Bio
Muhannad Seyam, MD, is a neuromuscular neurologist and clinical electrophysiologist in the Division of Neuromuscular Medicine, with subspecialty focus on immune-mediated neuromuscular disease, motor neuron disease, and muscle disease. He performs nerve conduction studies and electromyography, is completing dedicated training in single-fiber electromyography and neuromuscular ultrasound, and cares for patients receiving novel cell-based and gene-directed therapies, including CAR T-cell therapy for autoimmune neuromuscular disease. His practice interfaces routinely with neuroimmunology, rheumatology, neurogenetics, and pulmonology.
His research develops phenotyping, biomarker, and computational methods for measuring disease activity and predicting treatment response. He is lead investigator on a multicenter study risk stratifying patients with immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, and developed a respiratory phenotyping framework for predicting progression and survival in ALS. With the Day Lab, he is developing a deep phenotyping protocol in FSHD. He also develops artificial intelligence applications across the neuromuscular diagnostic workflow and in translational research.
The American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine and the American Neuromuscular Foundation have recognized this work in consecutive years and in two distinct disease areas: the Golseth Young Investigator Award in 2025 for respiratory phenotyping in ALS, and the Best Abstract Award in 2026 for risk stratification in immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy. The ALS work has also been recognized by the Motor Neuron Disease Association and was selected for platform presentation at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting.
Dr. Seyam serves on the European Academy of Neurology scientific panels for ALS/FTD and for muscle and neuromuscular junction disorders, and co-created the EAN eCampus foundational ALS course delivered to neurology trainees across Europe. He was invited to author a chapter on radiculopathy and plexopathy for a neurologic differential diagnosis textbook, and teaches residents and medical students in the neuromuscular clinic and electrodiagnostic laboratory.
He earned his medical degree summa cum laude from Semmelweis University in Budapest, with a diploma thesis on the diagnosis and management of multiple sclerosis, and completed a second doctorate at the University of Basel in Switzerland for research in AI-based neuroimaging. He is completing a PhD at Utrecht University in the Netherlands on clinical and biochemical markers of disease progression and survival in ALS. He completed neurology residency at the University of Vermont, where he served as academic chief resident, and fellowship in neuromuscular medicine at Stanford. He is board certified in neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and holds medical licensure in Germany and Switzerland.
Dr. Seyam can be reached at mseyam@stanford.edu with inquiries regarding collaboration in academia or industry.
Clinical Focus
- Neurology
- Neuromuscular Medicine
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Inflammatory Myopathy
- Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Inflammatory Neuropathy
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD)
Honors & Awards
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Best Abstract Award, American Neuromuscular Foundation (2026)
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Golseth Young Investigator Award, American Neuromuscular Foundation (2025)
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Residency and Fellowship Awards (4x), American Neuromuscular Foundation (2025)
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Nominee, Dean's Award for Professionalism, University of Vermont (2025)
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Clinical Poster Prize, Runner-Up, Motor Neuron Disease Association (2024)
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Finalist, Alpha Omega Alpha Housestaff Award, University of Vermont (2024)
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Resident Teaching Award, University of Vermont (2024)
Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations
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Scientific Panel, ALS and FTD, European Academy of Neurology (2026 - Present)
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Scientific Panel, Muscle and Neuromuscular Junction Disorders, European Academy of Neurology (2026 - Present)
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Curriculum Reviewer and Course Co-Creator, European Academy of Neurology (2026 - Present)
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Member, European Academy of Neurology (2025 - Present)
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Member, American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (2022 - Present)
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Member, American Academy of Neurology (2017 - Present)
Professional Education
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Ph.D. (anticipated 2027), Utrecht University, Netherlands
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Fellowship, Stanford University Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship, CA (2025)
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Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Neurology (2025)
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Residency, University of Vermont Neurology Residency, VT (2025)
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Doctorate (Dr. med.), University of Basel, Switzerland (2024)
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M.D., Semmelweis University, Budapest (2019)
Current Research and Scholarly Interests
My research asks one question across several diseases: how to measure disease activity and treatment response where existing measures cannot yet tell us who is declining, who will respond, and whether treatment is working. I approach this through phenotyping, biomarker correlation, and computational methods, in multicenter and international collaborations.
Immune-mediated neuromuscular disease. This is my area of subspecialization. I am lead investigator on a multicenter study phenotyping and risk-stratifying immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, in an effort to identify at presentation the patients likely to follow a severe course and warrant early escalation of therapy. Related work examines the use of novel immunotherapies in myasthenia gravis and immune-mediated neuropathies, including cell-based therapies such as CAR T-cell therapy. Alongside this, standardized outcome instruments in myasthenia gravis have been developed and disseminated nationally from within the Stanford Neuromuscular Division, and I am working toward their systematic capture in routine practice.
