Penn Medicine Logo Department of Neurology

Divisions and Programs

Multiple Sclerosis


Division Chief: Amit Bar-Or, MD, FRCPC & Dina Jacobs, MD

Link to Penn Medicine Website: Penn Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Related Disorders Center 

The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Division at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania provides expert care, research, and education for people living with MS and other neuroimmune disorders.

  • Specialized Expertise: Our team of neurologists focuses exclusively on MS and related disorders, ensuring precise diagnosis and personalized treatment plans.
  • Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Care: As a National MS Comprehensive Care Center, we provide integrated services, including symptom management, rehabilitation, and immune therapy support, all tailored to each patient’s needs.
  • Innovative Research: Patients have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and therapies, helping advance the understanding and treatment of MS.
  • Patient-Centered Approach: From counseling to life-stage–specific guidance, we prioritize your overall well-being alongside clinical care.
  • Education & Training: We prepare the next generation of MS specialists while offering educational resources for patients and families.

At Penn Neurology, we combine expert care, innovation, and compassion to help people with MS live their best lives.

Centers and Programs

Find information on our centers and programs at Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology | Penn Medicine 

Labs

    • Bar-Or Lab
      The Bar-Or Lab, led by Amit Bar-Or, investigates cellular and molecular mechanisms of immune regulation and immune–neural interactions. The lab focuses on how these processes influence inflammation, injury, and repair in the human central nervous system (CNS).
    • Kolson Lab
      The Kolson Lab, led by Dennis Kolson, studies how inflammation and immune system activation contribute to neurodegeneration. A major focus is understanding the impact of immunodeficiency viruses, including HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), on the nervous system.
    • Orthmann-Murphy Lab
      The Orthmann-Murphy Lab, led by Jennifer Orthmann-Murphy, investigates the role of glial cells in acquired and inherited myelin disorders, aiming to uncover novel therapeutic approaches for these conditions. Dr. Orthmann-Murphy also leads a natural history study on CSF1R-related disorders as part of the Global Leukodystrophy initiative. 
      • The Myelin Disorders Biorepository Project (MDBP) is a collaboration between CHOP and over 10 other hospitals and universities around the country which collect and analyze clinical data and biological samples from leukodystrophy patients worldwide to support ongoing and future research projects. The MDBP is one of the world’s largest leukodystrophy biorepositories, having enrolled over 3,500 affected individuals since it was launched over a decade ago. Researchers working in the biorepository hope to use these materials to uncover genetic etiologies for various leukodystrophies, develop biomarkers for use in future clinical trials, and better understand the natural history of these disorders. They also seek to use the knowledge gained from these efforts to improve diagnostic tools and expand treatment options available to future patients. Penn is a satellite site for this project, and patients referred to Dr. Orthmann-Murphy's neurogenetics clinic may have the opportunity to participate in the study following evaluation. Those interested can also fill out the “referral survey” found here: https://www.chop.edu/research/myelin-disorders-biorepository-project 
    • Dr. Christopher Perrone
      Dr. Perrone’s research focuses on developing metrics that capture disease progression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Through the international consortium INTONATE-MS, a federated data infrastructure is used to evaluate real-world progression independent of relapse activity (rwPIRA). In partnership with Penn Institute for Biomedical Informatics, artificial intelligence tools are being developed to integrate data and measure disability across the MS disease course, with the goal of improving treatment decision-making.
    • Schindler Lab
      The Schindler Lab uses MRI to study neuroinflammatory diseases, especially multiple sclerosis (MS). By leveraging advanced imaging, from portable ultra-low field to 7T MRI, the lab identifies markers of disease processes to support new treatments. Research includes longitudinal 7T MRI of early lesion development, imaging and immune predictors of outcomes, and novel methods like gluCEST to assess brain metabolism and injury. The lab also studies rare neuroinflammatory and white matter disorders, while integrating advanced MRI techniques into clinical protocols to improve patient care.

Clinical Trials