and Generalized Epilepsy: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from Clinical Practice
Fahham Asghar, Sumayya Naz, Gulbudin Muhammad, Anum Riaz, Imran Ali, Ajaz Sheikh

Deep Brain Stimulation for Refractory Myoclonus-Dystonia: A Case-by-Case Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Mehmood Rashid, Hira Burhan, Judy Zheng, Summaya Naz and Ajaz Sheikh

Chronic Subdural Hematoma Manifesting as Gradual-Onset Unilateral Involuntary Movements
Michelle Cherian BS, Ahmed Ba Theeb MD, Mehmood Rashid MD

Movement Disorders from Anti-seizure Medications: A Systematic Review 
Sahil Sakibuzzaman, MD; Naveen Viswanath, BS, MS; Vincent Smith, MS; Erica Werner, BS; Matthew Golonka, BS; Annika Keeton, BS; Tahmina Haque, MD; Mobin Ibne Mokbul, MBBS, Lawrence Elmer, MD

Beyond the Genotype: Rare Development of ARIA and Seizures in an APOE ε3/ε3 Patient on Anti-Amyloid Therapy
Gayathri Kumar Plakkot, BS; Sanjay Satya-Akunuri Koka, BS; Vicki Ramsey-Williams MD, PhD

Neurological consequences VZV infection: A  rare case of Herpes Zoster ophthalmicus  associated  3rd cranial nerve palsy
Amna Iqbal, Zainab Zahra, Bashar Saour

Impact of Seasonal Variation on Mechanical Thrombectomy Outcomes in Ischemic Stroke
Mahdi Barzegar, Ahmad Ali Naqvi, Khaled Gharaibeh, Adam T Mierzwa, Julie Shawver, Syed F Zaidi, Mouhammad A Jumaa

Subacute walking difficulty in a young female; a case of autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy meningoencephalomyelitis
Zainab Zahra1, Amna Iqbal2, Tayyaba Tariq3, Amin Sanei Moghaddam3

A rare presentation of neuroborreliosis with elevated intracranial pressure in a young female
Zainab Zahra1, Amna Iqbal2, Boyd Koffman1

Toxic Leukoencephalopathy misdiagnosed as an embolic stroke
Austin C. Stewart, Michelle R. Cherian, Rayan Magsi MD

Differences in Mental Rotation Task Performance in Dystonia Subtypes: A Comparative Literature Review
Emily Gong, BS Joyeta Razzaque, MD Mehmood Rashid, MD

Marchiafava-Bignami Disease in a Patient with Brachial Neuritis: A Unique Neurological Overlap
Elesh Dasani, Stephen Prevoznik, M.D, Clayton Buback, M.D

Prospective Memory Performance Following Acute Use of High-Potency THC in Habitual Users
Jileena Mehta, Xavier Celaya, Madeline Meier, Gene Brewer

CNS Drugs Targeting the Neuropsychiatric and Cognitive Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
Aidan R. Butler, Kameron Kaplan, Lainey Toennies, Grace Stutzmann, Smriti Gupta, Daniel Steinbrenner, Elise Webber, Holly C. Hunsberger

Evolving Second-Line Therapy in Status Epilepticus: An EPIC SlicerDicer Study Incorporating Lacosamide Beyond the ESETT Paradigm
Ajaz Sheikh, Hira Burhan, Uzair Hamid, Sumayya Naz, Fahham Asghar, Mehmood Rashid

Focal Cerebral Arteriopathy caused by Human Metapneumovirus: Case Report
Matthew Preszler, MD; Khaled Gharaibeh, MD; Mouhammad Jumaa, MD

2026 Virtual Posters

From Vaping to Seizures: Pediatric Case Series Supporting FDA Event Reporting
Hira Burhan, Irum Hina, Uzair Hamid, Ajaz Sheikh, Noor Pirzada, Naeem Mahfooz

Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors of the Vagus Nerve in Neurofibromatosis Type 1: A Systematic Review and Case Report
Nadin R. Mohamed1, Nathaniel B. Dusseau II1, Jason Schroeder1 

Varicella Zoster Virus Meningitis with a Dermatomal Rash in Immunocompetent Hosts: A Systematic Review and Novel Case Report
Nathaniel B. Dusseau II, MS, Aizaz Ali, MD, Ahmed Ba Theeb, MD, Joyeta Razzaque, MD, Sumayya Naz, MD

