Puneet Opal

Puneet Opal, MD, PhD serves as the Lewis John Pollock Professor of Neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He holds dual appointments in the Department of Neurology (Movement Disorders) and Cell and Developmental Biology. Dr. Opal established and directs the Northwestern Ataxia Clinic and founded the Denning Ataxia Center, which integrates clinical care with research on cerebellar disorders. His laboratory investigates the molecular basis of genetic movement disorders including Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 (SCA1) and Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN).

Dr. Opal's research focuses on understanding neurodegeneration through three primary avenues: 1) Developmental underpinnings of cerebellar neurodegeneration, demonstrating how mutant ATXN1 alters neural circuitry during development; 2) The role of inflammation in SCA1, identifying JNK-dependent inflammatory pathways in Bergmann glia; and 3) VEGF deficiency in SCA1 pathogenesis and development of synthetic VEGF-mimetic therapies. His work on GAN explores how gigaxonin mutations disrupt neurofilament degradation and cause autophagic failure.

Analysis of his recent publications (2024-2025) reveals a strong emphasis on clinical characterization of ataxias, biomarker development, and molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration. Key trends include natural history studies of spinocerebellar ataxias, psychiatric comorbidities in neurodegenerative disorders, cerebellar cognitive dysfunction, and the intersection of protein aggregation with cellular degradation pathways.

• Elected member, American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) (2013)
• Elected member, American Neurological Association (2010)
• Brain Research Foundation Award (2009)
• National Ataxia Foundation Research Awards (2006, 2010)
• National Organization for Rare Disorders Research Award (2005)

Dr. Opal leads multiple NIH-funded clinical trials including the Clinical Research Consortium for the Study of Cerebellar Ataxia (CRC-SCA), which tracks natural history and genetic modifiers in SCA patients. His laboratory receives support from the NIH, National Ataxia Foundation, NORD, and private philanthropy through the Denning Ataxia Center. He mentors a multidisciplinary team of postdoctoral fellows, research associates, and technical staff focused on translational neuroscience. The Denning Ataxia Center provides expanded clinical access including expert consultations, genetic testing, and counseling while advancing preclinical therapeutic development.