Chiari Neurobiomechanics Research Lab

04/03/2026

SPOTLIGHT on Mahsa Karamzadeh

Ms. Karamzadeh is a PhD candidate in Bioengineering at Northeastern University whose research is focused on a brain disease called Chiari Malformation Type 1.

See recent article about Mahsa at this link:
https://coe.northeastern.edu/news/driven-by-impact-a-bioengineering-researchers-story/

03/20/2026

Many thanks to Bella Martinez at Northeastern University for creating this short video!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWCc04qCgLa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

02/04/2026

I'm excited to announce a name change for this page from CCRC to CNRL, which reflects our group's continued commitment to Chiari research and our new location in New England. Our research will focus on biomechanical aspects of Chiari malformation Type I (CMI). Our group is working closely with neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, geneticists, MR scientists and bioengineers to obtain a fundamental understanding of the causes of CMI symptomatology in an effort to improve treatment options. Our lab is now funded by both Conquer Chiari and the Bobby Jones CSF Foundation, and we are actively submitting proposals to other organizations to expand our Chiari research efforts.

In 2022, I moved my laboratory from the University of Akron to Northeastern University in Boston. Fortunately, Dr. Rouzbeh Amini is also at Northeastern University, and we continue to collaborate on Chiari research. In addition, I am now closer to my collaborators at Harvard (Dr. Rafeeque Bhadelia) and Brown (Dr. Petra Klinge). I also continue to work closely with my longtime collaborators John Oshinski (Emory/Georgia Tech) and Phil Allen (University of Akron) and others. In addition, there are many faculty at Northeastern University who have an interest in CMI research, and I will spotlight their research in the months ahead.

I apologize for not updating this page in quite some time. My plan is to post a monthly spotlight on a student or faculty member who is part of our group here in New England (note the unofficial New England flag in the CNRL logo) and at Northeastern University in particular or is outside of New England area but collaborate with our group. In addition, I will share updates when our group has a CMI research paper accepted, presentation given at a conference, or new grant secured.

Do you have a CMI research idea that you feel should be examined/tested? Feel free to post it here. If we can test it, we will. And if we can't test it, we will try to find someone who can. I look forward to hearing your ideas!

Finally, we plan to host a CNRL Open House this summer at Northeastern University here in Boston, MA to showcase the CMI research going on in New England. Details will be posted at a later date.

Francis Loth

09/20/2021

Thank you Conquer Chiari Walk Across America 2021 - Wauseon, Ohio for inviting Francis Loth and Phil Allen, Directors of the Conquer Chiari Research Center, to participate in your event! They had a great time!

07/13/2020

Francis Loth- Cycling4Chiari!

Check out my activity on Strava.

07/13/2020

Great job Francis Loth!

Check out my activity on Strava.

07/10/2020

I plan to bike 200 miles in 10 days (July 3rd-12th). Please donate to support Conquer Chiari!

04/08/2020

Qualtrics sophisticated online survey software solutions make creating online surveys easy. Learn more about Research Suite and get a free account today.

02/27/2020

We'd like to introduce Sara Salem, a first year Masters student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Akron. Sara joined the CCRC after completing her Bachelors in Biomedical Engineering at UA. This semester she plans to focus her research on studies that evaluate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in Chiari patients as well as brain movement. When she's not working in the CCRC Sara enjoys reading, learning other languages, watching soccer and cooking. Welcome to the CCRC Sara!

02/27/2020

Francis Loth, Executive Director of the Conquer Chiari Research Center, gave a Grand Rounds talk in the Section of Neurosurgery, University of Chicago this week.

01/22/2020

Have you completed the Chiari1000 online survey but don't know how to share your radiological imaging?
The easiest way to share is to sign a Release of Medical Information form. Comment here or email [email protected]. We will mail you a form to complete with a return envelope. The imaging center will send your images directly to us. Thank you!

The Chiari 1000 Registry is an innovative study that uses the Internet to gather information from a large number of Chiari patients both adults and children. Our goal is to enroll at least 1000 Chiari patients.