Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Dr. GG deFiebre of SRNA spoke with Dr. Michael Levy and Dr. Benjamin Greenberg about CAR-T therapy for aquaporin-4-positive NMOSD.
They described why targeting B cells may reduce aquaporin-4 antibodies over time and could enable long-term remission or reduced need for ongoing drugs [01:37]. The physicians outlined an autologous Phase 1 study at Mass General and UT Southwestern [07:02]. They discussed eligibility rationale, key risks such as infection, cytokine release syndrome and ICANS, and how lessons from this NMOSD-focused trial could inform future neuroimmune disorder research [09:10]. You can find more information about the trial here:
clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07573332?cond=NMOSD&intr=CAR-T&viewType=Card&rank=1
Benjamin M. Greenberg, MD, MHS is a Professor and the Cain Denius Scholar in Mobility Disorders in the Department of Neurology [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 [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 [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 and Guests
01:37 CAR-T Explained Simply
03:27 Immune Reset vs Suppression
04:37 Why Target aquaporin-4-positive NMOSD
06:05 One-Time Remission Goal
07:02 Trial Overview and Patient Journey
09:10 Eligibility and Medication Rules
11:20 Conditioning Chemo Purpose
13:02 Safety Risks and Monitoring
16:30 Why Criteria Are Strict
20:24 How to Join the Study
22:58 Future Questions and Wrap-Up
Dr. GG deFiebre of SRNA spoke with Dr. Michael Levy and Dr. Benjamin Greenberg about CAR-T therapy for aquaporin-4-positive NMOSD.
They described why targeting B cells may reduce aquaporin-4 antibodies over time and could enable long-term remission or reduced need for ongoing drugs [01:37]. The physicians outlined an autologous Phase 1 study at Mass General and UT Southwestern [07:02]. They discussed eligibility rationale, key risks such as infection, cytokine release syndrome and ICANS, and how lessons from this NMOSD-focused trial could inform future neuroimmune disorder research [09:10]. You can find more information about the trial here:
clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07573332?cond=NMOSD&intr=CAR-T&viewType=Card&rank=1
Benjamin M. Greenberg, MD, MHS is a Professor and the Cain Denius Scholar in Mobility Disorders in the Department of Neurology [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 [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 [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 and Guests
01:37 CAR-T Explained Simply
03:27 Immune Reset vs Suppression
04:37 Why Target aquaporin-4-positive NMOSD
06:05 One-Time Remission Goal
07:02 Trial Overview and Patient Journey
09:10 Eligibility and Medication Rules
11:20 Conditioning Chemo Purpose
13:02 Safety Risks and Monitoring
16:30 Why Criteria Are Strict
20:24 How to Join the Study
22:58 Future Questions and Wrap-Up
