Keith P. Van Haren, MD

Dr. Van Haren is a clinically trained child neurologist and scientifically trained neuroimmunologist who has been dedicated to the study of myelin disorders for almost two decades. After completing his medical training in 2010 and post-doc in 2013, Dr. Van Haren helped establish both ALD Connect and the Global Leukodystrophy Initiative. In 2014, Dr. Van Haren led the effort to establish the first formal care guidelines for inherited myelin disorders. He is currently engaged in an early stage clinical study of vitamin D in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.
 
Dr. Van Haren currently oversees a clinical and translational neuroscience program at Stanford University that is dedicated to improving the standard of care for children and adults affected by myelin disorders. Clinically, his team serves as a regional resource for high-quality, multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic care for patients and families. He is working with his colleagues in the leukodystrophy community to enable the design, implementation, and access to more early stage (i.e. Phase I/II) clinical trials for leukodystrophy patients.

Scientifically, Dr. Van Haren’s team studies the metabolic and immunologic roles of myeloid cells in single-gene disorders (like leukodystrophies) that affect the brain. Dr. Van Haren is currently enrolling patients in a single-arm, dose-escalation study of high dose vitamin D in boys with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. The study requires at least three visits over a 12 month period; it will track clinical, biomarker, and mechanistic outcomes.

Dr. Van Haren will serve as a co-investigator for Project 1.