Neal Prakash M.D., Ph.D.

Neal Prakash M.D., Ph.D.

I am a Board Certified Neurologist with an interest in neurovascular diseases, neurophysiology and neuroimaging. I am a Neurologist for Neurological Services of Hawaii and for the Veterans Affairs Pacific Island Health Care Services. I am an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at UH-JABSOM.

I was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology at UCLA and the founding Director of Optical Imaging at the Laboratory of NeuroImaging .

I finished Neurology residency at UCLA.

I graduated from the MD/PhD program in the College of Medicine at the University of California, Irvine.

I am an alumnus of the University of California, Berkeley.

I grew up in Queens NYC, and moved to Anaheim California my last year of high school.

You can reach me at neurological.services.hawaii@gmail.com

CURRICULUM VITAE

PROFESSIONAL

5/2008-present: Assistant Clinical Professor, University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Medicine.

12/2006-present: Neurologist, Veterans Affairs Pacific Island Health Care system.

5/2009-8/2009: ProTem Neurologist, Kaiser Permanente, San Jose, California.

6/2007-3/2009: ProTem Neurologist, Kaiser Permanente, Honolulu, Hawaii.

7/2005-12/2007: Assistant Clinical Professor, University of California in Los Angeles, Department of Neurology.

12/2006-4/2007: Visiting Assistant Professor, Magnetic Resonance Research at University of Hawaii.

7/2005-12/2007: Director of Optical Imaging, Laboratory of Neuro Imaging.

EDUCATION

2002-2005: Residency, University of California in Los Angeles, Department of Neurology

2001-2002: Internship, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Internal Medicine

1992-2001: M.D., University of California Irvine College of Medicine, Medical Scientist Training Program

1994-1999: Ph.D., in Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine

Department of Neurobiology and Behavior (formerly Department of Psychobiology)

Dissertation title:"Rapid nerve growth factor-induced cortical plasticity mediated through the basal forebrain cholinergic system in adult rat in vivo." [pdf]

Dissertation Committee: Ron D. Frostig (chair), Christine Gall & RajuMetherate.

1988-1992: B.A. in Molecular and Cellular Biology (Neurobiology emphasis) University of California Berkeley

Graduated with Honors and High Distinction in General Scholarship.

Honors thesis on "Plasticity in the adult invertebrate nervous system"

Advisors: Gwen A. Jacobs and John P. Miller

1987-1988: Katella High School, Anaheim, California

Graduated with High Academic Honors

1984-1987: Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, New York.

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

2009-present: Neurologist for Neurological Services of Hawaii,serving Pali Momi Hospital and Castle Medical Center

2006-present: Neurologist for Veterans Affair Pacific Island Health Care System. Clinical emphasis/interests: General Neurology, Neuroradiology.

2007-2009: Neurologist for Kaiser Permanente. Clinical emphasis/interests: General Neurology, Inpatient Neurology, Stroke, Neuroradiology, EEG.

2005-2007: Faculty at UCLA Westwood Neurology clinic. Clinical emphasis/interests: Headache, Ataxia, Peripheral Neuropathy, Stroke, General Neurology, Sleep Disorders, Neuroradiology.

2002-2005: Resident Physician in Neurology at UCLA hospital and Neurology clinic, Olive View County hospital, Sepulveda Veterans Affair hospital, and West Los Angeles Veterans Affair hospital, Los Angles California.

2003: Transcranial Doppler and Cerebral Blood Flow Monitoring Fellowship, UCLA Cerebral Blood Flow Laboratory, March 26-28.

2001-2002: Intern at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Missouri.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2007-present: Mentor for UH and visiting medical students.

2005-2007: Supervisor for computer programmers. Supervisor/co-mentor for graduate students.Supervisor for medical student summer project. Supervisor/trainer for undergraduates.

2006: Speaker for National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine in Los Angeles 6/06.

2001-2005: Mentoring of medical, undergraduate and graduate students during internship and residency.

