Ahmed Negida, MD, PhD

Ahmed Negida

MD, PhD

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.

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Research Program

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.

Theme 1

Cognitive Fluctuations & Cholinergic Systems in Lewy Body Disease

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.

EEG-fMRI Integration · Neuromodulation · Cholinergic Targeting
Theme 2

Pathology-Driven Patient Stratification for Precision Therapeutics

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.

Biomarker Integration · Trial Enrichment · Precision Therapeutics
Theme 3

Data-Driven PD Subtyping & Progression Modeling

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.

Machine Learning · Longitudinal Modeling · Clinical Translation

Future Research Directions

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.

Career

Academic appointments and education across four countries

Appointment
Education / Training
VCU
March 2023 – Present

Postdoctoral Scholar

VCU Parkinson's & Movement Disorders Center, Department of Neurology · Richmond, VA

  • Developed EEG-based biomarkers for cognitive fluctuations in Lewy Body Dementia using NASA's Psychomotor Vigilance Test combined with resting-state and task-based EEG analyses
  • Conducted large-scale database studies stratifying PD, LBD, and AD patients using machine learning across PPMI, NACC, and PDBP cohorts
  • Identified a novel PD-MCI subtype with MRI evidence of cholinergic nucleus 4 degeneration
  • Led studies defining progression patterns across PD subtypes using 10-year longitudinal data
  • Built comprehensive neuroimaging pipelines for structural, functional, and diffusion MRI analysis
  • Investigated glymphatic-sleep-cognition-vascular interactions using DTI-ALPS and white matter hyperintensity quantification
  • Generated pilot data, contributed study design, biostatistical planning, and EEG/neuroimaging methods supporting NIH/NIA R01 application
NIH
August 2025

IMPACT-AD Fellowship

National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH · San Diego, CA

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.

HMS
July 2021 – March 2023

Research Fellow

Harvard Medical School, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine · Boston, MA

  • Assessed global neurological care delivery systems through systematic data collection
  • Quantified social and environmental determinants of neurological health disparities
  • Applied external validation methods for financial risk prediction tools in low-income settings
  • Led the development of CHYSPR guidelines in LMICs (first author, www.chyspr.org)
  • Produced peer-reviewed outputs informing WHO and regional health policy decisions
UoP
May 2022

Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences

University of Portsmouth · United Kingdom

Dissertation: "The Hope and the Hype in Parkinson's Disease Treatments" — Meta-research, evidence synthesis, and critical appraisal of neuroprotective interventions.

BAU
March – September 2019

Research Fellow

Bahçeşehir University, Department of Neurological Surgery · Istanbul, Turkey

  • Evaluated deep brain stimulation outcomes in Parkinson's and Huntington's disease patients
  • Analyzed clinical and neuropsychological endpoints using advanced statistical methods
ZU
December 2018

M.B.B.Ch. in Medicine and Surgery (equivalent to MD)

Zagazig University Faculty of Medicine · Egypt

Grants & Funding

R01 · Active (2025–2030)
NIH / National Institute on Aging
"Elucidating the Role of Cholinergic Degeneration in Cognitive Fluctuations in Lewy Body Dementia"

Role: Postdoctoral Researcher

Contribution: Generated pilot data, contributed to study design, biostatistical planning, EEG/neuroimaging analysis sections, and grant document preparation.

R21 · Completed (2022–2024)
NIH / National Institute on Aging
"Development and characterization of EEG signature of cognitive fluctuations in Lewy body dementia"

Role: Postdoctoral Researcher

Contribution: EEG/neuroimaging analysis and manuscript preparation.

Research Tools & Software

Open-source tools developed for clinical neuroscience and evidence synthesis research

PD-MCI Ch4 Subtyping Tool

Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 2025

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.

PD Subtyping Tool

npj Parkinson's Disease, 2025

Interactive tool for clinical, pathological, and data-driven subtyping of Parkinson's Disease. Comprehensive framework integrating 10-year longitudinal data for precision medicine.

Vol-HD

Movement Disorders, 2024

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.

Meta-Analysis Accelerator

BMC Medical Research Methodology, 2024 · 12,000+ Users

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.

Meta-analysis.io

Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Platform

Full-featured platform for meta-analyses with statistical analysis and visualization. Supports standard meta-analysis, DTA, meta-regression, subgroup analysis, and publication bias assessment.

CNN-PD-3D

Deep Learning · Open Source

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.

Negida-FE-Toolbox

EEG Analysis · Open Source

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.

