Serena Susan Spudich, MD, MA
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View Doctor ProfileAdditional Titles
Division Chief, Neurological Infections & Global Neurology
Co-Director, Yale Center for Brain & Mind Health
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Contact Info
Are You a Patient?
View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
View Doctor ProfileAdditional Titles
Division Chief, Neurological Infections & Global Neurology
Co-Director, Yale Center for Brain & Mind Health
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Contact Info
Are You a Patient?
View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
View Doctor ProfileAdditional Titles
Division Chief, Neurological Infections & Global Neurology
Co-Director, Yale Center for Brain & Mind Health
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Contact Info
About
Titles
Gilbert H. Glaser Professor of Neurology
Division Chief, Neurological Infections & Global Neurology; Co-Director, Yale Center for Brain & Mind Health; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Appointments
Neurology
ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- AIDS Care Program
- Brain Infections
- Center for Brain & Mind Health
- Center for Neuroepidemiology and Clinical Neurological Research
- COVID Mind Study at Yale
- Human and Translational Immunology Program
- MR Center
- Neurological Infections and Global Neurology
- Neurology
- Spudich Lab
- Yale Institute for Global Health
- Yale Medicine
- Yale Stem Cell Center
- Yale Ventures
- Yale-UPR Integrated HIV Basic and Clinical Sciences Initiative
Education & Training
- Fellow
- University of California at San Francisco (2004)
- Fellow
- Harvard Medical School (2003)
- Resident
- Harvard Medical School (2002)
- Resident
- University of Washington School of Medicine (1999)
- Intern
- University of Washington School of Medicine (1998)
- MD
- University of California at San Francisco (1997)
- MA
- Stanford University, Philosophy of Science (1992)
- BA
- Stanford University, Human Biology/Humanities (1991)
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Public Health Interests
ORCID
0000-0001-6032-3950- View Lab Website
Spudich Lab
Research at a Glance
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Biomarkers
Cerebrospinal Fluid
COVID-19
HIV
Neuroinflammatory Diseases
Neurology
Publications
2024
Neurosymptomatic HIV-1 CSF escape is associated with replication in CNS T cells and inflammation
Kincer L, Dravid A, Trunfio M, Calcagno A, Zhou S, Vercesi R, Spudich S, Gisslen M, Price R, Cinque P, Joseph S. Neurosymptomatic HIV-1 CSF escape is associated with replication in CNS T cells and inflammation. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2024, 134: e176358. PMID: 39352388, PMCID: PMC11444166, DOI: 10.1172/jci176358.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsHIV-1 RNACD4+ T cellsHIV-1 populationsAntiretroviral therapyHIV-1T cellsCerebrospinal fluidCSF escapeCNS inflammationDetectable HIV-1 RNAImprovement of neurological symptomsAssociated with viral suppressionUntreated chronic infectionDrug-resistant virusesProgressive neurological deficitsCNS T cellsART regimenViral suppressionChronic infectionNeurological deficitsNeurological symptomsInflammatory biomarkersClinical consequencesVirus expressionPrimary infectionChanges in cerebrospinal fluid proteins across the spectrum of untreated and treated chronic HIV-1 infection
Hu Z, Cinque P, Dravid A, Hagberg L, Yilmaz A, Zetterberg H, Fuchs D, Gostner J, Blennow K, Spudich S, Kincer L, Zhou S, Joseph S, Swanstrom R, Price R, Gisslén M. Changes in cerebrospinal fluid proteins across the spectrum of untreated and treated chronic HIV-1 infection. PLOS Pathogens 2024, 20: e1012470. PMID: 39316609, PMCID: PMC11469498, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012470.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsHIV-1 infectionHIV-associated dementiaCerebrospinal fluidCerebrospinal fluid proteinCerebrospinal fluid HIV-1 RNAImpact of HIV-1 infectionTreating chronic HIV-1 infectionChronic HIV-1 infectionHIV-1 RNAHIV-1 progressionTreat chronic infectionsInflammatory cell lineagesNeurofilament light chain proteinCSF escapeChronic infectionHIV-1Light chain proteinProtein changesClinical centersCNS injuryCSF proteinClinical informationCell lineagesInfectionCerebrospinal fluid proteomeMedical comorbidities and lower myelin content are associated with poor cognition in young adults with perinatally acquired HIV
