Daniela Maria Menichella

Daniela Maria Menichella, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, specializing in neuromuscular disease with a focus on peripheral neuropathy. She leads the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association Centre of Excellence and maintains clinical affiliations with Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Her educational credentials include:

• MD from the University of Milan, Italy (1994)
• PhD from the University of Milan, Italy (2003)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neuroscience at Wayne State University (2002)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neuroscience at Harvard Medical School (2006)
• Internal Medicine Internship at Northwestern University McGaw Medical Center (2008)
• Neurology Residency at Northwestern University McGaw Medical Center (2011)

Dr. Menichella's research centers on pathophysiological mechanisms of neuropathic pain and axonal degeneration in peripheral neuropathies, with particular emphasis on diabetic neuropathy and hereditary neuropathies like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Her laboratory investigates molecular pathways including chemokine SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling and Mas-related G protein-coupled receptors (Mrgprd), aiming to identify novel therapeutic targets for pain relief and nerve regeneration. Current work explores keratinocyte-derived extracellular vesicles and their role in pain mechanisms.

Her recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a strategic focus on translational research, bridging molecular discoveries in diabetic neuropathy with clinical applications. Key trends include investigation of extracellular vesicle biomarkers, receptor-mediated pain pathways, and evidence-based clinical trial design for neuropathic pain conditions.

Notable awards include:

• Wolfe Award from the American Neurological Association (2019)
• Peter James Dyck Award from the Peripheral Nerve Society (2013)

Dr. Menichella holds significant leadership roles including Chair of the US ASP Scientific Program Committee, Board Director for the United States Association for the Study of Pain and Peripheral Nerve Society, and Chair of the Neuropathic Pain Consortium. She serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System and Diabetes, and leads the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association Centre of Excellence where her team investigates intracellular mechanisms in peripheral nerve disorders like Charcot-Marie-Tooth Type 2B disease.