Ahmed Negida

My long-term goal is to direct an independent multimodal imaging-biomarker program that develops and validates biomarker signatures of neurodegeneration across the Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) and Parkinson's disease spectrum, in order to (1) stratify patients into biologically meaningful subtypes for personalized therapeutic trials and (2) track disease progression. Disease-modifying trials often fail because heterogeneous populations are treated as uniform entities—a bottleneck that multimodal, cross-disease imaging-biomarker characterization can help solve. I integrate structural, diffusion (free-water), and functional MRI with EEG and large-scale longitudinal datasets (PPMI, ADNI, NACC, PDBP).

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, ADNI, NACC, PDBP) 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.

150+ peer-reviewed publications  ·  8,000+ citations  ·  42+ H-index  ·  90+ i10-index

Neurodegenerative Disease Research (Selected)

Invited Lectures (Selected)

Conference Presentations (Selected from 100+)

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

Sponsors: Pfizer, AbbVie, Bayer, Roche, AstraZeneca, Mundipharma, Vifor Pharma, Johnson & Johnson, Servier, Biogen

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.

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.

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