Bio — Scientific Advisory Board member

Max J. Hilz, M.D.

Dr. Hilz is Professor of Neurology, Director of Neurocritical Care and Vice-Chairman of the Department of Neurology at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. He is also Professor of Neurology, Medicine and Psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.

He received his medical degree at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, and holds German Boards in Neurology, Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Neurological Intensive Care Medicine. His main research focus is on disorders of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and its control by the central nervous system. The ANS is that widespread and important part of our nervous system that assures adequate function, interaction, and adjustment of all organs and bodily functions such as heart rate blood pressure, respiration, organ perfusion, bladder, bowel, reproductive function, temperature control, sleep or wakefulness, etc. While we have no volitional control over the ANS, it interacts with many different centers of our brain including those that control and process emotions.

Dr. Hilz has conducted numerous clinical and research studies to better understand the mechanisms of the ANS. Many of his studies show the critical influence of brain lesions on cardiovascular function, the effects of brain surgery on cardiac and blood pressure control, the influence of emotional stimuli, such as pictures or music of varying emotional valence, on patients with brain lesions due to trauma or stroke. His worldwide collaborations include many of the leading experts and centers of autonomic nervous system research.

To date, Dr. Hilz has published more than 230 research articles and book chapters and gave several hundred scientific presentations. He is a sought after lecturer and speaker who has presented his research results to the leading national / international research societies and universities as well as public institutions such as the United Nations.

His research focuses on better understanding the clinical mechanisms leading to dysfunction of the central ANS and to subsequent life-threatening complications such as the so-called sudden unexplained death, a fatal secondary complication occurring in a large number of patients with brain lesions of various causes. The goal of his work is to better understand the principle of autonomic dysfunction and to improve therapy options, quality of life, and life expectancy of patients with autonomic disorders due to brain lesions and dysfunction.

Dr. Hilz is the President of the European Federation of Autonomic Societies, the Chair-Elect of the Autonomic Section of the American Academy of Neurology, and President of the German Autonomic Society. In addition, he is a board member of many scientific societies.

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