About Dr. Tanuja Chitnis

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 Distinguished Chair in Neurology, and Vice Chair of Clinical Neuroscience Research at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She has published over 275 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.

In her spare time, Tanuja enjoys spending time cooking, playing tennis and skiing with her two children and husband. 

EDUCATION & TRAINING:

• Medical Education: University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada (1994)

• Internship: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, US (1995)

• Residency: Neurology, Hahnemann University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, US (1998)

• Fellowship: Neuroimmunology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, US (2001)

• Master of Arts: Harvard Medical School (honorary, 2018)

• Board Certification: American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry

Professional Positions:

• Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School

• Cindy Larsen Chugg Distinguished Chair in Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

• Senior Neurologist, Brigham and Women’s Hospital & Massachusetts General Hospital

• Co-Director, Brigham MS Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

• Director, CLIMB Study, Brigham MS Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

• Director, MS Fellowship Program, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

• Director, Mass General Brigham Pediatric MS Center, MassGeneral Hospital for Children

• Associate Chair, Neurosciences Clinical Trials Office, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

• Vice Chair, Clinical Neuroscience Research, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

CURRENT Affiliations:

• Fellow, American Academy of Neurology

• Vice Chair, Medical Advisory Committee, National MS Society

• Board of Directors, ACTRIMS

• Executive Committee, US Network of Pediatric MS Centers

• Steering Committee, International Pediatric MS Study Group

• Special Emphasis Review Committee, NINDS, NIH