Efficacy of rituximab and new therapies in patients with aquaporin-4 Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder: A systematic review and network meta-analysis
Mahdi Barzegar1, Sara Samadzadeh2,3,4, Bertrand Audoin5,6, Achim Berthele7, Ayse Altintas8,9, Barbara Willekens10,11,12, Sini Laakso13, Shima Jahani3,4, Viktoria Papp14, Clarissa Zappe7, Antonia Lefter10, 11, 15, Aksel Siva16, Alireza Afshari-Safavi3,4, Sören Möller17, Tim Friede18, Beatrijs Wokke19, Rosa Cortese20, Zsolt Illes21, Saif Huda22,23, Rommer Paulus24, Silvia Messina15, Nicolas Collongues25,26, Marius Ringelstein27,28, Álvaro Cobo-Calvo29, Yael Hacohen30, 31, Georgina Arrambide32, Jacqueline Palace15, Sara Mariotto33, Romain Marignier34, Ruth Geraldes15, Friedemann Paul2,35, Nasrin Asgari3,4

Long-Term Cognitive Sequelae After Focal Status Epilepticus in Anti-GAD65 Autoimmune Encephalitis: A Six-Year Follow-Up Case
Michelle Cherian B.S., and Imran Ali M.D.

Breast Cancer-Associated Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Ataxia: A Clinical Case Report
Michelle Cherian B.S., Imran Ali M.D.

When Papilledema Isn’t Pressure: A Case of Bilateral Optic Perineuritis 
Allison Boyer, B.S., Clare Miller, M.D., Syed Owais, M.D., Bashar Saour, M.D.

A Rare Sensory Ataxic Variant of Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A Case Report
Raghad Elhag BS, ​​Syed Muhammad Owais MD, Clare Miller MD, Jun Yuminaga DO, Muhammad Umer Junaid MD

An Unreported WDR45 Missense variant, c.992G>A (p.Gly331Glu) in Suspected BPAN 
Joyeta Razzaque, Fahima Akter Shammi, Hira Burhan, Jennifer Amsdell, Judy Zheng, Mehmood Rashid

A rare case of pembrolizumab associated limbic encephalitis, neurological sequelae of immune checkpoint inhibitors
Amna Iqbal1, Zainab Zahra2, Tayyaba Tariq3, Vivek Batra3

Intrathecal ASPARGASE Induced Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST) in Pediatric Patients: a case report
Syed Muhammad Owais, Ahmed Ba Theeb, Joyeta Razzaque, Mohammad Alsakka, Eesa Nazir, Nameer Aladamat, Ehad Afreen

GPi Deep Brain Stimulation for Refractory Myoclonus–Dystonia in Lance–Adams Syndrome: A Case Report with Pre- and Post-operative fMRI Planning
Mehmood Rashid, Judy Zheng, Hira Burhan, Alastair Hoyt, Ajaz Sheikh

Exploring the Connection between Infantile Acetaminophen Prescription and Autistic Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis using the TriNetX Collaborative Network
Anika Banerjee BS, Grace McCarthy BS, Dr. James Burkett PhD

Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System: A Case Report

Radha Patel, MD, Joyeta Razzaque, MD, Syed Owais, MD, Mohammed Albedaiwi, MD, Richard Burgess, MD

Prescribing Amyloid Beta Monoclonal Antibody Treatment to Patients Taking Warfarin
Mitchell C. Silvernail, Jacob F. Wood, Leo P. Roberts, Natalie A. DeCarlo, Jennifer Fallon DeLucia, MD, Robert McCullumsmith

Unraveling Progressive Spasticity: A Clinical Diagnosis of Primary Lateral Sclerosis
Allison Boyer BS and  Noor Pirzada MD

An Atypical Pediatric Headache: Outpatient Presentation of Petrous Apicitis with Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis
Merrick Harris, Paola Pedraza Cruz, Brenda Hartley MD

Amyloid Related Imaging Abnormalities (ARIA) Complicated by  Intraparenchymal Hemorrhage and Seizures
Matthew Preszler, MD; Fahham Asghar, MD; Mohamad Alsakka, MD; Ajaz Sheikh, MD

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2026 Poster and Platform Presentation Judges

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to our poster and platform presentation judges for their valuable time, expertise, and support in evaluating the submissions and helping to ensure the success of our event.

 

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Archive:

• 2025 Research Day
• 2024 Research Day
• 2023 Research Day