Western Neuropathy Association, in collaboration with The Merkin PNNR Center at Johns Hopkins & E-Bike Lovers, Cordially Invites You to View:
A Complimentary Special Screening of the Documentary Film:
on
Tuesday, May 5th, 2026
at
1200 Old Trenton Rd. West Windsor, NJ 08550
time
Sign-In Begins at 11:00am
Register Below to Reserve You Spot
This film is a powerful narrative chronicling award-winning PBS documentary filmmaker and neuropathy patient Dr. Gregory Maassen’s fight against peripheral neuropathy and his e-bike journey to reclaim independence
Agenda:
Sign-In: 11:00 am - 11:45 am
Introductions: 11:45am - 12:00pm
Special Message, Dr. Gregory Maassen: 12:00pm - 12:15pm
Film Screening: 12:15 am - 1:30 pm
Post-event Q&A, discussion & networking: 1:30pm - 2:30pm
with
Register by completing the form below, click submit to reserve your spot
Once registered, a confirmation email will be generate. A reminder email will also be sent as we near the event date.
Information collected is used for this event only and will never be sold
Dr. Gregory Maassen is a Dutch-American cyclist living in Washington, DC
Solo 5,800-Mile E-Bike Journey Across the U.S. to Raise Awareness of Peripheral Neuropathy
Riding solo, Dr. Gregory Maassen, will take to the road on a 5,800-mile journey across the United States. Dr. Maassen, a native of the Netherlands, will embark on a five-month, cross-country journey from West Palm Beach, Florida, to Los Angeles, California. Gregory, a peripheral neuropathy patient himself, is riding to create awareness of peripheral neuropathy, a painful neurologic condition that affects more than 30 million people in the U.S. (1 in 9 adults) but often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
Dr. Maassen honors his Dutch-American heritage by riding accompanied by a pair of wooden shoes.
WHY: In partnership with the Merkin Peripheral Neuropathy and Nerve Regeneration (PNNR) Center at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Maassen is riding 5,800 miles to raise awareness of peripheral neuropathy, and the importance of research to find cures for this debilitating condition. Gregory, who suffers from peripheral neuropathy himself, turned to exercise, specifically e-biking, as part of his recovery, and hopes to encourage others to embrace exercise and movement for health and wellness. Gregory hopes his efforts will help shorten the diagnostic journey that he and so many patients with peripheral neuropathy endure.
WHO: Gregory Maassen, Ph.D., is the founder of E-bike Lovers, a group established to provide members with free, high-quality e-bike travel experiences, and a member of the Merkin PNNR Center patient advisory council. Gregory became severely ill with an unknown illness while on assignment in South Africa in 2017. Bedridden for over a year, and suffering with untreated symptoms, Gregory was introduced to Dr. Ahmet Hoke at Johns Hopkins University in 2019 who was able to diagnose his condition as a form of post-infection peripheral neuropathy. Dr. Hoke prescribed exercise as part of Gregory’s treatment. Gregory credits e-biking and physical activity with aiding his recovery and helping him manage his symptoms.
Gregory is no stranger to long distance cycling: his first cross-country e-bike journey in 2022 took him from Washington DC to San Francisco along the historic Lincoln Highway. Gregory, who is also an award-winning filmmaker, produced a documentary, Only Lazy Americans E-Bike, recently released, on this first cross-country journey. In the film, he shares his story, background about peripheral neuropathy, and the history of and community surrounding e-bikes. (www.ebikedocumentary.com)
The Merkin Peripheral Neuropathy and Nerve Regeneration Center at Johns Hopkins University is dedicated to advancing peripheral neuropathy research, deepening the understanding of these conditions, and developing new and viable therapies. Dr. Ahmet Hoke, a renowned expert in neurology, serves as Director of the Merkin PNNR Center.
Gregory’s story was covered pre-tour by ABC and CBS affiliates in Baltimore. (cross-country-cyclist-raises-awareness-for-rare-nerve-condition-after-life-changing-diagnosis)
ROUTE DETAILS
March 1, 2026: Start of journey in West Palm Beach, FL. Trip will include almost 100 stops in 11 states over 5,800 miles of the beautiful USA:
Segment 1: West Palm Beach to Tallahassee – 765 miles
Segment 2: Tallahassee to New Orleans 526 miles
Segment 3: New Orleans to Houston – 541 miles
Segment 4: Houston to Oklahoma City – 624 miles
Segment 5: Oklahoma City to Fort Collins – 870 miles
Segment 6: Fort Collins to Provo – 553 miles
Segment 7: Provo to Ely – 272 miles
Segment 8: Ely to Carson City – 345 miles
Segment 9: Carson City to San Francisco. – 251 miles
Segment 10: San Francisco to Los Angeles – 503 miles
July 21, 2026: Anticipated end date in Los Angeles
Route and journey details: www.ebiketour.org.
About the Merkin PNNR Center at Johns Hopkins University
The Merkin Peripheral Neuropathy and Nerve Regeneration (PNNR) Center is dedicated to the importance of research to find cures for debilitating neurological conditions. Led by Dr. Ahmet Hoke, Director of the Neuromuscular Division at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the Center partners with advocates to raise awareness of nerve regeneration and patient wellness. More information can be found at The Merkin Peripheral Neuropathy and Nerve Regeneration Center website through Johns Hopkins Medicine.