Motor neuron disease. Phenotypic heterogeneity in ALS obstructs stratification and prognostication and is little accounted for in practice or in trial design. I developed respiratory phenotyping as a framework that predicts disease progression and survival and provides a basis for biomarker correlation across distinct patterns of decline. Validation in international multicenter cohorts is underway. This clinical work is paired with translational research through a continuing collaboration with the University of Vermont, where we use stem cell-derived motor neurons to examine the molecular correlates of these phenotypes and potential therapeutic targets. I also study energy balance, body composition, and hydration status as determinants of progression.
Muscle disease. With the Day Lab, we are developing a deep phenotyping protocol in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy pairing quantitative muscle imaging with molecular characterization of biopsy tissue, to capture disease activity in a way current methods cannot.
Artificial intelligence and computational methods. My doctoral work at the University of Basel evaluated the implementation of an AI tool in the radiology workflow, in a study since widely cited across radiology and informatics. That work assessed a deployed tool in routine practice and reported where it failed, and that orientation carries into my current program, which applies artificial intelligence along two tracks. In the diagnostic workflow, current directions include quantitative analysis of electrodiagnostic signals and speech- and video-based assessment of motor function, with the aim of producing objective, scalable measures of disease activity suitable for use as clinical trial endpoints and digital biomarkers. In translational research, I apply computational methods to multi-omic data, integrating transcriptomic and proteomic signatures with clinical phenotype to identify biological correlates of the phenotypes defined in the clinical work above.
All Publications
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Predicting Disease Progression and Survival in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
Muscle & nerve
2026
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progresses relentlessly and is characterized by a median survival of 2-5 years from symptom onset with death from respiratory failure. ALS is a complex, multi-system neurodegenerative disorder with significant phenotypic heterogeneity and markedly variable disease progression. This variability presents challenges in determining the optimal timing for therapeutic interventions, complicates clinical trial design due to lack of effective stratification methods, and makes it difficult to reliably measure the longitudinal impact of specific interventions. Accurately capturing disease progression in ALS can be challenging. We propose that early respiratory phenotyping offers a promising approach to facilitate patient stratification, improve assessments of disease progression, and predict survival.
View details for DOI 10.1002/mus.70198
View details for PubMedID 41866924
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Physiological and pathological roles of the thymus and value of thymectomy in myasthenia gravis: a narrative review.
Mediastinum (Hong Kong, China)
2024; 8: 31
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a well-elucidated autoimmune disorder affecting the neuromuscular junction. Given the relationship between MG and thymic pathologies, with T cell and antibody-mediated pathogenesis, surgical (i.e., thymectomy) and non-surgical approaches remain a mainstay of management of the disease. This review seeks to outline the involvement of the thymus in the development of lymphocytes leading to MG.Different databases were searched exploring the role of thymectomy in treatment and outcomes in various MG patient subpopulations, including in ocular versus generalized disease, different age groups, and antibody status.Overall, the findings of multiple studies and reviews provide evidence to support the efficacy and long-term success of thymectomy in the management of MG; outcomes have included remission status, symptom severity, and need for adjunctive therapy. However, the heterogeneity in the MG population suggests that there are multiple factors that may confound the results of thymectomy and still need further examination. Separately, other autoimmune diseases develop following thymectomy, and further research is required to elucidate this susceptibility. Finally, our review will discuss the different surgical approaches for thymectomy, including their advantages, limitations, and perioperative complications.Overall, in light of the known pathogenesis and association of the thymus with MG, thymectomy remains an extremely effective approach for long-term management and improved clinical outcomes.
View details for DOI 10.21037/med-23-43
View details for PubMedID 38881805
View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11177005
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Utilization of Artificial Intelligence-based Intracranial Hemorrhage Detection on Emergent Noncontrast CT Images in Clinical Workflow.