2005: Speaker for National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine in Los Angeles 7/05.

2005: UCLA Neurosciences 275: Techniques in Neuroscience, “Functional Neuroimaging Techniques” 5/12/05.

1995-1999: Supervision and training of undergraduate researchers.

1994: Tutor for Medical School Neuroanatomy.

1991: Tutor for High School Algebra, Geometry, and Physics.

VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY SERVICE

2008-present: Board of Directors for the non-profit International Brain Mapping and Intraoperative Surgical Planning Society

2008-present: Board of Directors for the non-profit Hawaii Neurological Society

2007-present: ad hoc Reviewer for Neuroimage

2009-2010: President of International Brain Mapping and Intraoperative Surgical Planning Society

April 2009: Neurological Services at the Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center, Pago Pago, American Samoa

2005-2007: Faculty mentor for UCLA student chapter of International Brain Mapping and Intraoperative Surgical Planning Society.

2005: ad hoc reviewer for NSF: International Research Fellowship Program.

2005: Abstract grader for 2006 Western Regional Medical Student Research Conference.

1999-2001: University of California Irvine Medical Scientist Training Program Webmaster (http://www.ucihs.uci.edu/mdphd).

1993-2001: Organizer of Irvine community Ultimate frisbee team.

1993-1999: Founder and President on "Musicians in Medicine," a club dedicated to preserving musical talent during medical school.

1990: Volunteer service in Cowell Hospital medical laboratory.

GRANTS

2006-2007: APNRR. “Molecules to Networks” Role: Co-Principal Investigator (with T. Carmichael and C. Portera)

2004-2007: R01NIH/MH. “Characteristics of perfusion related cortical signals” Role: primary investigator. Principle investigator: A. Toga.

1999-2001: NIH-UCI MSTP Training Fellowship.

1997: American Heart Association Medical Student Research Fellowship.

1992-2001: UCI MD/PhD Training Fellowship.

AWARDS

2005: American Association of the Physicians of Indian Origin, Medical Student, Resident and Fellow Research Competition finalist.

2004: UCLA Neurology Resident Jean-Louis Riel Research Award.

2000: University of California Irvine Vincent P. Carroll, Jr. Memorial Research Award.

1999: University of California Irvine Vincent P. Carroll, Jr. Memorial Research Award.

1988: Physics student of the year.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS MEMBERSHIPS

American Academy of Neurology

Society for Neuroscience

American Association for the Advancement of Science

American Physiological Society

American Medical Association

American Association of the Physicians of Indian Origin

Academy of Molecular Imaging

National Ataxia Foundation

American Society of Neuroimaging

Hawaii Neurological Society

International Brain Mapping and Intraoperative Surgical Planning Society

CLINICAL TRIALS

1. Asymptomatic Carotid 1 Trial (2008)

2. A Randomized Clinical Trial for the Treatment of Chronic Migraines (2008)

CLINICAL RESEARCH

1. Novel methods for intraoperative brain mapping and surgical planning. (2005-2007)

2. Developing novel brain imaging methods for patients with neurological diseases for which current imaging is not sensitive or specific, such as cerebellar ataxia, HIV, and traumatic brain injury. (2006-present)

LABORATORY RESEARCH

1. Microscopic mechanisms neurovascular signals used for functional brain mapping techniques.

2. Neurovascular mechanisms of headache.

3. Neurovascular mechanisms of stroke and recovery of function after stroke.

4. Neurovascular mechanisms of spinal cord function and recovery after trauma.

5. Neurovascular mechanisms of seizures.

VIDEO:

Neurovascular coupling and Imaging Techniques

Directed by Neal Prakash, Rendered by Amanda Hammond and Kim Hager

PUBLICATIONS

DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Prakash N, Rapid nerve growth factor-induced cortical plasticity mediated through the basal forebrain cholinergic system in adult rat in vivo, Doctoral Dissertation, September 1999. [pdf]

· Appendix A: Spatial Organization of Functional Representations of Simple and Patterned Whisker Stimuli in Mouse Barrel Cortex