Patel P, Prince D, Bolenzius J, Ch’en P, Chiarella J, Kolind S, Vavasour I, Pedersen T, Levendovszky S, Spudich S, Marra C, Paul R. Medical comorbidities and lower myelin content are associated with poor cognition in young adults with perinatally acquired HIV. AIDS 2024, 38: 1932-1939. PMID: 39110577, PMCID: PMC11524773, DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003989.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPoor cognitionCognitive impairmentHorizontally acquired HIVMarkers of cognitive reserveAssociated with poorer cognitionRisk factorsCross-sectional studyYoung adultsLower cognitive scoresYears of educationMultiple cognitive domainsExperience cognitive deficitsCognitive domain scoresHIV-uninfected controlsOlder adultsCorticospinal tractCognitive batteryDomain scoresMedical comorbidityCognitive deficitsCognitive domainsMyelin contentCognitive reserveNeuroimaging dataCognitive scoresCentral Nervous System Effects of Early HIV Infection and Consequences of Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation during Acute HIV
Chan P, Spudich S. Central Nervous System Effects of Early HIV Infection and Consequences of Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation during Acute HIV. Viruses 2024, 16: 1082. PMID: 39066244, PMCID: PMC11281648, DOI: 10.3390/v16071082.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsEarly HIV infectionCentral nervous systemHIV infectionEffects of early HIV infectionIncrease awareness of HIV infectionCentral nervous system opportunistic infectionsImmediate initiation of antiretroviral therapyInitiation of antiretroviral therapyAwareness of HIV infectionCentral nervous system complicationsCentral nervous system involvementAntiretroviral therapy initiationCentral nervous system effectsLong-term neuroprotectionHIV-associated dementiaOvert clinical manifestationsYears of infectionMulti-organ diseaseNucleic acid testingAcute HIVHIV neuroinvasionHIV RNAAntiretroviral therapyOpportunistic infectionsTherapy initiationTranscobalamin receptor antibodies in autoimmune vitamin B12 central deficiency
Pluvinage J, Ngo T, Fouassier C, McDonagh M, Holmes B, Bartley C, Kondapavulur S, Hurabielle C, Bodansky A, Pai V, Hinman S, Aslanpour A, Alvarenga B, Zorn K, Zamecnik C, McCann A, Asencor A, Huynh T, Browne W, Tubati A, Haney M, Douglas V, Louine M, Cree B, Hauser S, Seeley W, Baranzini S, Wells J, Spudich S, Farhadian S, Ramachandran P, Gillum L, Hales C, Zikherman J, Anderson M, Yazdany J, Smith B, Nath A, Suh G, Flanagan E, Green A, Green R, Gelfand J, DeRisi J, Pleasure S, Wilson M. Transcobalamin receptor antibodies in autoimmune vitamin B12 central deficiency. Science Translational Medicine 2024, 16: eadl3758. PMID: 38924428, PMCID: PMC11520464, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adl3758.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsBlood-brain barrierCerebrospinal fluidNeurological deficitsAutoimmune neurological conditionsCohort of patientsCellular uptake of cobalaminVitamin B12B12 transportCerebrospinal fluid samplesMeasurement of vitamin B12Low-density lipoprotein receptorProgrammable phage displayImmunosuppressive treatmentIn vitro modelNeuropsychiatric lupusImmunomodulatory treatmentReceptor antibodiesClinical improvementUptake of cobalaminB12 deficiencyUnknown etiologyHematopoietic cellsTranscobalamin receptorCentral deficiencyB12 supplementationThe single-cell opioid responses in the context of HIV (SCORCH) consortium