Radiology. Artificial intelligence
2022; 4 (2): e210168
Abstract
Authors implemented an artificial intelligence (AI)-based detection tool for intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) on noncontrast CT images into an emergent workflow, evaluated its diagnostic performance, and assessed clinical workflow metrics compared with pre-AI implementation. The finalized radiology report constituted the ground truth for the analysis, and CT examinations (n = 4450) before and after implementation were retrieved using various keywords for ICH. Diagnostic performance was assessed, and mean values with their respective 95% CIs were reported to compare workflow metrics (report turnaround time, communication time of a finding, consultation time of another specialty, and turnaround time in the emergency department). Although practicable diagnostic performance was observed for overall ICH detection with 93.0% diagnostic accuracy, 87.2% sensitivity, and 97.8% negative predictive value, the tool yielded lower detection rates for specific subtypes of ICH (eg, 69.2% [74 of 107] for subdural hemorrhage and 77.4% [24 of 31] for acute subarachnoid hemorrhage). Common false-positive findings included postoperative and postischemic defects (23.6%, 37 of 157), artifacts (19.7%, 31 of 157), and tumors (15.3%, 24 of 157). Although workflow metrics such as communicating a critical finding (70 minutes [95% CI: 54, 85] vs 63 minutes [95% CI: 55, 71]) were on average reduced after implementation, future efforts are necessary to streamline the workflow all along the workflow chain. It is crucial to define a clear framework and recognize limitations as AI tools are only as reliable as the environment in which they are deployed. Keywords: CT, CNS, Stroke, Diagnosis, Classification, Application Domain © RSNA, 2022.
View details for DOI 10.1148/ryai.210168
View details for PubMedID 35391777
View details for PubMedCentralID PMC8980872
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Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, M-Protein, and Skin Changes (POEMS) Syndrome With Characteristic Muscle Biopsy Findings and Without M-Protein.
The neurologist
2026
Abstract
POEMS (Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, Monoclonal gammopathy, and Skin changes) syndrome is a rare paraneoplastic disorder driven by proinflammatory cytokines, particularly vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which promotes multisystemic angiogenesis and inflammation. It is frequently misdiagnosed as Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) due to overlapping features.A 63-year-old woman was referred for presumed CIDP unresponsive to IVIG and steroids. Her clinical course was notable for 100-pound weight loss, papilledema, skin changes, thrombocytosis, thromboembolisms, hemi-diaphragmatic paralysis, organomegaly/lymphadenopathy, and negative bone marrow and lymph node biopsies. POEMS was diagnosed based on repeat electrodiagnostic testing, elevated VEGF and prolactin, and nerve/muscle biopsies showing endomysial edema and angiogenesis. Notably, no monoclonal protein (M-protein) was identified. Treatment with lenalidomide and dexamethasone resulted in significant clinical improvement.Paraprotein-negative POEMS syndrome should be considered in refractory CIDP, especially in the presence of skin changes, endocrinopathy, papilledema, and thrombocytosis. VEGF levels and nerve/muscle biopsy findings are critical diagnostic tools in patients with high clinical suspicion who lack monoclonal gammopathy. Muscle biopsy may increase the diagnostic yield by revealing characteristic vascular proliferation, a feature previously described in nerve biopsies of patients with POEMS syndrome.
View details for DOI 10.1097/NRL.0000000000000688
View details for PubMedID 42611186
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Case Report: Atypical Focal Axial Presentation of Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy Type 1.
Journal of clinical neuromuscular disease
2026; 27 (4): 140-144
Abstract
ABSTRACT: Although facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is known and functionally named for the typical findings of progressive weakness of the facial, scapular, and upper arm muscles, there is a growing body of evidence describing atypical presentations, particularly involving the midline musculature. We report 2 notable such cases of atypical FSHD presentation: (1) a 36-year-old postpartum woman with sparing of the usually involved muscles, but who was found to have significant atrophy of the lower abdominal muscles, pectus excavatum, and a positive Beevor sign and (2) a 65-year-old man with a history of spine surgery, with marked lumbar paraspinal atrophy, left scapular winging, and lordosis. The patients in both cases were genetically tested and found to have 4q35 deletion consistent with FSHD1. These cases highlight the importance of recognizing atypical presentations of FSHD.
View details for DOI 10.1097/CND.0000000000000563
View details for PubMedID 42226219
- Treatment response in anti-HMGCR and anti-SRP immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy: impact of demographic and racioethnic factors. 2026
- Case of heterozygous VWA1 pathogenic variant in patient with distal motor neuropathy. PNS Annual Meeting 2026
- Impact of demographic and racioethnic factors on treatment response in anti-HMGCR myopathy: a multicenter cohort. 2026
- Exploring demographic and racioethnic determinants of phenotype and treatment response in anti-HMGCR myopathy 2026
- Efficacy and tolerability of nipocalimab in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis: real-world experience from an academic center 2026
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Validation of bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy to estimate body composition and hydration status in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
2025
View details for DOI 10.1002/mus.70014
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Atypical features of POEMS syndrome: diaphragmatic paralysis, papilledema, thrombotic complications, endomysial edema, and increased endomysial vessels but no M-protein.
2025
View details for DOI 10.1002/mus.70014
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Atypical focal presentation of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1.
