Microbes and Mental Illness – Part II: PANDAS, PANS and Autoimmune Encephalitis
Webinar Info
- Speaker: Craig Shimasaki, PhD, MBA – President & CEO, Moleculera Labs
- Speaker: Daniel A. Kinderlehrer, MD
- Aired: January 19, 2024
ABOUT THE WEBINAR
Microbes and Mental Illness Part II: PANDAS, PANS and Autoimmune Encephalitis
In the 21st century, three epidemics are converging: Lyme disease with tick-borne coinfections, autoimmune and immune mediated illnesses, and mental health issues in children and adolescents.
These converging issues account for the increasing incidence of youth with PANS and autoimmune encephalitis that present with treatment resistant neuropsychiatric disorders. Dr. Kinderlehrer will outline a step-wise approach to the evaluation and treatment of PANS and PANS-like syndromes with special emphasis on the role of tick-borne infections.
Can Infection Trigger Immune Dysfunction and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms
Dr. Shimasaki will briefly review how the biological mechanism of molecular mimicry can lead to the production of autoantibodies, resulting in neuropsychiatric symptoms. He will also discuss how the diagnosis and treatment of underlying infections, inflammation, and immune dysfunction can result in significant symptom improvement and how the Moleculera Panel can be utilized to help identify and treat these patients.
Scroll through the video to watch specific chapters. Click on the numbers below.
3:41 – Start of presentation with Dr. Shimasaki
16:43 – Start of presentation with Dr. Kinderlehrer
20:18 – Autoimmune Encephalitis vs. PANS
1:01:19 – Does Lyme disease cause PANS?
1:14:29 – Autoimmune Encephalitis
PRESENTER
Daniel A. Kinderlehrer, MD
Dr. Kinderlehrer is a nationally recognized physician with expertise in the fields of nutrition, allergy, environmental medicine, Lyme disease and the healing of mind-body-spirit as a unified whole. Dr. Kinderlehrer co-founded The New England Center for Holistic Medicine in Newbury MA, and has taught extensively, including practitioner training courses at The Omega Institute, The National Institute of Behavioral Medicine, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, and the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society. He created and organized the Lyme Fundamentals course which is presented annually at the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society conferences. He is the author of several articles in medical journals, the Lyme Times and Psychology Today. His integrated medical practice in Denver, CO focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne illness. Dr. Kinderlehrer is the author of Recovery From Lyme Disease: The Integrative Medicine Guide to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Tick-Borne Illness, which was released in March, 2021.
Craig Shimasaki, PhD, MBA
Dr. Shimasaki received his BS in Biochemistry from the University of California at Davis, his PhD in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Tulsa, and his MBA from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Business. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Oklahoma and is the cofounder and CEO of Moleculera Labs, a neuroimmunology precision medicine company focused on identifying the underlying roots of neurologic, psychiatric, and behavioral disorders triggered by an autoimmune response. He has spent over 35 years working in the fields of molecular biology, viral pathogenesis, and infection-triggered autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders.
Dr. Shimasaki started his career at Genentech and has worked across all stages of research, development, clinical trials, and regulatory approval of technology innovation from bench-to-bedside. His research work includes epitope mapping of HIV proteins, genetic-based predictors of breast cancer risk, influenza and RSV diagnostics and therapeutics, and the pathogenesis of infection-triggered neuropsychiatric disorders. He has co-founded multiple companies and led multiple products through the FDA approval process and is a co-inventor on multiple patents. Internationally, he teaches and mentors scientists, physicians and biotech leaders on how to translate their research into acutely needed medical interventions. His passion is to translate scientific discoveries into acutely needed products so that more patients can live longer, healthier lives.
Schedule: In-services for utilization of the Cunningham Panel™
We provide free, medical education services to assist clinicians in better understanding the Cunningham Panel™ utilization of results. This service is open to individual clinicians and group practices.