Darin T. Okuda, M.D., M.Sc., F.A.A.N., F.A.N.A.
Principal Investigator & Professor
Dr. Darin Okuda received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the University of Hawaii. He obtained his Medical Degree from the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine while completing an Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society Research Fellowship. He completed his medical internship at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center and residency in neurology at the Barrow Neurological Institute. He completed a fellowship in neuroimmunology at the University of California, San Francisco.
Dr. Okuda is a professor of neurology specializing in multiple sclerosis and related disorders within the Department of Neurology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He currently serves as Director of the Neuroinnovation Program and Director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Imaging Program. Dr. Okuda is widely recognized both nationally and internationally for his pioneering research on the radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS). His work involving the very early forms of multiple sclerosis prior to first symptom development was recently incorporated into the new 2024 McDonald Criteria, transforming how patients around the world will be diagnosed. Additionally, he is an inventor at the core and an improvised solutions generator. His original innovations focus on designing platforms that enhance diagnostic accuracy, treatment optimization, and clinical surveillance, while advancing healthcare initiatives that expand access and reduce cost. Dr. Okuda is a Diplomate of The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc., Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, Fellow of the American Neurological Association, and member of the American Academy of Neurology Committees on Neuro-imaging and Ethics
Diem Tran, Ph.D.
Senior Research Manager
Diem Tran graduated with a Ph.D. in Medical Science from the University of Tokushima, Japan. She conducted her postdoctoral research at the Division of Cardiology at UT Southwestern, where she made significant contributions to understanding the interactions between the critical gene (Gfat1) and cardiac remodeling, thereby deepening the scientific community's knowledge of the pathological processes underlying heart disease.
In 2019, Dr. Tran joined the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CRI) at UT Southwestern as a research scientist and lab manager. Here, she focused on dissecting the intricate metabolic adaptations of cancer cells. Her groundbreaking research led to two publications in top-tier journals: Nature Metabolism (2021) and Cells (2024). Her work garnered recognition in News and Views in Nature Metabolism, the Research Watch section of Cancer Discovery, and The Scientist Magazine.
During her five years at CRI, Dr. Tran also played a key role as a lab manager, assisting in the management and operation of a research lab. In 2024, she joined the team as a clinical research manager, with aspirations to advance research in neuroscience and enhance patient care.
Morgan C. McCreary, Ph.D.
Lead Statistician
Dr. Morgan McCreary is a statistical consultant based in Seattle, WA, concurrently serving as a biostatistician for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Development Network Coordinating Center at Seattle Children’s Research Institute. Prior to his work in Cystic Fibrosis, he was appointed as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and provided statistical support to clinician-investigators in the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute as a member of the Perot Foundation Neuroscience Translational Research Center.
Dr. McCreary possesses seven years of experience in the design, monitoring, and analysis of clinical studies and trials, five years of which were focused on neurological research. As a result, he has an extensive understanding of the data elements commonly collected in the neurosciences and the statistical methods commonly implemented in their analysis. Moreover, Dr. McCreary’s expertise enables him to develop and employ novel trials designs and/or statistical methods tailored to the needs of a given study and its questions-of-interest.
Dr. McCreary’s research interest include analysis in the presence of informative missingness/presence, Bayesian trial design, and the use of historical controls in the frequentist and Bayesian paradigms.
Katy Wright-Burgess, P.A.-C.
Physician Assistant
Katy Wright-Burgess, MPAS, PA-C, is a Physician Assistant in the Clinical Center for Multiple Sclerosis at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Katy completed her undergraduate studies at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree. She later earned her Master’s of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center School of Health Professionals. Katy is board certified as a Physician Assistant and has specialized in the treatment of MS since 2013. In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Katy is involved in several research studies. She is a preceptor for visiting physician assistant and nurse practitioner students and a guest lecturer for the UT Southwestern School of Health Professions’ Physician Assistant Program. Katy has a special interest in diet, exercise, and multidisciplinary care as she firmly believes that improving one’s overall health optimizes their success in managing MS. Her holistic nutrition certification allows her to better educate her patients on the importance of dietary choices and empower them to make positive health behavior changes.
Tatum Moog, B.S.
Research Coordinator
Tatum Moog graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Dallas Baptist University, where she also minored in Mathematics and Chemistry in 2019. She has been working in the Okuda Innovation Lab since 2019 as a research coordinator. She is involved in transformational 3-dimensional work, the recovery of disease modifying therapies, and helps explore new techniques to better improve the diagnostic accuracy and management of neurological diseases that have resulted in multiple publications in efforts to transform the field of neuroimmunology. In addition, she has focused on understanding differences in disease courses within targeted areas of the brainstem between Blacks/African Americans and Whites. She has also studied the impact of sex and race/ethnicity on disease modifying therapy discontinuations in efforts to better understand the propensities of unique individuals. She has had the opportunity to present posters and give presentations at various Multiple Sclerosis and Neurology conferences, both nationally and internationally. Currently, Tatum is pursuing a Physician Assistant (PA) degree with hopes to further advance her knowledge and skills in healthcare and the field of neuroimmunology.
Jose Santoyo
Research Coordinator
Jose Santoyo is a senior research coordinator with more than 17 years of experience in the field. He coordinates industry-funded and PI-initiated trials in the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology section. He joined Dr. Okuda’s team in 2015 and successfully led the ARISE trial, the first therapeutic trial in RIS (Radiologically Isolated Syndrome) to prevent the onset of the first MS clinical attack, the first trial of its kind. His research efforts have led to multiple publications. He also plays a pivotal role in Dr. Okuda’s Neuroinovation Lab, applying his deep understanding and skills in visual communication and 3-dimensional (3D) printing. He has been featured in Stratasys online publications for his transformational 3D model processing techniques. He is interested in finding innovative ways through graphic design to better depict disease evolution and further his knowledge in neuroscience research. In his spare time, Jose likes to stay active and is an avid cyclist.
Mahi Patel, B.S.
Research Assistant
Mahi Patel graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. She joined the Okuda Innovation Lab in 2023, where she has had the opportunity to merge her passions for neuroscience and medicine through clinical research in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology.
In her role as a clinical research assistant, she has been involved in coordinating clinical trials, studying 3-dimensional lesion dynamics, exploring the applications of artificial intelligence in medicine, and investigating patient experiences on generic disease-modifying therapies. Her research contributions have resulted in multiple scientific publications, and she has had the opportunity to present at national and international medical conferences.
In the summer of 2024, Mahi will begin medical school, where she looks forward to expanding her clinical knowledge and advancing her research to enhance patient health outcomes.
Tom Punnen, B.A.
Research Assistant
Tom Punnen graduated from Rice University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience. Tom joined the Neuroinnovation Lab in August 2024 as a Clinical Research Assistant. He is involved in coordinating investigator-initiated and interventional research studies.
Tom has prior research experience in cellular mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease and ethical integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. His ongoing research projects and recent publications focus on the use of generative AI as a diagnostic tool for multiple sclerosis (MS) and related disorders, efficacy of branded and generic disease modifying therapies, and potential environmental triggers influencing MS.
Tom plans to continue his research and education as an incoming medical student at UT Southwestern Medical School.