Clinical Focus

• Neurology
• Neurology, Pediatric
• Multiple Sclerosis, Myasthenia Gravis, Immune Disorders

Administrative Appointments

• Chairman, Interdepartmental Program in Immunology, Interdepartmental Program in Immunology, Stanford University (2002 - 2011)

Honors and Awards

• Charcot Award for Lifetime Achievement in MS Research, Internation Federation of MS Societies (2011)
• Member, Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences (October, 2009-)
• John M. Dystel Prize, American Academy of Neurology and National MS Society (2004)
• Friedrich Sasse Prize, Free Univ.of Berlin (1994)
• Sen. Jacob Javits Award, US Congress (1988-2002)

Professional Education

Postdoctoral Advisees

Bahareh Ajami,  Robert Axtell,  Hedwich Kuipers,  Michael Kurnellas

Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations

• Immunology
• Neurosciences

Current Research Interests

Our laboratory is dedicated to understanding the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis. We have developed several new therapies for autoimmunity, including some in Phase 2 clinical trials, as well as one approved drug, natalizumab. We have developed microarray technology for detecting autoantibodies to myelin proteins and lipids. We employ a diverse range of molecular and celluar approaches to trying to understand multiple sclerosis.

Publications

• Chaperone activity of α B-crystallin is responsible for its incorrect assignment as an autoantigen in multiple sclerosis. Rothbard JB, Zhao X, Sharpe O, Strohman MJ, Kurnellas M, Mellins ED, Robinson WH, Steinman L. J Immunol. 2011; 186 (7): 4263-8
• Interferon-β exacerbates Th17-mediated inflammatory disease. Axtell RC, Raman C, Steinman L. Trends Immunol. 2011; 32 (6): 272-7
• Systemic augmentation of alphaB-crystallin provides therapeutic benefit twelve hours post-stroke onset via immune modulation. Arac A, Brownell SE, Rothbard JB, Chen C, Ko RM, Pereira MP, Albers GW, Steinman L, Steinberg GK. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011; 108 (32): 13287-92
• Inhibitory role for GABA in autoimmune inflammation. Bhat R, Axtell R, Mitra A, Miranda M, Lock C, Tsien RW, Steinman L. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010; 107 (6): 2580-5
• Inverse vaccination, the opposite of Jenner's concept, for therapy of autoimmunity. Steinman L, J Intern Med. 2010; 267 (5): 441-51