Uploaded November 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
To kick off the 2023 RNDS, we heard from SRNA's President, Sandy Siegel and SRNA Board Member, Dr. Benjamin Greenberg of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
To kick off the 2023 RNDS, we heard from SRNA's President, Sandy Siegel and SRNA Board Member, Dr. Benjamin Greenberg of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.



![Ask the Expert 1410. Understanding Optic Neuritis | Causes, Treatments, and Repair
In this SRNA “Ask the Expert” episode, GG deFiebre spoke with Dr. Michael Levy and Dr. Benjamin Greenberg about optic neuritis as inflammation of the optic nerve that causes pain with eye movement and rapid vision loss, and how it is most often linked to multiple sclerosis but can also be idiopathic or associated with MOGAD and NMOSD. They compared differences across these conditions (including age patterns, bilateral involvement, severity, exam findings, and typical recovery), outlined diagnostic workups such as MRI, antibody testing, and spinal fluid studies, and reviewed acute treatments [03:14]. The discussion also covered emerging therapies like Pivikto for neuroprotection and efgartigimod alfa to lower IgG as a potential alternative to plasma exchange, and examined challenges in remyelination and stem-cell delivery approaches like Q-Cells while cautioning against unproven stem cell clinics [11:57].
Benjamin M. Greenberg, MD, MHS is a Professor and the Cain Denius Scholar in Mobility Disorders in the Department of Neurology [https://utswmed.org/why-utsw/departments/neurology/] at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of Translational Research and Strategic Initiatives for the Department of Neurology. He is also the interim Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center [https://utswmed.org/locations/aston/multiple-sclerosis-and-neuroimmunology-clinic/] and the Director of the Neurosciences Clinical Research Center. In addition, he serves as Director of the Transverse Myelitis and Neuromyelitis Optica Program and the Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Program [https://www.childrens.com/specialties-services/specialty-centers-and-programs/neurology/demyelinating-disease-program] at Children’s Medical Center.
Dr. Greenberg earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine before completing an internal medicine internship at Chicago’s Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center. He performed his neurology residency at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He also holds an M.H.S. in molecular microbiology and immunology from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, as well as a bachelor’s degree in the history of medicine – both from Johns Hopkins. Prior to his recruitment to UT Southwestern in 2009, Dr. Greenberg was on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Division of Neuroimmunology, serving as the Director of the Encephalitis Center and Co-Director of the nation’s first dedicated Transverse Myelitis Center.
Dr. Greenberg splits his clinical time between adult and pediatric patients at William P. Clements Jr. and Zale Lipshy University Hospitals, Parkland, and Children’s Medical Center. His research focuses on better diagnosing, prognosticating, and treating demyelinating diseases and nervous system infections. He also coordinates clinical trials to evaluate new treatments to prevent neurologic damage and restore function to affected patients.
Michael Levy, MD, PhD is a recognized neurologist with over 15 years of clinical and research expertise in rare neuroimmunological disorders. He established the Neuroimmunology Clinic and Research Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital and is the Research Director in the Division of Neuroimmunology and Neuroinfectious Disease. Previously, Dr. Levy was on the faculty at Johns Hopkins University and was the founding Director of their Neuromyelitis Optica Clinic.
Clinically, Dr. Levy cares for patients with MOG antibody disease (MOGAD), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and idiopathic transverse myelitis (TM). Dr. Levy is also the principal investigator (PI) on numerous patient studies and drug trials for new and improved treatments for these disorders. In 2022, Dr. Levy became the lead principal investigator for the two worldwide clinical trials in MOG antibody disease.
In the lab, Dr. Levy’s research focuses on the development of animal models of NMO and MOG with the goal of tolerization as a sustainable long-term treatment. Dr. Levy has more than 200 peer-reviewed research articles, reviews and editorials, and 3 patents covering NMO tolerization therapy, TM diagnostics, and stem cell regeneration approaches.