Neuroimaging Pipelines

End-to-End Workflows

Comprehensive pipelines for structural, functional, and diffusion MRI analysis including VBM, cortical thickness, DTI-ALPS for glymphatic function, and multimodal integration.

Selected Publications

150+ peer-reviewed publications  ·  7,000+ citations  ·  40+ H-index  ·  90+ i10-index

Publications per Year (PubMed — Live)

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Neurodegenerative Disease Research (Selected)

Cholinesterase inhibitors for patients with dementia: Patterns of prescribing and disparities in treatment
Heo RJ, Negida A, Barrett MJ, et al. · Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 2026
Parkinson's disease mild cognitive impairment with MRI evidence of cholinergic nucleus 4 degeneration: A new subtype?
Negida A (first), Vohra HZ, Lageman SK, Mukhopadhyay N, Berman BD, Weintraub D, Barrett MJ · Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 2025
Comparative analysis of progression milestones across PD clinical, pathological, and data-driven subtypes: 10-year follow-up
Negida A (first), Mukhopadhyay N, Berman BD, Barrett MJ · npj Parkinson's Disease, 2025
Patterns and predictors of cholinesterase inhibitor use in dementia with Lewy bodies
Heo RJ, Negida A, Wyman-Chick KA, et al. · Alzheimer's & Dementia: TRCI, 2025
Multimodal diagnostic tools and advanced data models for detection of prodromal Parkinson's disease: a scoping review
Serag I, Azzam AY, ... Negida A (senior) · BMC Medical Imaging, 2025
Efficacy of the iron-chelating agent, deferiprone, in patients with Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Negida A (first), Hassan NM, Aboeldahab H, et al. · CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics, 2024
Statins and Parkinson's disease risk reduction and disease-modification: A meta-analysis of 4 million participants
Mady A, Nabil Y, ... Barrett MJ, Berman B, Negida A (senior) · CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics, 2024
Optimizing screening for intrastriatal interventions in Huntington's disease using predictive models
Barrett MJ, Negida A, Mukhopadhyay N, et al. · Movement Disorders, 2024
C-Abl inhibition: A novel therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease
Abushouk AI, Negida A, et al. · CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets, 2018 [100+ citations]
Caffeine: The forgotten potential for Parkinson's disease
Negida A, Elfil M, Attia A, et al. · CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets, 2017 [150+ citations]

Book Chapter

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.

View All Publications →

Invited Lectures & Conference Presentations

Invited Lectures (Selected)

07/2025
PD-MCI with MRI Evidence of Cholinergic Nucleus 4 Degeneration: A New Subtype?
VCU Parkinson's Center Symposium, VA
08/2024
Using Advanced Data Models to Study Neurodegenerative Diseases
VCU Education Conference, VA
12/2023
T1 MRI Characteristics of Parkinson's Disease Dementia
VCU Education Conference, VA
05/2022
Disease Modification and Neuroprotection in Neurodegenerative Disorders
IBRO Neuroscience School, Tunisia
05/2022
Basic Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration: A Critical Update
IBRO Neuroscience School, Tunisia

Conference Presentations (Selected from 100+)

MDS 2025 — Developing disease-duration specific percentiles for prospective subtyping of diffuse-malignant PD. MDS Congress, October 2025.
AAN 2025 — Subtyping PD-MCI with MRI evidence of Cholinergic Nucleus 4 Degeneration. American Academy of Neurology, 2025.
AAIC 2024 — Resting-State EEG Features of Cognitive Fluctuations in Lewy Body Dementia. Alzheimer's Association International Conference, 2024.
AAN 2024 — Comparing NIH Toolbox-cognition Battery and MoCA in Parkinson's. American Academy of Neurology, 2024.

Additional presentations at MDS, AAN, WFNS, WSO, EANS, and other international conferences (2014–2025).

Teaching & Mentorship

Contributing to global research education and training since 2014

Negida Research Academy

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.

Visit Negida Academy →

Specialized Neuroimaging Course

Developed the first neuroimaging analysis course in Arabic for the Middle East region, teaching MRI preprocessing, VBM, and fMRI analysis using MATLAB/SPM12/CAT12.

Courses Developed & Prepared to Teach

  • Neuroscience: Systems neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, neurodegenerative diseases
  • Computational Neuroscience: Neuroimaging methods, EEG signal processing, multimodal data integration
  • Clinical Research Methods: Study design, biostatistics, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, clinical trials
  • Scientific Writing: Grant writing, manuscript preparation, peer review

Mentorship Track Record

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.