About E-bike Lovers and Dr. Gregory Maassen
E-bike Lovers is the largest and most inclusive group of e-cyclists in the United States, founded by Dr. Gregory Maassen to provide members with free, high-quality e-bike travel experiences. Dr. Maassen is a Dutch-American filmmaker and endurance cyclist who produced the documentary "Only Lazy American E-bike," chronicling his 2022 cross-country journey from Washington D.C. to San Francisco. After being diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, he has become a leading advocate for using exercise and e-biking as vital tools for health, wellness, and symptom management.
About Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is a painful neurologic condition that affects more than 30 million people in the United States. It is a debilitating condition that impacts the quality of life for millions, making the search for a cure and the promotion of physical movement essential for patient recovery and long-term health.
About Gregory's 2026 E-Bike Journey in Numbers
Total distance: 5,800+ miles. Average mileage: 12 Mph. When: March - July 2026. The E-bike Tour is a solo 5,800-mile journey spanning 11 states and nearly 100 stops from West Palm Beach, Florida, to Los Angeles, California. The tour serves as a mobile advocacy platform, featuring community gatherings, panel discussions, and documentary screenings to bring national attention to peripheral neuropathy. Complete route details and media resources are available at ebiketour.org.
About Dr. Ahmet Hoke, MD, PHD
Professional Titles
Director, Neuromuscular Division
Director, Neuromuscular Pathology Laboratory
Director, Merkin Peripheral Neuropathy and Nerve Regeneration Center
Primary Academic Title
Professor of Neurology
Johns Hopkins Physician
Background
Dr. Ahmet Hoke is Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience, W. W. Smith Charitable Trust Professor of Neuroimmunology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Director of the Daniel B. Drachman Division of Neuromuscular Diseases and Director of the Merkin Peripheral Neuropathy and Nerve Regeneration Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed his medical training at Hacettepe University School of Medicine in Ankara, Turkey followed by his PhD studies in developmental neuroscience at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and neurology residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital. After completing his neuromuscular training at University of Calgary, Canada, he returned to Johns Hopkins University as faculty and rose through the ranks.
He is the recipient of several awards including Derek Denny Brown Young Neurological Scholar Award (2005) and Wolfe Neuropathy Research prize (2018) given by the American Neurological Association, Myung Memorial Lecture Award (2017) by the Korean Neurological Association, Nejat Eczacibasi Medical Scientist Award (2019) by the Eczacibasi Foundation, Turkey, and Alan J. Gebhart Prize in Excellence in Neuropathy Research (2022) by the Peripheral Nerve Society. He is an Ex-Officio member of the Board of Directors of the American Neurological Association, and Vice-President of the Toxic Neuropathy Consortium. He serves on several editorial boards and is the Editor-in-Chief of Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.
Centers and Institutes
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Clinic
Charcot-Marie Tooth Center
Merkin Peripheral Neuropathy and Nerve Regeneration Center
Peripheral Nerve Center
Additional Academic Titles
Professor of Neuroscience
Research Interests
Peripheral Neuropathy, Traumatic nerve injuries and nerve regeneration
Lab Website
Merkin Peripheral Neuropathy and Nerve Regeneration Center - Lab Website
The Merkin Center's goal is to advance peripheral neuropathy research, deepen our understanding of these conditions and their causes and develop viable therapies. The center will tackle pressing research questions in peripheral neuropathy, with a particular focus on areas that impede the development of better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Research Summary
Dr. Hoke’s clinical practice focuses on peripheral neuropathies and nerve injuries. His clinical research focuses on idiopathic, toxic, and inflammatory neuropathies and he is the principal investigator of several natural history studies aimed at developing biomarkers and understanding genetic underpinnings of peripheral neuropathies. His basic research focuses on studies of biology of peripheral axons and Schwann cells and disorders affecting the peripheral nervous system, utilizing in vitro and in vivo models of peripheral neuropathies to study the mechanisms of axonal damage and identify therapeutic targets for drug development. In addition, he has a research interest on mechanisms of axonal regeneration, specifically on chronic nerve injury models that recapitulate the challenges of human nerve regeneration.
Google Scholar - Publications
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=Ahmet+Hoke&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2C2…
PubMed - Publications
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=hoke%2C+ahmet
Patents
US10273451 (JHU Ref#: DM-4682): Immortalization of cells including neuronal cells; 2009 (April 30, 2019)
US9707000 and CA2713214 (JHU Ref#: C-10297): Hydrogel-grafted degradable nerve guides (July 18, 2017)
US9539009, JPN5988588 & JPN6039626 (JHU Ref#: C-10679): Biological tissue connection and repair devices and methods of using same (January 10, 2017)
US9527817 (JHU Ref#: C11605): Compounds for treating peripheral; neuropathies and other neurodegenerative disorders (December 27, 2016)
Honors
Alan J. Gebhart Prize for Excellence in Peripheral Nerve Research, Peripheral Nerve Society 2022
Dr. Nejat Eczacibasi Medical Science Award, Dr. Nejat Eczacibasi Foundation, Istanbul, Turkey 2019
Wolfe Neuropathy Research Award, American Neurological Association 2018
Myung Memorial Lecture Award, Korean Neurological Association, 2017
Discovery Innovation Award, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 11/11/17
Derek Denny Brown Award, American Neurological Association, 1/1/05
Clinician Scientist Award, Johns Hopkins University, 1/1/02
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Clinical Research Fellowship, Canada, 1/1/97
Jay Slotkin Award for Excellence in Research, Johns Hopkins University, USA, 1/1/97
Graduate Program Affiliations
Neuroscience
Pathobiology
Memberships
American Academy of Neurology
American Neurological Association
Peripheral Nerve Society
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Society for Neuroscience