Investigator Ariele L Greenfield, M.D., Director of PAMF Multiple Sclerosis Center

Dr. Greenfield is a neurologist, neuroimmunologist and researcher at Sutter’s Palo Alto Medical Foundation. She is board certified in neurology, and cares for patients with autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) as well as other neurologic conditions such as neurodegenerative illnesses, epilepsy and movement disorders.

Engaged in clinical and translational research, Dr. Greenfield focuses on the mechanisms and treatment of autoimmune and degenerative conditions of the nervous system. She is particularly interested in how B cells might incorrectly process the body’s tissues as foreign in autoimmune disease.

As an investigator with the Sutter biobank, she will lead studies on immune processes implicated in the onset and progression of MS. With the goal of identifying potential mechanisms that trigger MS and applying research findings to clinical care, Dr. Greenfield and colleagues at Sutter will collect and study the cerebrospinal fluid and tissues of patients with MS and other autoimmune conditions. Specimens will be collected from patients who donate samples to Sutter’s biobank.

Dr. Greenfield conducted post-doctoral research in neuroimmunology at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF).

She investigated the origins of MS, searching for the targets of the autoimmune attack by creating monoclonal antibodies. Her studies also tracked B cells in patients longitudinally using novel DNA sequencing methods, as well as explored novel therapies for other neurodegenerative diseases that can mimic MS.

A recipient of numerous awards in recognition of her research efforts, Dr. Greenfield was most recently named a Partner in MS Care by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She has authored numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals as well as presented at national and international research meetings.

Dr. Greenfield obtained an M.D. at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) where she was awarded an American Academy of Neurology Prize for Excellence. She completed a neurology residency and a clinical and translational research fellowship in neuroimmunology and glial biology at UCSF.