Biography

Darin T. Okuda, M.D., is a Professor in the Department of Neurology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He is a clinician-scientist specializing in multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system. 

Dr. Okuda serves as Director of the Neuroinnovation Program and Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Imaging Program.

Born and raised in Hawaii, Dr. Okuda earned his undergraduate, graduate, and medical degrees at the University of Hawaii. He completed his residency training in neurology at the Barrow Neurological Institute and performed his fellowship in neuroimmunology at the University of California-San Francisco Multiple Sclerosis Center.

Dr. Okuda’s is nationally and internationally recognized for his recent work in defining and investigating the radiologically isolated syndrome. His current research focuses on creating next generation healthcare by designing innovative connections between patients and providers, developing new diagnostic and clinical surveillance metrics, and transforming medical decision-making. He is actively involved in end-to-end dynamic approaches for the design, creation, and implementation of extreme healthcare concepts aimed at delivering care more accurately, efficiently, and intelligently.

Dr. Okuda is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Inc., a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, a Fellow of the American Neurological Association, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology Committees on Neuroimaging and Ethics.

Dr. Okuda’s work has been published in the Annals of Neurology, Neurology, Human Molecular GeneticsBrainJournal of NeuroImagingProceedings of the National American Academy of Sciences, and Science.

Education

Medical School
University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (2000)
Internship
St. Joseph's Hospital & Medical Center (2001), Internal Medicine
Residency
St. Joseph's Hospital & Med. Ctr. (2004), Neurology
Fellowship
UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center (2006), Neuroimmunology

Research Interest

  • 3-Dimensional Conformation
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Neuroimaging
  • Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
  • Radiologically isolated syndrome
  • Software development

Publications

Featured Publications LegendFeatured Publications

The multiple sclerosis prodrome is just unspecific symptoms in radiologically isolated syndrome patients - No.
Tremlett H, Okuda DT, Lebrun-Frenay C, Mult Scler 2021 Sep 13524585211035951
Outcome measures assisting treatment optimization in multiple sclerosis.
Pardo G, Coates S, Okuda DT, J Neurol 2021 Aug
BOLD signal within and around white matter lesions distinguishes multiple sclerosis and non-specific white matter disease: a three-dimensional approach.
Sivakolundu DK, West KL, Zuppichini MD, Wilson A, Moog TM, Blinn AP, Newton BD, Wang Y, Stanley T, Guo X, Rypma B, Okuda DT, J. Neurol. 2020 May
Real-World Safety and Effectiveness of Dimethyl Fumarate in Black or African American Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: 3-Year Results from ESTEEM.
Williams MJ, Amezcua L, Okai A, Okuda DT, Cohan S, Su R, Parks B, Mendoza JP, Lewin JB, Jones CC, Neurol Ther 2020 May

Books

Featured Books Legend Featured Books

Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System. In MR Imaging in White Matter Disease of the Brain and Spinal Cord

Okuda DT, Vollmer TL (2006).

Enough of the Fear: An Insider's Guide to Understanding, Managing, and Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis

Wright, K, Winkler M, Okuda DT (2019).

Radiologically Isolated Syndrome: MR Imaging Features Suggestive of Multiple Sclerosis Prior to First Symptom Onset. In Advances in Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis

Okuda, DT (2017).

Immunosuppressive Treatments in Multiple Sclerosis. In Handbook of Clinical Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders

Okuda, DT (2014).

Honors & Awards

  • Mimics Innovation Award 2020
    North and South America Finalist (2020)
  • STRATASYS Neuroscience Innovation Award
    Advancing neuroscience through the study of changes in 3-dimensional conformation (2020)
  • American Academy of Neurology, Brainstorm: A Competition for the Innovator in All of Us, Grand Prize Winner
    Innovation Award (2018)
  • International Congress on Advanced Treatments & Technologies in Multiple Sclerosis
    Best Abstract Award (2018)
  • Merck KGaA: Multiple Sclerosis Innovation Award
    Award for 3-dimensional modeling in multiple sclerosis (2018)
  • Reality Science: DeeperMind Innovation Award
    Innovative approach towards understanding MS through augmented reality. (2018)
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society Research Fellowship
    Research fellow within the field of vascular surgery (1997)

Professional Associations/Affiliations

  • American Society of Neuroimaging (2008)
  • Fellow, American Academy of Neurology (2014)
  • Fellow, American Neurological Association (2014)
  • Fellow, British Medical Journal (2009)
  • New York Academy of Sciences (2016)