Nicole Ullrich

Nicole Ullrich, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and holds multiple leadership roles at Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She serves as Co-Director of the Multidisciplinary Neurofibromatosis Program, Director of Neurologic Neuro-Oncology, and Associate Director of Clinical Trials for the Neurofibromatosis Program. She is also an Attending Physician at the Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.

Education:

• Bachelor’s: Brown University (1990, Providence, RI)
• Graduate: Yale University (1997, New Haven, CT)
• Medical Degree: Yale University School of Medicine (1990, New Haven, CT)
• Internship/Residency: Boston Children’s Hospital (Pediatrics Residency until 2002, Child Neurology Residency)
• Fellowships: Neurologic Neuro-Oncology and Clinical Investigation at Boston Children’s Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard/MIT

Research Interests: Dr. Ullrich focuses on neuro-oncological aspects of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), particularly cognitive deficits and brain tumors in pediatric patients. Her work involves developing novel therapies, such as clinical trials for plexiform neurofibromas and chemotherapy-refractory tumors, and validating outcomes like spatial learning assessments. She also investigates late effects of cancer treatment and steroid-related neuropsychiatric symptoms in pediatric leukemia.

Clinical Trials & Projects: As Site PI for DoD-funded Neurofibromatosis Clinical Trials Consortium, she leads three Phase II trials: rapamycin for plexiform neurofibromas, lovastatin for NF1 learning deficits, and RAD001 for chemotherapy-resistant tumors. She is Co-Investigator in an NIH-funded progeria trial and chairs the Children’s Oncology Group Central Nervous System Late Effects committee.

Awards:

• Clinical Investigator Training Program Award (Harvard/MIT)
• Harvard Leadership Program for Physicians and Scientists (HMS)
• Friend of the Brain Award (Children’s Hospital Boston/Brigham and Women’s Hospital)
• Bridging Boundaries Clinical Faculty Award nomination (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)

Labs & Collaborations: Dr. Ullrich is affiliated with the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center and Neurology Research at Boston Children’s Hospital. She actively engages with the Children’s Tumor Foundation’s Clinical Care Advisory Board and co-chairs their Clinical Research Award committee.