Sergio Baranzini, PhD
Professor
Neurology
School of Medicine

415-502-6865

Sergio E. Baranzini earned his degree in clinical biochemistry from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1992. He graduated from the same institution in 1997 obtaining a PhD with honors in human molecular genetics. The subject of his PhD thesis was the characterization of genetic mutations leading to Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy.

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Dr. Baranzini then moved to the University of California at San Francisco to specialize in the analysis of complex hereditary diseases, in particular multiple sclerosis. During his postdoctoral stay in UCSF Dr. Baranzini employed state-of-the art methods to explore MS pathogenesis, including immunology, molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics. Since 2003 Dr. Baranzini is faculty in the Department of Neurology at UCSF, where he currently holds the title of Associate Professor In-Residence. His research involves the large throughout analysis of samples from MS patients to characterize the activity of genes during: i) different stages of the disease (i.e. remission vs. relapse), ii) differential response to treatment (i.e. good responders vs. poor responders), and iii) disease progression (i.e. benign vs. severe). In addition Dr. Baranzini is collaborating with several interdisciplinary teams worldwide to integrate all the available knowledge obtained in different research domains in an approach known as systems biology. Dr Baranzini’s current research involves immunological studies using the EAE model, sequencing of whole genomes and transcriptomes from patients with multiple sclerosis and developing bioinformatics tools to integrate this information with that coming from other high throughput technologies. Dr Baranzini uses a combination of “wet lab” methods including DNA microarrays, proteomics, and laser capture microdissection, in combination with “dry lab” analytical approaches encompassing bioinformatics, complexity theory, and mathematical modeling. Dr. Baranzini has published his research on MS in several top-tier journals like Science, Nature, PNAS, J Immunol, and PLos Biol. He is a member of the American Association of Immunologists, and an elected member of the American Neurological Association. He also serves as an ad-hoc reviewer for many specialized journals.

Awards

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  • Barancik Prize for Innovation in Multiple Sclerosis Research, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2024
  • Neurology Research Incentive Program 2 (N-RIP2), Department of Neurology. UCSF, 2023
  • Distinguished Professorship in Neurology I, Department of Neurology. UCSF, 2019
  • Stephen C. Reingold award, National Multiple Sclerosis Society (US), 2015
  • Endowed Chair in Neurology, Department of Neurology. UCSF, 2010
  • Harry Weaver Neuroscience Scholar Award, National Multiple Sclerosis Society (US), 2009-2014
  • Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship, National Multiple Sclerosis Society (US), 2001
  • Advanced Graduate Fellowship for research in Molecular Biology, University of Buenos Aires, 1997
  • Best Presentation Award. XXVII Genetics Annual Meeting, Argentine Society of Genetics, 1996
  • Adolfo Noceti and Atilio Tiscornia Award for ophthalmology research, National Academy of Medicine, Argentina, 1996
  • Advanced Graduate Fellowship for research in Molecular Biology, University of Buenos Aires, 1996
  • Graduate Fellowship for research in Medical Genetics, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1995
  • Graduate Fellowship for research in Molecular Biology, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1993
  • Undergraduate scholarship for research in Molecular Biology, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1992

Education & Training

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  • Postdoctoral Fellow Neurogenetics University of California, San Francisco 2001
  • PhD Biochemistry University of Buenos Aires, Argentina 1997
  • BS/MS Biochemistry/Biotechnology University of Buenos Aires, Argentina 1992

Websites

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Grants and Projects

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Publications (179)

Top publication keywords:
Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-RemittingMicrobiotaB-LymphocytesGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseComputational BiologyInterferon-betaCD4-Positive T-LymphocytesMultiple SclerosisProtein Interaction MapsEncephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, ExperimentalGenome-Wide Association StudyGene Expression ProfilingMultiple Sclerosis, Chronic ProgressiveSystems BiologyGastrointestinal Microbiome

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