NANS Committee Service

Member, Education Committee, Research Committee, and Guidelines Development Committee at the North American Neuromodulation Society (2023–Present).

Pharmaceutical & CRO Consulting

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

ClinArt MENA Contract Research Organization
UAE & Egypt · On behalf of: Pfizer, AbbVie, Bayer, Roche, AstraZeneca, Mundipharma, Vifor Pharma, J&J
May 2017–2024
Tabuk Pharmaceuticals
Saudi Arabia
Oct 2020–2025
AlphaPrim Creative Solutions & Biologix/Biogen
Dubai, UAE
Oct 2021–Aug 2022
IQVIA & Saudi Center for Disease Control
KSA
May–Jun 2021
ClinMax Contract Research Organization
Cairo, Egypt
Nov 2019–Dec 2020
Accsight Healthcare Solutions
Egypt · On behalf of: Roche and Servier
Apr–Aug 2018
DataClin Contract Research Organization
Egypt
Jul–Dec 2017

Global Research Leadership

March 2018 – Present

Co-Founder & Global Research Lead Coordinator

Global NeuroSurg Research Collaborative · Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR

  • Co-founded international network of 2,000+ investigators across 50+ countries
  • Led design and execution of GNS-1: first global multicenter study of traumatic brain injury management (2,000+ patients globally)
  • Managed international steering committee and secured IRB approvals across 20+ countries
  • Harmonized multinational data collection protocols for cross-cultural validity
  • Network PI: Prof. Ahmed M.T. Raslan, MD (OHSU Brain Institute)
2018 – 2020

Regional Lead, North African Countries

Global PaedSurg Study · King's College London, UK

  • Delivered multinational study across North African countries
  • Assisted in obtaining regulatory and ethical approvals from regional study centers
2014 – 2015

National Lead, Egypt

GlobalSurg-I Study · Royal College of Surgeons, London, UK

  • Coordinated data collection across 27 hospitals in Egypt
  • Obtained regulatory and ethical approvals from Egyptian institutions

Honors, Awards & Recognition

2025
IMPACT-AD Fellowship — National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH
 
U.S. Permanent Residency — Green Card based on EB-2 National Interest Waiver in Biomedical Research
2021
Sigma Xi Scientific Honor Society — Membership by nomination
2020
Best Paper Award — Asian Australasian Society of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
2017
EAN Young Investigators Award — European Academy of Neurology, 3rd Congress
Multiple
International Travel Grants — MDS (2024, 2017), EANS (2022, 2021), IBRO-ARC (2022, 2018), WSO (2020), WSSFN (2019), WPC (2019, 2016), EAN (2017), APAO (2017)

Recognition & Media

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.

Diversity, Equity & Global Impact

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.

Technical Skills

Neuroimaging & EEG

  • Structural MRI: VBM, cortical thickness, subcortical volumetry
  • Functional MRI: Resting-state connectivity, ICA, graph theory
  • Diffusion MRI: DTI, tractography, ALPS-index
  • EEG: Spectral power, connectivity, microstate analysis
  • SPM12, CAT12, FSL, FreeSurfer, MRtrix, EEGLAB, Brainstorm, Conn Toolbox

Machine Learning & Statistics

  • Supervised: SVM, Random Forest, XGBoost
  • Unsupervised: K-means, hierarchical clustering, PCA
  • Deep Learning: CNNs for medical imaging
  • Explainable AI: SHAP values, feature importance
  • MATLAB, R, Stata, SPSS, JASP

Clinical Research Methods

  • Large database analysis: PPMI, NACC, PDBP, ADNI, OASIS
  • Systematic reviews & meta-analysis: GRADE methodology
  • Study design: Cohort, case-control, clinical trials (I-III)
  • Biostatistics: Survival analysis, mixed models, PSM
  • Data harmonization, missing data imputation

Professional Service

Guidelines Development

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

Editorial Service

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)

Professional Memberships

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)

Contact

Current Affiliation

Parkinson's and Movement Disorders Center
Department of Neurology
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA, USA

Phone: +1 (347) 251-3472
Status: U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card)

Languages

English (Fluent) · Arabic (Native) · French (Intermediate)

Consultation Services

Through DataCliNiX, I offer research consultation services including study design, statistical analysis, neuroimaging analysis, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, medical writing, and clinical research training.

Book a Consultation DataCliNiX →

References

Available upon request. References include current and former mentors, collaborators, and department chairs from VCU, Harvard Medical School, and international collaborating institutions.