· Appendix B: Functional Deformation of the Cortical Somatosensory Map in Mice Lacking Ephrin-A5, an Axonal Guidance Label

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Prakash N, Cohen-Cory S & Frostig RD, Rapid and opposite effects of BDNF and NGF on the functional organization of the adult cortex in vivo, Nature, 381: 702-706, 1996. [pdf]
Chen Z, ZhaoY, Srinivas S, Nelson SJ, Prakash N & Frostig RD, Optical Doppler tomography, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 5(4): 1134-1141, 1999. [pdf]
Vanderhaeghen P, Lu Q, Prakash N, Frisén J, Walsh CA, Frostig RD & Flanagan JG, A mapping label required for normal scale of body representation in the cortex, Nature Neuroscience, 3(4): 358-365, 2000. [pdf]
Chen-Bee C, Polley DB, Brett-Green BB, Prakash N, Kwon MC & Frostig RD, Visualizing and quantifying cortical activity assessed with intrinsic signal imaging, Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 97(2): 157-173, 2000. [pdf]
Prakash N, Vanderhaeghen P, Cohen-Cory S, Frisén J, Flanagan JG & Frostig RD, Functional malformation of the cortical somatosensory map in adult ephrin-A5 knockout mice, Journal of Neuroscience, 20:5841-5847, 2000. [pdf]
Penschuck S, Chen-Bee CH, Prakash N, & Frostig RD, In vivo modulation of a cortical functional sensory representation shortly after topical cholinergic agent application, Journal of Comparative Neurology,452: 38-50, 2002. [pdf]
Prakash N, Cohen-Cory S, Penshuck S & Frostig RD, The basal forebrain cholinergic system is involved in rapid nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced plasticity in the barrel cortex of adult rats, Journal of Neurophysiology, 91:424-437, 2004; first published September 24, 2003. [pdf]
Prakash N & Frostig RD, What has intrinsic signal optical imaging taught us about NGF-induced rapid plasticity in adult cortex and its relationship to the cholinergic system? Molecular Imaging and Biology, 7(1): 14-21, 2005. [pdf]
Theriot JJ, Toga AW, Prakash N, & Ju SY,
Microfabricated electrode array compatible with optical imaging of intrinsic signals during somatosensory stimulation and cortical spreading depression, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Bioengineering Division (Publication) BED 7p, 2006.
Prakash N, Biag J, Sheth SA, Mitsuyama S, Ramachandran C, Theriot J, Toga AW, Temporal profiles and 2-dimensional oxy-, deoxy-, and total-hemoglobin somatosensory maps in rat versus mouse cortex, NeuroImage, 37:S1, S27-S36, 2007. [pdf]
Prakash N, Uhlemann F, Sheth SA, Bookheimer S, Martin N, Toga AW, Current Trends in Intraoperative Optical Imaging for Functional Brain Mapping and Delineation of Lesions of Language Cortex, NeuroImage.47:T116-126, 2009. [pdf]
Sheth S, Prakash N, Guiou M, Toga AW, Validation and Visualization of Two-Dimensional Optical Spectroscopic Imaging of Cerebral Hemodynamics, NeuroImage, 47:T 2009. [pdf]
Prakash N, Hageman N, Hua X, Toga AW, Perlman SL, Salamon N, Patterns of fractional anisotropy changes in white matter of cerebellar peduncles distinguish spinocerebellar ataxia-1 from multiple system atrophy and other ataxia syndromes, NeuroImage, 47:T72-81, 2009. [pdf]
Kateb B, Chui K, Heiss J, Ding H, Patil R, Portilla-Arias JA, Ljubimova JY, Khalsa R, Majumdar R, Au A, Yamamoto V, Neman J, Moore D, Farahani K, Okun M, Prakash N, Ahdoot D, Badie B, Black KL; Nanoneurosurgery and Image Guided Therapy: A Comprehensive Review. NeuroImage, in review

