Tyrell Simkins, DO, PhD, Neurology

Tyrell Simkins, DO, PhD, is a neurologist and physician-scientist currently serving as Senior Director of Clinical Development at Coya Therapeutics, Inc., where he focuses on advancing novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. He earned both his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and PhD from Michigan State University in 2015, completing rigorous dual training in medicine and neuroscience. Initially intending to pursue a purely research-focused career, he became increasingly motivated to bridge the gap between laboratory discovery and patient care. Over time, he recognized that while mechanistic science is essential, his deeper professional calling was to translate that knowledge into meaningful clinical impact for patients.

He completed his neurology residency at the University of California, Davis in 2019, followed by fellowship training in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology at Oregon Health & Science University in 2021. During this period, he developed specialized expertise in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders, with a focus on advancing therapeutic strategies for conditions of high unmet medical need, including ALS. He has maintained an active clinical practice alongside his industry work and currently serves as a consulting neurologist with the Center for Interdisciplinary Spine in Sacramento, where he evaluates and manages patients in a workers’ compensation setting, integrating neurologic expertise into complex spine-related clinical cases.

Dr. Simkins has approximately four years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including prior leadership roles as Medical Director and Associate Medical Director at Cytokinetics before joining Coya Therapeutics. In addition to his clinical and industry responsibilities, he is actively engaged in teaching, lecturing, and scientific communication through both industry and academic settings, including residency education at the University of Central Florida. He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, Sigma Xi, the Society for Neuroscience, and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and has authored approximately 18–19 peer-reviewed publications. His career reflects a sustained commitment to integrating clinical neurology, translational science, and drug development to advance therapies that improve outcomes for patients with neurological disease.

• Michigan State University - DO, Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy
• Michigan State University - PhD
• Boise State University -B.S. Bio (Mol/Cell Emphasis); Minors: Chem, Phil

• DO
• PhD
• Certificate, Human Investigations Program

• American Academy of Neurology
• Sigma Xi
• Society for Neuroscience
• American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Plasma Neurofilament Analysis in VITALITY-ALS – Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 2024
Investigated neurofilament biomarkers as prognostic indicators of disease progression in ALS using longitudinal clinical trial data.
COURAGE-ALS: Phase 3 Study Design Optimization – Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 2023
Developed optimized clinical trial design strategies to improve efficiency, participant selection, and outcome sensitivity in ALS studies.
Autoimmune Diseases of the Brain: Imaging and Clinical Review – The Neuroradiology Journal, 2022
Reviewed imaging characteristics of autoimmune CNS disorders and proposed a structured diagnostic approach for clinical differentiation.
Clinical Decision Rule for Altered Mental Status in the ED – J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open, 2021
Created and validated a predictive model for hospitalization risk and mortality outcomes in emergency department patients with AMS.
Chronic Demyelination and Axonal Degeneration in Multiple Sclerosis – Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports, 2021
Reviewed mechanisms of neurodegeneration in MS and emerging therapeutic strategies for remyelination and neuroprotection.
Neuron–Oligodendrocyte Interactions in Axonal Integrity – Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 2021
Explored bidirectional signaling between neurons and oligodendrocytes and implications for neurodegenerative disease.
GSK-3β Dysregulation in Parkinson’s Disease Pathogenesis – Cell Death and Differentiation
Examined kinase-driven phosphorylation pathways contributing to tau and alpha-synuclein pathology in Parkinson’s disease.
Reduced Noradrenergic Signaling in Spleen Capsule in CB1/CB2 Knockout Mice – Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 2016
Investigated cannabinoid receptor regulation of sympathetic signaling and immune modulation in splenic function.
Enhanced Humoral Immunity in CB1/CB2 Knockout Mice – Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 2014
Demonstrated increased antibody production and altered noradrenergic signaling in cannabinoid receptor-deficient models.
Comparison of D2 Receptor Regulation and Neurotoxicant Susceptibility in CB1/CB2 Knockout Mice – Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 2012
Evaluated dopaminergic neuron vulnerability and cannabinoid receptor involvement in neurotoxic injury.
LC-MS Determination of MPP+ in Murine Brain Regions – Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods, 2011
Developed analytical methods to measure neurotoxin metabolites and correlate with dopaminergic depletion.
Response to Neonatal Anesthesia: Sex Differences in Neurodevelopmental Outcomes – Neuroscience, 2009
Demonstrated sex-dependent cognitive and anatomical effects following early-life anesthetic exposure.
Autoimmune Disease of Head and Neck: Imaging and Clinical Review – The Neuroradiology Journal
Provided a diagnostic framework for immune-mediated head and neck disorders using radiologic and clinical features.