Thomas J. Langan, MD

Dr. Thomas J. Langan is the Director for Clinical Research of the Institute For Myelin and Glia Exploration, as well as an Associate Professor of Neurology, Pediatrics, and Physiology and Biophysics at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.  He received both his undergraduate degree in Biology and his MD in Medicine from Brown University.  Dr. Langan completed his residency in Pediatrics in 1981, and his residency in Neurology in 1984, both at Washington University.  He has been involved in several leadership roles in organizations throughout Western New York and New York State, helping to facilitate significant recruitment into multi-center research studies.  These organizations include the New York State Krabbe Disease Consortium, where Dr. Langan serves as President, as well as the Headache and Concussion clinics at Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, where he served as Director.  Dr. Langan has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including election to Best Doctors in America in 1999, and selection as the Castle Connolly Best Doctor from 2000 to 2015.

Dr. Langan’s research is focused on child neurology, developmental neurology, and pediatrics, and he has published many journal articles on these topics.  More specifically, he is involved in the clinical care of and research regarding children with leukodystrophies.  Dr. Langan has also helped to expand the Worldwide Registry for Krabbe Disease, which is a database maintained at Institute For Myelin and Glia Exploration that now has clinical and genetic information for over 190 affected patients.  He has also explored the genotype/phenotype relationship in Krabbe, including exome and whole genome analyses with collaborators, and participating in research to uncover new biomarkers and to develop novel therapies.  Dr. Langan’s contributions have significantly impacted the current understanding of rare diseases, and he continues to work to encourage data-sharing and further research in this area.