The "Community Meets Clinic" podcast series introduces clinicians and healthcare personnel specializing in rare neuroimmune disorders. In this episode hosted by Krissy Dilger of SRNA, we met Dr. Benjamin Greenberg of the UT Southwestern Medical Center. He outlined his translational research, including the Q Study, a Phase 1 trial assessing the safety and feasibility of transplanting human glial restricted progenitor cells into the spinal cord of people who have been diagnosed with transverse myelitis (TM) [05:49]. He also described research on immune-remodeling therapies for NMO aimed at reducing long-term immunosuppression. Dr. Greenberg illustrated multidisciplinary care at UT Southwestern and Children’s Medical Center, emphasized options for second opinions and clinician-to-clinician remote consultation, and shared hopes for nervous system repair trials and curative immune therapies [07:18]. You can view Dr. Benjamin Greenberg's medical profile here:

https://utswmed.org/doctors/benjamin-greenberg/

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 at Children’s Medical Center [https://www.childrens.com/specialties-services/specialty-centers-and-programs/neurology/demyelinating-disease-program].

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.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:41 Path to Neurology

03:50 Why Neuroimmunology

05:49 Research Focus and Trials

07:18 Clinic Team and Referrals

10:31 Self Care and Hobbies

12:17 How the Clinic Can Help

14:16 Hope for Future Therapies

15:56 Wrap Up

Krissy Dilger of SRNA moderated an open Q&A on acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) with pediatric neurologist Dr. Linda Nguyen of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Nguyen discussed how widespread MOG antibody testing has shifted many cases previously labeled ADEM to MOG antibody-associated disease, recommended MOG testing at onset, and reviewed relapse risk, mimics, and follow-up imaging [00:05:07]. Questions from the community covered acute treatments, recovery, guidance on pseudo-relapse, rehabilitation, and transition from pediatric to adult care [00:14:41].

Dr. Linda Nguyen completed her MD, PhD training at West Virginia University in 2017, and then pediatric neurology residency at the University of California, San Diego in 2022. She then completed a combined pediatric and adult neuroimmunology fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern in 2024, where she now serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Nguyen currently sees patients in the Demyelinating Disease Clinic at Children’s Medical Center Dallas.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:08 What Is ADEM

01:51 Causes and Who Receives This Diagnosis

02:55 Early Signs and Onset

04:20 Diagnosis and MRI Criteria

05:07 MOG Antibodies and ADEM

07:21 Testing and Relapse Risk

09:06 Recurrent ADEM and Labels

12:34 Mimics and Differential Diagnosis

14:41 Acute Treatment Options

15:38 Recovery Timeline and Rehab

17:47 Long Term Effects and Seizures

21:23 Family Support and Accommodations

24:47 Follow Up Imaging and Relapse Signs

27:25 Managing Fatigue and Headaches

29:31 Supplements, Vaccines, and Genetics

33:40 Pseudo Relapse and Exercise Balance

37:41 Research and Predicting Outcomes

43:14 Transition to Adult Care

45:36 Weakness Sleep Issues and Final Thoughts

Krissy Dilger of SRNA hosted Dr. Benjamin Greenberg of UT Southwestern to share updates on the Q Study, a Phase 1 trial assessing the safety and feasibility of transplanting human glial restricted progenitor cells into the spinal cord of people who have been diagnosed with transverse myelitis (TM). Dr. Greenberg cautioned the audience against stem cell tourism [00:03:03]. He described the decades-long development of the cell line and safety monitoring for this study [00:01:35]. He reported no safety signals prompting a trial pause and noted the FDA-approved expansion of eligibility from non-ambulatory participants to those who can walk with assistance, while efficacy results were not yet being shared [00:08:31]. Finally, Dr. Greenberg outlined potential next steps, including Phase 2 studies and expanded populations (e.g., MOGAD and NMOSD diagnoses), as well as future targets [00:17:02].

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 at Children’s Medical Center [https://www.childrens.com/specialties-services/specialty-centers-and-programs/neurology/demyelinating-disease-program].

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.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:35 Origins of Q Study

02:46 Getting Cells Into Cord

04:49 Phase One Trial Design

06:31 Safety and Efficacy Measures

08:31 Eligibility Expanded Criteria

11:39 Screening and Selection

14:05 Travel and Site Logistics

15:15 Early Safety Findings

17:02 Next Steps After Phase One

19:01 Beyond Idiopathic Myelitis

23:07 Damage Differences by Disease

25:20 Optic Nerve and Brain Targets

27:29 Expected Outcomes and Vision

28:58 Final Thanks