Frank Longo in March was appointed professor of neurology and neurological sciences as he begins service as department chair, succeeding William Mobley, who has become director of the Stanford Neuroscience Institute.

Longo joined the faculty this year from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he was chair of neurology. His research focuses on new drugs to prevent the degeneration that takes place in people with Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases.

Longo said he left a strong program, but is excited by Stanford’s commitment to neurology research, as exemplified by the creation of its new Neuroscience Institute.

“When you look at programs nationally, the Neuroscience Institute stands out as unique,” Longo said. He said he’s looking forward to continuing to develop Stanford’s strong programs in stroke and epilepsy and to building up other programs, such as the clinical aspects of multiple sclerosis.

Also, “I’d like to further grow translational research in neuroscience at Stanford,” Longo said.

A California native, Longo received an MD/PhD from UC-San Diego in 1981. He was later professor and vice chair of neurology at UC-San Francisco, until he left in 2001 for his position at UNC. In 1995 Longo became a Beeson Scholar for Aging Research.

“I am really thrilled by Dr. Longo’s arrival,” said Dean Philip Pizzo. “He is a wonderful addition to Stanford and a great leader.”

While at UNC, Longo launched a program for prevention, detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. He also led the formation of a program for treating Parkinson’s disease using deep-brain stimulation. He developed a similar program while at UCSF and hopes to expand Stanford’s existing work in this area.

Longo has an interest in one of Stanford’s strengths — stroke treatment. Under his leadership UNC researchers pioneered the use of a device to remove blood clots that cause stroke.

Longo brings with him ongoing research in new drugs to prevent the degeneration that takes place in people with Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases. Although none of his work relies on stem cells, Longo said that his research on promoting new nerve growth in the brain could be furthered by California’s commitment to funding stem cell research.

—Courtesy Stanford Report and
the Office of Communications and Public Affairs