Nancy Hills

Nancy Hills is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. Her work focuses on pediatric neurology, particularly childhood arterial ischemic stroke and its etiologies. She leads the Vascular Effects of Infection in Pediatric Stroke (VIPS) study, investigating infection-related mechanisms of stroke in children. Her research integrates clinical trials, neuroimaging, and molecular diagnostics to advance understanding of cerebrovascular disorders. She collaborates extensively with multidisciplinary teams including VIPS investigators and global health partners. Recent studies explore SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive immunity, biologic therapy safety during pandemics, and stroke recurrence risk. Hills has contributed to clinical guidelines for pediatric stroke management and public health initiatives addressing healthcare disparities in vulnerable populations.

Her academic contributions span over 30 years, with key roles in UCSF’s pediatrics and neonatal intensive care research. She has mentored numerous clinical studies on topics like indomethacin use in preterm infants, PDA management, and HIV vaccine preparedness in African cohorts. Teaching and training activities include clinical mentorship in neurovascular disease and epidemiology. Current projects emphasize translational research linking infection biology to neurovascular outcomes, supported by grants from NIH and UCSF’s clinical research programs.