Translational & Clinical Research Scientist
Postdoctoral Scholar
VCU Parkinson's & Movement Disorders Center
Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University
Translational and clinical research scientist with extensive experience in Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. Integrates multimodal brain imaging (structural/functional/diffusion MRI, EEG), machine learning, and fluid biomarkers to advance precision medicine. Proven track record generating pilot data for NIH-funded proposals, leading multidisciplinary collaborations, and translating research into clinical applications. Experienced in evidence synthesis, clinical trial methodology, and pharmaceutical consulting with major CROs and sponsors including Pfizer, Roche, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson. Co-founder of GNS global research collaborative (hosted by OHSU Neurological Surgery) and founder of a global research training academy benefiting 35,000+ trainees across 20+ countries.
Precision medicine for neurodegenerative diseases through biomarker integration and computational methods
My research aims to improve care for patients with Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, and Alzheimer's disease through precision medicine approaches. Disease-modifying trials often struggle because heterogeneous populations are treated as uniform entities. I work to address this challenge by integrating multimodal biomarkers—neuroimaging, EEG, fluid biomarkers—to help stratify patients into biologically meaningful subtypes.
Developing EEG-based biomarkers for cognitive fluctuations using NASA's Psychomotor Vigilance Test combined with resting-state and task-based EEG. Developed an MRI-based approach to subtype PD-MCI based on cholinergic nucleus 4 degeneration markers.
Develops frameworks for neurodegenerative disease patient stratification for personalized disease-modifying therapy. Integrates alpha-synuclein quantification, plasma biomarkers, and MRI vascular measures for pathology-based classification.
Comprehensive analysis of PD progression across clinical, pathological, and data-driven subtypes using 10-year PPMI data. Developed disease-duration-specific percentiles for prospective diffuse-malignant identification at diagnosis.
My independent research program will build on three converging directions: (1) developing clinically deployable EEG and neuroimaging biomarkers for real-time monitoring of cognitive fluctuations in Lewy body spectrum disorders, with the goal of enabling adaptive neuromodulation interventions; (2) establishing multimodal biomarker panels—combining alpha-synuclein seed amplification, plasma NfL/p-tau, and MRI-based vascular and cholinergic markers—for pathology-driven patient stratification to enrich clinical trials of disease-modifying therapies; and (3) leveraging large-scale longitudinal datasets (PPMI, NACC, ADNI) with machine learning to build prognostic models that identify high-risk subtypes at diagnosis, enabling earlier intervention. These efforts are designed to bridge the gap between biomarker discovery and clinical trial design, with a focus on translating precision medicine frameworks into actionable tools for neurologists and trial sponsors.
Academic appointments and education across four countries
Institute on Methods and Protocols for Advancement of Clinical Trials in ADRD. Advanced training in Alzheimer's and related dementias clinical trial design and methodology.
Dissertation: "The Hope and the Hype in Parkinson's Disease Treatments" — Meta-research, evidence synthesis, and critical appraisal of neuroprotective interventions.
Role: Postdoctoral Researcher
Contribution: Generated pilot data, contributed to study design, biostatistical planning, EEG/neuroimaging analysis sections, and grant document preparation.
Role: Postdoctoral Researcher
Contribution: EEG/neuroimaging analysis and manuscript preparation.
Open-source tools developed for clinical neuroscience and evidence synthesis research
Imaging-based subtype tool for PD-MCI using cholinergic nucleus 4 (NBM) gray matter density. Helps identify patients with cholinergic vulnerability markers for treatment selection.
Interactive tool for clinical, pathological, and data-driven subtyping of Parkinson's Disease. Comprehensive framework integrating 10-year longitudinal data for precision medicine.
Online calculator for predicting striatal volumes in Huntington's Disease patients using demographic and clinical variables, enabling pre-screening for clinical trials of intrastriatal gene therapies.
Comprehensive statistical conversion tool for systematic reviews with 21 conversion functions including median/IQR to mean/SD, SEM to SD, and CI to SD for one and two groups.
Full-featured platform for meta-analyses with statistical analysis and visualization. Supports standard meta-analysis, DTA, meta-regression, subgroup analysis, and publication bias assessment.
Convolutional neural network for automated Parkinson's Disease detection from structural 3D T1-weighted MRI. End-to-end pipeline from preprocessing to classification with interpretability visualization.
MATLAB toolbox for dominant frequency-based EEG feature extraction. Designed for EEG research in Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, and Parkinson's disease; automated spectral analysis and biomarker extraction.
Comprehensive pipelines for structural, functional, and diffusion MRI analysis including VBM, cortical thickness, DTI-ALPS for glymphatic function, and multimodal integration.
