Anne Cross

Anne H. Cross, MD is Professor of Neurology and Section Head of MS & Neuroimmunology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis Missouri.  After graduation from the University of Alabama in Birmingham School of Medicine and residency training in adult neurology, she was a fellow in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology at the National Institutes of Health. She then studied neuropathology related to neuroimmunology at Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York. 

Dr. Cross joined the faculty of Washington University in St. Louis in 1991.  She sees patients with MS and related diseases including neuromyelitis optica and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein autoantibody disorder.  Her research focuses  on understanding underlying mechanisms of inflammation and demyelination in the central nervous system, especially as pertaining to MS. Dr. Cross is best known for her work revealing the role of B cells in MS pathology, beginning with her seminal work on the role of B cells in the mouse EAE model in the 1990's.  She is also known for work toward develop better imaging techniques to understand MS.

Dr. Cross has worked with the National MS Society USA for over 3 decades, and currently represents the NMSS on the Scientific Steering Committee of the International Progressive MS Alliance.  She was President of the Consortium of MS Centers Board of Governors (2022-2024) and served as Chair of the Scientific Program Committee for ACTRIMS Forum (2020-2022).

Dr. Cross received the John Jay Dystel Prize (2019), the National MS Society Scientific Researcher Award (2019), the Dean’s Impact Award at Washington University (2024), the Washington University Faculty Achievement Award (2014), the Marilyn Hilton Innovation Award (2014), and the President’s Achievement Award of Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation (2010). She is proud of mentoring over 35 trainees, most of whom work in MS research and patient care.