Ament S, Campbell R, Lobo M, Receveur J, Agrawal K, Borjabad A, Byrareddy S, Chang L, Clarke D, Emani P, Gabuzda D, Gaulton K, Giglio M, Giorgi F, Gok B, Guda C, Hadas E, Herb B, Hu W, Huttner A, Ishmam M, Jacobs M, Kelschenbach J, Kim D, Lee C, Liu S, Liu X, Madras B, Mahurkar A, Mash D, Mukamel E, Niu M, O’Connor R, Pagan C, Pang A, Pillai P, Repunte-Canonigo V, Ruzicka W, Stanley J, Tickle T, Tsai S, Wang A, Wills L, Wilson A, Wright S, Xu S, Yang J, Zand M, Zhang L, Zhang J, Akbarian S, Buch S, Cheng C, Corley M, Fox H, Gerstein M, Gummuluru S, Heiman M, Ho Y, Kellis M, Kenny P, Kluger Y, Milner T, Moore D, Morgello S, Ndhlovu L, Rana T, Sanna P, Satterlee J, Sestan N, Spector S, Spudich S, Tilgner H, Volsky D, White O, Williams D, Zeng H. The single-cell opioid responses in the context of HIV (SCORCH) consortium. Molecular Psychiatry 2024, 1-12. PMID: 38879719, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02620-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsContext of human immunodeficiency virusHuman immunodeficiency virusSubstance use disordersOpioid responseAnimal modelsEffects of substance use disordersOpioid pain medicationsPrevalence of co-morbid conditionsChronic pain syndromesStage of diseaseCell typesAffected cell typesCo-morbid conditionsPain syndromeImmunodeficiency virusPain medicationOpioid addictionIncreased riskRisk factorsHuman cohortsDrug addictionBrain tissue collectionBrain cell typesTissue collectionSingle-cell levelPrevalence of detectable HIV-DNA and HIV-RNA in cerebrospinal fluid of youth with perinatal HIV and impaired cognition on antiretroviral therapy
Wagner T, Tierney C, Huang S, Nichols S, Malee K, Montañez N, Coletti A, Spiegel H, Krotje C, Bone F, Wilkins M, Abuogi L, Purswani M, Bearden A, Wiznia A, Agwu A, Chadwick E, Richman D, Gandhi M, Mehta P, Macatangay B, Spector S, Spudich S, Persaud D, Chahroudi A, Team F. Prevalence of detectable HIV-DNA and HIV-RNA in cerebrospinal fluid of youth with perinatal HIV and impaired cognition on antiretroviral therapy. AIDS 2024, 38: 1494-1504. PMID: 38814693, PMCID: PMC11239098, DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003937.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsCell-free HIV RNAAntiretroviral therapyHIV DNACentral nervous systemDetect HIV DNACerebrospinal fluidHIV RNAPerinatal HIVLong-term virologic suppressionFluid cognition composite scoresSuppressive antiretroviral therapyCerebrospinal fluid cellsHair antiretroviral concentrationsHIV DNA detectionQuantify HIVVirologic suppressionAntiretroviral concentrationsCD4 countCerebrospinal fluid collectionHIV infectionHIV GagPol DNANeurocognitive impairmentCognitive impairmentHIVCase-Control Study of Individuals With Small Fiber Neuropathy After COVID-19
McAlpine L, Zubair A, Joseph P, Spudich S. Case-Control Study of Individuals With Small Fiber Neuropathy After COVID-19. Neurology Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation 2024, 11: e200244. PMID: 38630952, PMCID: PMC11087026, DOI: 10.1212/nxi.0000000000200244.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsInvasive cardiopulmonary exercise testingSmall fiber neuropathyCase-control studyFiber neuropathySkin biopsiesClinical response to treatmentNeurovascular dysregulationTreated with IVIGRetrospective chart reviewCase-control study of individualsRetrospective cohort studyResponse to treatmentCardiopulmonary exercise testingClass III evidenceMyalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndromeIVIG groupClinical responseNeuropathic symptomsChart reviewIVIGStudy of individualsCohort studyIII evidenceClinical trialsCOVID-19 illnessFocal White Matter Damage in Individuals with Cognitive Impairment After COVID-19 (P11-13.004)
McAlpine L, Nelson A, Chiarella J, Lacadie C, Farhadian S, Constable T, Spudich S. Focal White Matter Damage in Individuals with Cognitive Impairment After COVID-19 (P11-13.004). Neurology 2024, 102 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000204666.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHIV-1–infected T cell clones are shared across cerebrospinal fluid and blood during ART