150+ peer-reviewed publications · 7,000+ citations · 40+ H-index · 90+ i10-index
Negida A, et al. Chapter 14: Epidemiology and risk factors of Parkinson's disease. In: Essential Guide to Neurodegenerative Disorders. Academic Press, 2025; pp 225–234.
Additional presentations at MDS, AAN, WFNS, WSO, EANS, and other international conferences (2014–2025).
Contributing to global research education and training since 2014
Founded in 2014, Negida Research Academy is a global virtual training platform delivering comprehensive research education. The Academy conducts two structured cohort-based training camps annually, each training approximately 1,200 researchers over 8–12 weeks. Created a sustainable training model now replicated in multiple LMIC institutions.
35,000+ total trainees · 20+ countries · 2,500+ active members · 50+ mentees published
Comprehensive curricula covering research design, biostatistics, data analysis, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, scientific writing, and grant preparation. Multiple mentees have secured competitive fellowships at Harvard Medical School, Cleveland Clinic, Yale, and Duke University.
Developed the first neuroimaging analysis course in Arabic for the Middle East region, teaching MRI preprocessing, VBM, and fMRI analysis using MATLAB/SPM12/CAT12.
Supervised graduate and undergraduate students in neuroimaging analysis, machine learning, and systematic reviews. 50+ junior researchers mentored to first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Selected mentee placements: Harvard Medical School, Cleveland Clinic, Yale University, Duke University, Mayo Clinic, University of Michigan, and multiple European and Middle Eastern academic medical centers.
Member, Education Committee, Research Committee, and Guidelines Development Committee at the North American Neuromodulation Society (2023–Present).
Evidence synthesis, clinical trial methodology, and medical writing for major pharmaceutical sponsors
Sponsors: Pfizer, AbbVie, Bayer, Roche, AstraZeneca, Mundipharma, Vifor Pharma, Johnson & Johnson, Servier, Biogen
Youngest Egyptian doctor to complete a PhD from the UK (age 27) — Recognized by Elwatan News, 2022.
Highest scientific research productivity medical student in Egyptian university history — Recognized by Zagazig University, 2018.
Media coverage: Neurology Today (USA, 2024), Elhayah TV (2022), Al-Ahram Newspaper (2020), Egyptian National TV Channel 1 (2020), Elwattan News, Shorouk News, Baladna Elyoum News.
My commitment to diversity and equity in science is demonstrated through sustained action across multiple dimensions. As founder of a research training academy serving 35,000+ trainees across 20+ countries—predominantly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)—I have worked to dismantle barriers to research participation for underrepresented communities in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. I developed the first neuroimaging analysis course in Arabic, addressing a critical language gap that excluded thousands of researchers from advanced training opportunities.
As co-founder of the Global NeuroSurg collaborative (2,000+ investigators, 50+ countries), I have championed inclusive research models that ensure investigators from LMICs are not merely data collectors but equal scientific partners with authorship and leadership roles. My work on CHYSPR guidelines directly addresses pediatric neurosurgical disparities in resource-limited settings.
At VCU, I contribute to mentoring trainees from diverse backgrounds and actively work to ensure equitable representation in collaborative research teams. My research on treatment disparities in dementia care (prescribing patterns of cholinesterase inhibitors across racial and socioeconomic groups) reflects a scientific commitment to health equity.
Member, North American Neuromodulation Society Guidelines Committee
Member, European Association of Neurosurgical Societies Guidelines Committee
Led development of CHYSPR guidelines for spina bifida and hydrocephalus in LMICs
Managing Editor: Journal of Global Neurosurgery
Editorial Board: Frontiers in Neurology (Dementia, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Neurotrauma, Experimental Therapeutics); PLOS ONE; Current Neuropharmacology; Frontiers in Surgery; Frontiers in Emergency Medicine; Frontiers in Pain Research; Frontiers in Pediatrics; Medicine; Pain Research and Management
Ad-hoc Reviewer: Nature Scientific Reports, BMJ JNNP, BMC Neurology, BMC Public Health, Frontiers in Medicine/Neuroscience/Pharmacology, World Neurosurgery, and more (150+ verified reviews on Web of Science)
International Parkinson's & Movement Disorder Society · American Academy of Neurology · International Neuromodulation Society · North American Neuromodulation Society · Sigma Xi Scientific Honor Society · European Association of Neurosurgical Societies · WFNS Global Neurosurgery Committee (Secretariat)
Parkinson's and Movement Disorders Center
Department of Neurology
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA, USA
English (Fluent) · Arabic (Native) · French (Intermediate)
Through DataCliNiX, I offer research consultation services including study design, statistical analysis, neuroimaging analysis, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, medical writing, and clinical research training.
Available upon request. References include current and former mentors, collaborators, and department chairs from VCU, Harvard Medical School, and international collaborating institutions.