2025
View details for DOI 10.1002/mus.70014
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Respiratory phenotypes for stratifying and predicting survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
2025
View details for DOI 10.1002/mus.70014
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Multifactorial axial abnormalities in a patient with known Parkinson’s disease including anti-Ku myositis, pramipexole exposure, pyridoxine deficiency, and hyperparathyroidism.
2025
View details for DOI 10.1002/mus.70014
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Effect of caloric balance on disease progression in ALS.
2024
View details for DOI 10.1080/21678421.2024.2403293
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Contrast extravasation in a patient with right MCA stroke mimicking cerebral edema.
2024
View details for DOI 10.1212/WNL.0000000000206292
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Value of FVC and its rate of decline for predicting survival in ALS.
2024
View details for DOI 10.1212/WNL.0000000000208244
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Respiratory phenotypes in ALS: their impact on disease progression and mortality.
2024
View details for DOI 10.1080/21678421.2024.2403307
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49-year-old woman • headache and neck pain radiating to ears and eyes • severe hypertension • Dx?
The Journal of family practice
2023; 72 (7): E26-E29
Abstract
► headache and neck pain radiating to ears and eyes ► severe hypertension.
View details for DOI 10.12788/jfp.0659
View details for PubMedID 37729146
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Bilateral limb shaking TIA secondary to severe bilateral carotid stenosis.
2023
View details for DOI 10.1161/SVIN.03.suppl_2.126
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All that enhances is not cancer: cerebral amyloid angiopathy mimicking leptomeningeal enhancement in two patients with advanced cancer.
2023
View details for DOI 10.1212/WNL.0000000000203238
- West Nile virus encephalitis in a patient with frontotemporal dementia. American College of Physicians (ACP) Vermont Chapter Meeting 2022
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SMART Syndrome (Stroke-like migraine attacks after radiation therapy): When to suspect it?
Surgical neurology international
2021; 12: 561
Abstract
Stroke-like migraine attacks after radiation therapy (SMART) syndrome is a benign complication of brain radiation therapy, which presents circa a decade after radiation treatment. Symptoms are stroke-like deficits, epileptic seizures, and migraine. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging is characteristic for alterations in the form of unilateral cortical hyperintensities and gyriform enhancement, most prominent in the parieto-occipital regions. Prompt diagnosis is essential to avoid unnecessary investigations (e.g., brain biopsy and angiography).We describe a 51-year-old female patient treated initially with cranial irradiation for a left-sided occipital metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. Five years later, she presented with migraine headache, aphasia, and a right sided hemiparesis.The triad of migraine, seizure, and hemiparesis within the context of a prior brain radiotherapy should promptly raise the suspicion of SMART syndrome. Prompt diagnosis is essential to avoid unnecessary invasive investigations.
View details for DOI 10.25259/SNI_893_2021
View details for PubMedID 34877047
View details for PubMedCentralID PMC8645481
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New Horizons for Diagnostic Pitfalls of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: Clinical Utility of a Newly Developed Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Diagnostic Score: A Case Report and Literature Review.
The American journal of case reports
2021; 22: e932123
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diagnosing cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) poses significant challenges owing to a nonspecific clinical presentation, poorly correlated laboratory biomarkers, and low sensitivity of non-contrast head computed tomography (CT). We describe a case of missed CVT diagnosis, due to low clinical suspicion and nonrecognition of anemia as a prothrombotic factor, especially during an ulcerative colitis (UC) flare. A recently proposed CVT clinical probability score can guide clinicians in pursuing further neurovascular imaging. CASE REPORT A 35-year-old man, with treatment-naive UC, presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with new-onset diffuse headache, 4 weeks of bloody diarrhea, and weight loss. Initial ED laboratory studies revealed severe anemia and unremarkable non-contrast head CT. Two days later, the patient returned to the ED for worsening headache. Non-contrast head CT revealed a left temporal hypodensity. This was later confirmed as acute ischemia on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MR venogram revealed thrombosis of the left transverse and sigmoid sinuses, leading to initiation of therapeutic subcutaneous anticoagulation. Repeat MRI, secondary to worsening headache, revealed the development of petechial hemorrhages within the core of venous ischemia in the left temporal lobe. Therapeutic anticoagulation, along with symptomatic management of UC, led to clinical stabilization. CONCLUSIONS CVT should be suspected in patients with UC, especially in the context of anemia, presenting with new-onset or worsening headaches. Recognizing anemia as a thrombogenic factor is crucial. Diagnosis of CVT is challenging due to non-focal symptoms and poorly correlating diagnostic tests. We endorse implementing the CVT clinical probability score into AHA/ASA CVT guidelines to enhance diagnostic accuracy.
View details for DOI 10.12659/AJCR.932123
View details for PubMedID 34224551
View details for PubMedCentralID PMC8274363