Tanuja Chitnis, M.D.
Inaugural Chief of the Division of Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology at Mass General Brigham
Director of the Mass General Brigham Pediatric MS Center
Founder and Director of the Translational Neuroimmunology Research Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Cindy Larsen Chugg Distinguished Chair in Neurology
Massachusetts General Brigham
Dr. Chitnis is a Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, and a senior neurologist specializing in multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuroimmunological research. She serves as the incumbent Cindy Larsen Chugg Endowed Chair in Neurology, and the inaugural Chief of the Division of Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology at Mass General Brigham. She has published over 350 peer-reviewed articles in the MS field and has received funding from the Department of Defense, NIH, National MS Society, industry sponsors and additional foundations.
Her primary research focus is in studying predictors and modulators of disease course of MS and neuroimmunological diseases including clinical and neuroimaging features as well as immunological and hormonal markers. Dr. Chitnis has conducted pioneering work in biomarkers and precision medicine for multiple sclerosis sponsored in part by the Department of Defense. She has chaired the ACTRIMS meetings 2019-2020 on this theme, summarized in Multiple Sclerosis Journal special edition.
Dr. Chitnis serves as the Director of the CLIMB Natural History study at the Brigham MS Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) which follows over 2000 MS patients longitudinally which is an important data source for precision medicine studies.
In addition, in her role as the Director of the Mass General Brigham Pediatric MS Center at the MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGH), and the Chair of the International Pediatric MS Study group (2010-2018) she has led several initiatives in the study of MS in children. Dr. Chitnis has led several clinical trials in pediatric MS, including the first FDA approved treatment for this disease. She is currently working on clinical trials for progressive forms of MS.
Most recently, she has contributed to an understanding of the neuroimmunological mechanisms of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD).
Clinically, as a Senior Neurologist she specializes in MS practicing at the Brigham MS Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and as the Director of the Mass General Brigham Pediatric MS Center, Massachusetts General Hospital.
She has authored over 200 publications and reviews related to MS and demyelinating disorders, and serves on the advisory board and steering committee of several MS-related organizations and studies.
Learn more about Dr Chitnis Lab - The Translational Neuroimmunology Research Center: Translational Neuroimmunology Research Center
Publications
Chitnis T, Weiner HL. Targeting Epstein-Barr virus to treat MS. Med (N Y). 2022 03 11; 3(3):159-161. PMID: 35590190.
Hardy D, Chitnis T, Waubant E, Banwell B. Preventing Multiple Sclerosis: The Pediatric Perspective. Front Neurol. 2022; 13:802380. PMID: 35280298.