INVITED TALKS

"NGF-induced rapid functional plasticity in the adult rat somatosensory cortex is mediated by the cholinergic basal forebrain." Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, NY, December 5, 2000, Invited by Anthony Zador.
"Intrinsic signal optical imaging in the mouse barrel cortex: single- versus multiple-whisker functional representations." Oxford University Laboratory of Physiology, May 22-30, 2001, Invited by Colin Blakemore.
“Functional Brain Imaging: from mouse to man.” Neuroradiology-Neurosurgery-Neurology Grand Rounds, Queens Medical Center, University of Hawaii, HI, August 15, 2005, Invited by Linda Chang.
“Intraoperative Intrinsic Signal Optical Imaging” Co-chair of Scientific Session VI: Bio-photonics & Advance Devices, International Brain Mapping and Intraoperative Surgical Planning Society Annual Meeting, Pasadena CA, December 18, 2005, Invited by Babak Kateb.
“Advances in Intraoperative Brain Mapping Using Optical Imaging of Intrinsic Signals,” International Brain Mapping and Intraoperative Surgical Planning Society Annual Meeting, Clermont-Ferrand, September 7, 2006. Invited by Babak Kateb.
"Neurovascular changes in sensorimotor maps after focal MCA stroke.” UCLA Neurology Faculty Retreat Research Symposium, Calamigos Ranch, CA, October 23, 2006. Invited by Jeffrey Saver.
"Current Strategies for the Diagnosis and Treatment of an Ataxic Patient," Hawaii Neurological Society Conference, October 11, 2008. Invited by Alan Stein
"Cost-Effective Translation of Health Care Technology," Presidential opening speech for International Brain Mapping and Intraoperative Surgical Planning Society 6th Annual Meeting, Boston MA, September 25, 2009.
"Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor tractography methods: applications for blast injury and TBI patients" Co-chair of Scientific Session VI: Scientific Session 6: Traumatic Brain Injury, International Brain Mapping and Intraoperative Surgical Planning Society 6th Annual Meeting, Boston MA, September 26, 2009, Invited by Babak Kateb.

