Christopher Corey Thomson Hemond

Dr. Christopher Corey Thomson Hemond is an Assistant Professor at UMass Chan Medical School within the Department of Neurology, with additional appointments in the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, NeuroNexus Institute, and Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences across MD/PhD, Neuroscience, and Translational Science programs.

• BS in Brain & Cognitive Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• MD from Stanford University

Dr. Hemond is a board-certified neurologist with clinical subspecialty training in neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis. His research focuses on developing and validating MRI-based biomarkers to improve early identification and pathophysiological understanding of neurodegenerative processes in MS. His lab utilizes high-resolution MRI sequences, including structural, susceptibility-sensitive (iron), and diffusion imaging to characterize microstructural MS lesion features. Recent work incorporates deep learning models to accelerate identification and segmentation of novel CNS structures relevant to neuroinflammatory disease.

Analysis of Dr. Hemond's publications reveals a strong focus on paramagnetic rim lesions as specific biomarkers for MS diagnosis and progression. His work spans neuroimaging, fluid biomarker development, Epstein-Barr virus research, and psychoneuroimmunological aspects of MS, particularly mindfulness-based interventions for symptom management. His publications consistently address the interface between imaging findings and underlying biological mechanisms in MS.

• 2022-2023: Riccio Foundation Award for CSF antibody profiling in MS
• 2020-2022: UMass PACE award for EBV-specific T cell responses in MS
• 2020-2024: Consortium of MS Centers award for mindfulness-based stress reduction research
• 2020-2022: NIH KL2 award for neurodegeneration prediction in MS
• 2018-2024: MS Foundation award for mindfulness interventions
• 2018-2020: National MS Society award for memory B-cell research
• Current NIH K23 grant (2022-2027) on paramagnetic rim lesions

Dr. Hemond leads the Hemond Lab with a team including Mugdha Deshpande (clinical research coordinator), several medical students, and graduate researchers. His lab collaborates extensively with Dr. Carolina Ionete's MS biorepository and the NIH Translational Neuroradiology Section. Current projects include deep learning for brain structure segmentation, neural immune interface imaging, and mindfulness intervention studies for MS symptom management.