Susan A. Gauthier

Susan A. Gauthier is Professor of Neuroscience at the Brain and Mind Research Institute, Professor of Neurology in the Department of Neurology, and Professor of Neurology in Radiology at Weill Cornell Medical College. She serves as Director of Clinical Research at the Judith Jaffe Multiple Sclerosis Center, where she leads a translational research program focused on uncovering the biological mechanisms of multiple sclerosis using advanced quantitative neuroimaging.

Dr. Gauthier completed her undergraduate studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo, earned her D.O. from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and obtained her MPH from Harvard School of Public Health. After completing neurology residency and chief residency at Boston University Medical Center, she was awarded a Clinical Trial Training Fellowship from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Dr. Gauthier's research focuses on developing imaging biomarkers to track inflammation, demyelination, and clinical disability in multiple sclerosis. Her work spans quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), TSPO-PET imaging, brain connectivity analysis, and artificial intelligence applications in neuroimaging. She has made significant contributions to understanding chronic active lesions, paramagnetic rim lesions, and their relationship to disability progression in MS.

Analysis of Dr. Gauthier's recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a strong focus on quantitative neuroimaging biomarkers for multiple sclerosis. Her work increasingly integrates advanced computational methods including artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze structural and functional connectivity. A key theme across her recent work is the validation of imaging techniques against pathological findings, particularly regarding chronic active lesions and iron deposition. She has also contributed to several consensus statements that aim to translate imaging research into clinical practice for MS patients.

• Sylvia Lawry Fellowship in Clinical Trials, National Multiple Sclerosis Society (2002)

Dr. Gauthier has served as Principal Investigator on multiple NIH and National Multiple Sclerosis Society grants, including studies on multi-scale imaging assessment of cognitive impairment in MS, quantification of innate immune activity within chronic lesions, and establishing the clinical relevance of chronic active MS lesions. She has built the MS Center's research infrastructure at Weill Cornell and forged strong collaborations with the Department of Radiology. As a dedicated mentor, she has trained numerous students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty who have gone on to academic and clinical leadership positions.

Dr. Gauthier leads a research team within the Judith Jaffe Multiple Sclerosis Center that collaborates closely with the Department of Radiology at Weill Cornell. She serves on the Steering and Executive Committees of the North American Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis (NAIMS) Cooperative, which brings together experts from multiple institutions to advance imaging research in MS. Her team utilizes advanced MRI techniques including 7T MRI and PET imaging to study MS pathophysiology.