ABSTRACTS

Frostig D, Prakash N & Cohen-Cory S, BDNF rapidly modifies activity-dependent responses to tactile stimulation in the adult rat somatosensory system, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 21, 1995.
Neal Prakash, A historical review of functional brain mapping techniques, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 22, 1996.
Prakash N, Cohen-Cory S & Frostig RD, Differential effects of neurotrophins on the functional organization of the adult barrel cortex in vivo, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 22, 1996.
Brett BA, Chen-Bee CC, Prakash N & Frostig RD, Intrinsic signal optical imaging of sensory evoked activity in rat parietal-temporal cortex, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 23, 1997.
PrakashN & Frostig RD, Characterization of the functional organization in mouse barrel cortex using intrinsic signal optical imaging through intact skull, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 23, 1997.
Penschuck S, Prakash N, Cohen-Cory S & Frostig RD, Interaction of NGF with the cholinergic basal forebrain system during NGF-induced rapid cortical plasticity in the rat primary somatosensory cortex, Göttingen Neurobiology Report, 733, 1999.
Vanderhaeghen P, Lu Q, Prakash N, Feldheim DA, Hansen J, Frisen J, Walsh CA, Frostig RD, Flanagan JD, Ephrins and the development of patterned connections in the forebrain, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 25, 1999.
Penschuck S, Prakash N, Cohen-Cory S & Frostig RD, Alterations in stimulus-dependent activity in adult rat primary somatosensory cortex by modulation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in vivo, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 25, 1999.
Vanderhaeghen P, Lu Q, Prakash N, Frisen J, Walsh CA, Frostig RD & Flanagan JG, The mapping label ephrin-A5 is required for the normal scale of somatosensory representation in the cortex, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 26, 2000.
Vanderhaeghen P, Lu Q, Prakash N, Frisen J, Walsh CA, Frostig RD & Flanagan JG, Ephrin-A5 is a mapping label required for the normal scale of somatosensory representation in the cortex. Gordon Research Conference on Neural Development, Newport RI. 2000.
Vanderhaeghen P, Lu Q, Prakash N, Frisen J, Walsh CA, Frostig RD & Flanagan JG, Ephrins and the development of thalamic and cortical sensory maps. FENS Meeting, Brighton UK, 79:19, 2000.
Prakash N, Cohen-Cory S & Frostig RD, NGF-induced rapid functional plasticity in the adult rat somatosensory cortex is mediated by fibers originating in the basal forebrain cholinergic system, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 26, 2000.
Yim C, Salamon N, Lazo C, Selva L, Sinha U, El-Saden S, Prakash N, & Perlman S, Diffusion Tensor Imaging Enables Early Diagnosis of Pontocerebellar Degeneration, American Society of NeuroRadiology Meeting, Toronto Canada, 43, 2005.
Prakash N, Susan Perlman & Noriko Salamon, Diffusion tensor imaging of the cerebellum of ataxia patients, American Association of the Physicians of Indian Origin Meeting, Houston Texas, 2005.
Prakash N, Guiou M, Sheth SA, Cury K, Theriot J, and Arthur Toga, Hemodynamics in mouse neocortex evoked during somatosensory stimulation and during spreading depression, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 31, 2005.
Prakash N, Salamon N, & Perlman S, Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) of the Cerebellar White Matter of Ataxic Patients, American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, San Diego, 2006.
Hageman NS, Prakash N, Salamon N, Perlman S, and Toga AW, Characterizing cerebellar degeneration patterns in ataxia patients using diffusion tensor imaging, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 32, 2006.
Hua X, Salamon N, Toga A, PerlmanS, & Prakash N, Correlation of Clinical Features of the Cerebellar White Matter with Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) of Ataxic Patients, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 32, 2006.
Theriot J, Prakash N, Ju YS, Toga AW, Spatiotemporal relationships between evoked hemodynamic and electrical responses in rat somatosensory cortex during cortical spreading depression, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 32, 2006.
Prakash N, Theriot J, Mitsuyama S, Sheth SA, Sachdeva P, Ramachandran C, Toga AW, Spatiotemporal changes in oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin evoked by forepaw and hindpaw stimulation in mouse somatosensory cortex visualized using full-field optical spectroscopy, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 32, 2006.
Prakash N, Hageman NS, Hua X, Toga AW, Perlman S, and Salamon N, Patterns of fractional anisotropy changes in white matter of cerebellar peduncles sensitive for distinguishing cerebellar diseases, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, 2008

MEDIA RELEASES

1. “The Incredible Human Body,” 2^nd edition, National Geographic Video Special, featured intraoperative optical imaging from my work at LONI, October 2007.

2. Computing Life: Movie Mania - National Institute of General Medical Sciences: "The Art of Animation," http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/computinglife/moviemania.htm#artani, April 2007.

2. “Cool Image: Motion in the Brain,” Biomedical Beat, National Institute of General Medical Science, (http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/biobeat/07-02-20/index.html#1), February 20, 2007.

3. “Neurovascular coupling and Imaging Techniques,” (http://www.loni.ucla.edu/SVG/index.php?vid=261) Directed by Neal Prakash, Rendered by Kim Hager, Produced in LONI, 2006.

4. JABSOM Newsletter, http://jabsom.hawaii.edu/jabsom/about/JABSOMNewsletterAug2009.pdf, August 2009.

CONFERENCES ATTENDED AND PRESENTED

Society for Neuroscience Meeting: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006
National Ataxia Foundation Meeting: 2004
American Academy of Neurology Meeting: 2005, 2006, 2007
American Association of the Physicians of Indian Origin Meeting: 2005
American Neurological Association Meeting: 2005
International Brain Mapping and Intraoperative Surgical Planning Society Meeting: 2005, 2006, 2009
Organization for Human Brain Mapping: 2008
Hawaii Neurological Society Conference: 2008