00:00 Welcome
01:02 Optic Neuritis Basics
02:27 Causes and Percentages
03:14 MS vs NMO vs MOG
06:07 Workup and Testing
07:51 Acute Attack Treatment
09:30 Recovery and Vision Measures
11:57 Pivikto Neuroprotection
15:30 Efgartigimod vs Plasma Exchange
17:59 Repair vs Remyelination
20:15 Q-Cells and Stem Cell Delivery
22:22 Closing Ask the Expert 1410. Understanding Optic Neuritis | Causes, Treatments, and Repair](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QnbQUY_HTwM/mqdefault.jpg)
![101. I have MOGAD. Now what?
In “I have MOGAD. Now what?” the first episode of the “ABCs of MOGAD” series, Krissy Dilger of SRNA was joined by Dr. Michael Levy. Dr. Levy explained the MOG antibody disease diagnosis, including its autoimmune nature and symptoms [00:01:12]. The discussion covered the history and evolution of the disorder, distinguishing it from other disorders like multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica [00:05:24]. Dr. Levy detailed the diagnostic process, including antibody tests, MRIs, and clinical criteria [00:13:47]. The episode also explored treatment options, long-term effects, and the prognosis of the disease [00:29:30].
Michael Levy, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Research Director of the Division of Neuroimmunology & Neuroinfectious Disease. He completed the MD/PhD program at Baylor College of Medicine with a focus on neuroscience. In 2009, Dr. Levy was appointed to the faculty as Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins where he started the Neuromyelitis Optica Clinic and Research Laboratory and in 2019 he moved to the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School to develop the research program in neuroimmunology.
Clinically, Dr. Levy specializes in taking care of patients with rare neuroimmunological diseases including neuromyelitis optica, transverse myelitis, MOG antibody disease, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and optic neuritis. In addition to neuroimmunology clinics, Dr. Levy has a special interest in patients with superficial siderosis of the central nervous system. Dr. Levy is the principal investigator on several clinical studies and drug trials for all of these conditions.
In the laboratory, Dr. Levy’s research focuses on the development of animal models of neuromyelitis optica and transverse myelitis with the goal of tolerization as a sustainable long-term treatment.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
01:33 Understanding MOG Antibody Disease
03:09 History and Discovery of MOG Antibody Disease
06:13 Diagnostic Process for MOG Antibody Disease
09:09 Acute and Long-Term Treatment Options
14:33 Choosing the Right Treatment
16:01 Rehabilitation and Follow-Up
18:42 Long-Term Effects and Prognosis
22:19 Conclusion and Future Discussions 101. I have MOGAD. Now what?](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RaSku2l9oTo/mqdefault.jpg)



![102. Dr. Paula Barreras
The Community Meets Clinic podcast series introduces clinicians and healthcare personnel specializing in rare neuroimmune disorders. In this episode, Krissy Dilger of SRNA was joined by Dr. Paula Barreras. Dr. Barreras discussed her journey into neuroimmunology, emphasizing the impact of patient interactions [00:01:31]. Her early research focused on misdiagnoses in disorders like transverse myelitis, later expanding to neurosarcoidosis, aiming to improve diagnostic accuracy [00:02:42]. She shared how Cedars-Sinais multidisciplinary clinic, enhanced by specialists, offers comprehensive care, aiming to address patients various needs efficiently [00:05:41]. You can view the medical profile of Dr. Barreras here:
https://www.cedars-sinai.org/provider/paula-barrerascortes-4003480.html#fad-provider-bio featured
Dr. Paula Barreras is a board-certified neurologist with expertise in neuroimmunology. She is an assistant professor of neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Barreras specializes in immune mediated conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord, including neurosarcoidosis and spinal cord disorders such as neuromyelitis optica, MOG associated disease, transverse myelitis, and their mimics.
Dr. Barreras completed her medical school at the University of the Andes, followed by a postdoctoral research fellowship in neuroimmunology at Johns Hopkins University. She completed her neurology residency and clinical neuroimmunology fellowship also at Johns Hopkins before joining the team at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Her research focuses on identifying predictors of final diagnosis after the initial diagnosis of myelopathy, as well as predictors of outcomes in myelitis and neurosarcoidosis. 102. Dr. Paula Barreras](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/STrcnYrR_4Q/mqdefault.jpg)

