Amit Bar-or

Amit Bar-or is a distinguished academic neurologist and researcher at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. He holds the title of Melissa and Paul Anderson President's Distinguished Professor and serves as Chief of the Multiple Sclerosis Division in the Department of Neurology. He is also Director of the Center for Neuroinflammation and Neurotherapeutics and a Research Scientist at the Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania. His work bridges clinical neurology and translational immunology, focusing on multiple sclerosis and neuroinflammatory disorders.

His educational background includes:

• BSc in Biology and Psychology, McMaster University, 1988
• MD, McGill University, 1993
• Internship and Neurology Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 1993–2000
• Postdoctoral training in Cellular and Molecular Immunology at Harvard Medical School and MIT

Dr. Bar-or’s research centers on the role of B cells and T cells in multiple sclerosis, particularly how immune cell subsets contribute to neuroinflammation and respond to therapies like dimethyl fumarate and ocrelizumab. His work integrates clinical investigation with deep immunophenotyping and mechanistic studies. He has contributed significantly to understanding how disease-modifying therapies alter immune function in MS patients.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend in clinical trials of MS therapies, immune monitoring, B cell biology, and neuroimmune interactions. Key themes include the impact of ocrelizumab on relapsing and primary progressive MS, mechanisms of dimethyl fumarate, and the role of GM-CSF-producing B cells in disease pathogenesis. His research increasingly emphasizes translational approaches, linking bench findings to clinical outcomes.

Scientific honors include:

• Melissa and Paul Anderson President's Distinguished Professor
• Fellow, American Academy of Neurology (FAAN)
• Fellow, American Neurological Association (FANA)
• Fellow, Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC)

Dr. Bar-or leads major research initiatives including the Center for Neuroinflammation and Neurotherapeutics and has collaborated with national networks such as the Canadian Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Network and the Canadian B cells in MS Team. His work is supported by extensive clinical and research collaborations, and he plays a key role in advancing therapeutic strategies for MS through both academic leadership and direct patient-oriented research.