Meet Our Team
The Spastic Paraplegia Centers of Excellence Research Network (SP-CERN) unites scientists, clinicians, and advisors who share a common mission: to advance understanding and treatment of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP).
Bringing together a diverse range of expertise—from clinical neurology and genetics to molecular biology and data science—our team collaborates to accelerate therapy development, expand access to high-quality care, and advance research toward clinical trial readiness.
Through shared vision, open collaboration, and scientific rigor, we are building the foundation for meaningful progress and lasting impact for individuals and families affected by HSP worldwide.
Darius Ebrahimi-Fakhari, MD, PhD
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, MA
Principal Investigator
Expertise: Hereditary spastic paraplegia, neurodegeneration, pediatric neurology, movement disorders, neurogenetics
Craig Blackstone, MD, PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA
Co-Investigator
Expertise: Molecular mechanisms of hereditary spastic paraplegia, membrane trafficking, endoplasmic reticulum biology
Joshua Burns, PhD
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, TN
Co-Investigator
Expertise: Neuromuscular disease, hereditary spastic paraplegia, wearable sensors, rehabilitation science
Daniel Calame
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX
Co-Investigator
Expertise: Pediatric genetics, neurogenetics, gene discovery
Chris Cashman, MD, PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA
Co-Investigator
Expertise: Hereditary spastic paraplegia, neuromuscular disorders, spasticity management
Michelle R. Christie, MD
Scottish Rite for Children
Dallas, TX
Co-Investigator
Expertise: Neuromuscular disorders, hereditary spastic paraplegia
Marie Y. Davis, MD, PhD
University of Washington Medical School
Seattle, WA
Co-Investigator
Expertise: Movement disorders, hereditary spastic paraplegia, neurogenetics
John Kane Fink, MD
University of Michigan Medical School
Ann Arbor, MI
Co-Investigator
Expertise: Hereditary spastic paraplegia, neurogenetics
Richard S. Finkel, MD
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, TN
Co-Investigator
Expertise: Neuromuscular disorders, hereditary spastic paraplegia, clinical trial design
Donald L. Gilbert, MD, MS
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, OH
Co-Investigator
Expertise: Pediatric neurology, movement disorders, hereditary spastic paraplegia
Dararat Mingbunjerdsuk, MD
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, WA
Co-Investigator
Expertise: Pediatric neurology, hereditary spastic paraplegia, neurogenetics
Michael Shy, MD
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
Co-Investigator
Expertise: Neuromuscular diseases, neuropathies, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, inherited neuropathies, clinical trials
Stephan Züchner, MD, PhD
University of Miami
Miami, FL
Co-Investigator
Expertise: Genomics, neurogenetics, gene discovery