Dr. Roger Packer

Dr. Jaishri Blakeley is the Marjorie Bloomberg Tiven Professor of Neurofibromatosis in Neurology, Oncology, and Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, director of the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Neurofibromatosis Center and director of the Neurofibromatosis Therapeutic Acceleration Program (NTAP). She is an active clinician-scientist specializing in the care of people with NF1, NF2, LZTR1, SMARC1 schwannomatoses, and primary brain tumors. Her research expertise in the development of clinical trials for nervous system tumors and specifically, early clinical-translational studies including tumor pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic investigations, imaging biomarkers for rare nervous system tumors, and incorporation of patient-focused, functional endpoints into efficacy studies. She has been the national or international leader of 7 clinical trials focused on therapies for glioblastoma, NF1 and NF2. In 2012 she cofounded the NTAP to dramatically shift the landscape of NF1 via necessary, efficient, and expert discovery, translational and clinical research. NTAP focuses on therapeutics, fosters collaboration, facilitates open and timely sharing of results, and streamlines the research process to accelerate therapies for plexiform and cutaneous neurofibromas. Through NTAP, Dr. Blakeley has supported and collaborated with more than 80 laboratories and research teams across the globe enabling meaningful therapeutic development for NF1-associated neoplasms and supporting the development of an exceptional community of clinician scientists focused on NF1 via the Francis S. Collins Scholars Program in Neurofibromatosis Clinical and Translational Research. Her research and programmatic efforts are all in the service of improving outcomes for the patients with NF1, NF2, schwannomatosis, and primary brain cancer for whom she is honored to provide care. Dr. Blakeley is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ectodermal Dysplasias. Her top areas of expertise are Neurofibromatosis, Schwannomatosis, Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2), Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), and Laminectomy.

Dr. Michael Polydefkis focuses on neuromuscular diseases, particularly peripheral nerve diseases. He has a special interest in diabetic and HIV-associated peripheral neuropathy. His expertise includes nerve conduction studies, electromyography and nerve, skin and muscle biopsy reading. Dr. Michael Polydefkis received his medical degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He then became a Howard Hughes Medical Institute research fellow before returning to Johns Hopkins to complete an internship and residency in internal medicine, residency in neurology and a fellowship in neuromuscular diseases. Dr. Polydefkis is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ectodermal Dysplasias. His top areas of expertise are Transthyretin Amyloidosis, Familial Transthyretin Amyloidosis, Primary Amyloidosis, and Peripheral Neuropathy.

Srivandana Akshintala is a Pediatrics provider in Washington, Washington, D.c.. Dr. Akshintala is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Ectodermal Dysplasias. Her top areas of expertise are Neurofibromatosis, Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), Neuroendocrine Tumor, Clouston Syndrome, and Thyroidectomy.