Charles L. Howe

Charles L. Howe, Ph.D., is a Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minnesota. He serves as Chair of the Division of Experimental Neurology, Director of Research at the Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, and Director of the Office of Core Shared Services. His primary appointment is in the Department of Neurology, with a joint appointment in the Department of Immunology.

• Professor of Neurology, Mayo Clinic
• Professor of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic
• Chair, Division of Experimental Neurology
• Director, Office of Core Shared Services
• Director of Research, Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology

Dr. Howe holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of California, San Francisco, and completed research fellowships at Stanford University Medical Center and Mayo Clinic. His research is centered on neuroimmunology, particularly the immune mechanisms underlying multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, neuromyelitis optica, and axonal injury. His lab employs advanced techniques including iPSC-derived neural models, immunophenotyping, and in vivo imaging to explore how neuroinflammation damages neurons and axons.

The research of Dr. Howe spans several critical areas in translational neuroimmunology. His lab investigates how immune responses contribute to axon injury in multiple sclerosis, develops stem cell-based strategies for personalized therapies, and studies the role of inflammatory monocytes in antigen trafficking. Recent work focuses on epilepsy’s neuroinflammatory basis, astrocyte reactivity in NMO, and mechanisms of neural circuit disruption. His publications reveal a strong emphasis on CD8+ T cell-mediated axonal damage, patient-specific immune profiling, and novel neuroprotective interventions.

Dr. Howe has been recognized with several honors, including being a Fellow of the American Neurological Association and a charter member of the NIH’s Clinical Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumors study section. He also serves on the editorial boards of Scientific Reports, Neurobiology of Disease, and Journal of Neuroinflammation. In 2023, he received a research award from the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics.

Dr. Howe leads an active research program funded by the NIH and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He mentors junior scientists and collaborates extensively with clinicians such as Gregory A. Worrell, M.D., Ph.D., and Claudia F. Lucchinetti, M.D. His lab, the Translational Neuroimmunology Laboratory, is equipped with cutting-edge tools including 4D microscopy, flow cytometry, and genetically engineered mouse models. Dr. Howe’s work aims to translate mechanistic insights into therapies that preserve neural function in autoimmune and inflammatory neurological diseases.

The Translational Neuroimmunology Lab at Mayo Clinic is a multidisciplinary research environment focused on understanding and modulating immune responses in the central nervous system. The lab integrates basic science with clinical applications, working closely with the Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology and the Stem Cell and Organoid Core. Current projects include investigating the role of cytotoxic T cells in axon injury, developing human iPSC-based disease models, and exploring immune effectors in seizure generation. The lab fosters collaboration across immunology, neurology, and bioengineering disciplines to advance patient care.