Wang M, Yoon J, Reisert H, Das B, Orlinick B, Chiarella J, Halvas E, Mellors J, Pang A, Barakat L, Fikrig M, Cyktor J, Kluger Y, Spudich S, Corley M, Farhadian S. HIV-1–infected T cell clones are shared across cerebrospinal fluid and blood during ART. JCI Insight 2024, 9: e176208. PMID: 38587074, PMCID: PMC11128194, DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.176208.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsT cell clonesT cell receptorCerebrospinal fluidT cellsHIV-1Infected T-cell clonesCentral memory T cellsCD4 T-cell clonesDetectable HIV RNAMemory T cellsHIV-1 RNAInfected T cellsCNS reservoirsHIV persistenceHIV reservoirHIV RNAHIV cureReservoir cellsPWHTissue compartmentsBloodCNSUninfected controlsCD4Infected cells
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Brain Connections & HIV Status
HIC ID2000033582RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2027Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 80 yearsAre you are currently experiencing brain fog from Long COVID?
HIC ID2000031278RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date09/30/2026Recruiting ParticipantsEstablish and Characterize an Acute HIV Infection Cohort in a High Risk Population
HIC ID1111009338RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/10/2021Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18+ years
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
activity Investigations in CNS HIV Reservoirs and HIV Cure
ResearchDetails01/01/2013 - PresentBangkok, Bangkok, ThailandAbstract/SynopsisA range of project in collaboration with investigators at SEARCH Thailand as well as from multiple US and international institutions to assess potential reservoirs for HIV in the nervous system as well as the impact of therapeutic interventions aimed to reduce HIV in the brain.
activity Effects of Acute HIV Infection in the Central Nervous System
ResearchDetails01/01/2011 - PresentBangkok, Bangkok, ThailandAbstract/SynopsisClinical and translational research investigating the nervous system during acute HIV infection, and the impact of early antiretroviral therapy.
Clinical Care
Overview
Serena Spudich, MD, MA, is one of only a few neurologists in the United States with specialized training in infections of the nervous system and a clinical practice focusing on neurological issues in patients with HIV.
She primarily cares for patients with HIV who suffer from such neurological problems as cognitive disturbances, memory loss and infections. “Many of these are directly related to HIV,” she says. In addition, she consults with patients who have such infections of the nervous system as Lyme disease and West Nile virus, and those with general neurological disorders.
A professor of neurology at Yale School of Medicine and division chief of neurological infections and global neurology, Dr. Spudich strongly believes patients can lead longer and healthier lives when HIV is diagnosed and treated early. “The example that one patient has proven to be cured of HIV, which was previously thought to be an ‘incurable’ disease, brings hope to the 37 million people worldwide infected with HIV, and to those with other chronic infections that impact the brain,” she says.
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Board Certifications
Neurology
- Certification Organization
- AB of Psychiatry & Neurology
- Latest Certification Date
- 2023
- Original Certification Date
- 2003
Yale Medicine News
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View Doctor ProfileNews & Links
News
- July 22, 2024
New Evidence Supports Autoimmunity as One of Long COVID’s Underlying Drivers
- July 10, 2024
Highlighting Yale’s Neuroscience Research
- May 29, 2024Source: Yale Medicine
Long COVID Brain Fog: What It Is and How to Manage It
- November 10, 2023
Brain Fog: New Study Examines Causes of This Long COVID Symptom
Get In Touch
Contacts
Locations
Neuroinfectious Disease Research Program
Lab
135 College Street, Fl 3
New Haven, CT 06510
Patient Care Locations
Are You a Patient? View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.