The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

The DRPLA Center of Excellence was accredited to Dr Yael Shiloh-Malasky and Dr Zheng (Jane) Fan from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on June 6, 2024.

Clinical Services

Adult and pediatric neurologists with expertise in neurogenetics, epilepsy and movement disorders are available for patients. They also have access to a genetic counselor, dietician, and social worker in the neurology clinic.

UNC is a regional and state referral hospital with a broad scope of inpatient and outpatient services. Specialties are available through referral for all ages, from pediatric to adult. These specialties include, but are not limited to orthopedics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, gastroenterology, pulmonology, neuropsychology, palliative and complex care specialists. Therapy specialists, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language pathologists, are available for all patients as well.

About the Applicants

Yael Shiloh-Malawsky MD, board certified in Neurology with Special Qualifications in Child Neurology, and subspecialty in Epilepsy. Has experience in clinical pediatric neurology and epilepsy, and specific expertise in neurogenetics, epilepsy, clinical trials, and natural history studies. Serves as the clinical core leader and co-founder of UNC Epilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGI), co-director of the UNC Rett Center of Excellence (CoE) as part of the International Rett Syndrome Foundation CoE network, and the Program Director of UNC Child Neurology Residency Program. Has served as the PI of clinical studies including drug trials, natural history, and other studies. Has clinical experience in the care of patients with childhood onset DRPLA, has been part of the development team of DRPLA Natural History and Biomarkers Study (DRPLA-NHBS) and is the primary investigator of the study at the UNC site.

Zheng (Jane) Fan MD, Co-Chief of the Division of Precision Medicine and Neurogenetics. Professor of Neurology, Child Neurology, Pediatric Sleep Medicine, Pediatric Neuromuscular Disorders, Clinical Genetics. Medical Director of the sleep laboratory. Clinical and research focus in rare neurogenetic disorders including therapeutic interventions of genetic disorders and sleep/EEG characteristics in neurogenetic disorders. Was part of the development team of the DRPLA Natural History and Biomarkers Study (DRPLA-NHBS) and co-investigator of the study at the UNC site.

Contact Information

You can reach Dr. Yael Shiloh-Malawsky at yaelm@neurology.unc.edu, or by calling 919-966-8178.

You can reach Dr. Zheng (Jane) Fan at zheng_fan@med.unc.edu or by calling 919-966-8178.

(Title image courtesy of the University of North Carolina)