Research

Research in the Department of Neurosurgery involves basic, translational, and clinical research. Basic research focuses on understanding the fundamental processes of the brain and spinal cord. Translational research focuses on the development of new therapies for treating neurological disorders using animal models. Clinical research focuses on testing new therapies on targeted patient populations.

The Department of Neurosurgery recently received a National Institutes of Health Training Grant for Translational Research in Neurobiology of Disease.

This program is designed to train basic scientists and clinicians in translational research focusing on the neurobiology of disease.  A unique feature of this program is to provide training that combines predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows with clinical residents in an environment where basic scientists will be exposed to important clinical issues, and residents will be exposed to the latest advances in the laboratory.  Interactions between basic scientists and clinicians during their training in this program are intended to facilitate the development of novel therapies for treating neurological disorders. 

CURRENT RESEARCH PROGRAMS

Walter C. Low, Ph.D.

National Institute of Health
"Translational Research in Neurobiology of Disease"
This is a training program for predoctoral, postdoctoral, and resident fellows to develop skills in translating laboratory findings into clinical practice.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
"Gene Therapy for Metabolic Disorders"
Project II: "Gene Therapy for Cerebellar Ataxia"
This project is focused on the development of antisense and ribozyme approaches to correct genetic defects associated with experimental spinocerebellar ataxia.
Role: Co-Investigator

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
"Gene Therapy for Metabolic Disorders"
Core G: "Neurological Services"
This core will provide support for the surgical delivery of therapeutic gene constructs into the brain of MPS I, MPS VII, and SCA1 mice that will be used in all four projects of this program project grant.
Role: Core Leader

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
"Correction of Hurlers Syndrome by Multipotent Stem Cells"
This project examines the feasibility of using stem cells to cure Hurlers Syndrome.
Role: Co-Investigator

National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
"Correction of Hurlers Syndrome by Multipotent Stem Cells - Minority Supplement"
This supplement is to support a minority student.
Role: Co-Investigator

National Institute of General Medical Sciences
"Predoctoral Training of Neuroscientists"
The major goals of this project are to train predoctoral graduate students in the Graduate Program in Neuroscience.
Role: Preceptor

Bob Allison Ataxia Research Center Award
"Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells into Cerebellar Cells in Experimental Ataxia"
The major goals of this project are to induce endogeneous neural stem cells to differentiate into cerebellar neurons using a variety of growth factors.
Role: Principal Investigator

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
"Hermorrhagic Brain Injury Repair with Human Cord Blood"
The major goals of this project are to determine the ability of cord blood cells to restore neurological function by repairing brain injury resulting from intracerebral hemorrhages.
Role: Principal Investigator

John R. Ohlfest, Ph.D.

Biomedical Engineering Institute
"Development and Testing of Hollow Fiber Catheters for Gene Delivery to the CNS"
Role: Principal Investigator

Cornelius H. Lam, M.D.

Herz Foundation "How to Resolve the Undergraduate Neurosurgery Education Conundrum: Meeting National Guidelines, yet Minimizing Student Lecture Burden"
Undergraduate Medical Education Development
Role: Principal Investigators

Biomedical Engineering Institute
"Development of a Bioartificial Arachnoid Shunt"
"What-if" campaign award
Role: Principal Investigator

Dr. and Mrs. Scott Augustine Endowment
"The MDMS program in Biomedical engineering"
One year's worth of tuition and research funds.
Role: Principal Investigator

Stephen Haines, M.D.

IVAX Research, Inc.
A multicenter phase II study of TP-38 in those patients with glioblastoma multiforme who have recurred or progressed after previous resection and radiation therapy and are scheduled for gross total resection.
Role: Principal Investigator

Xenova Biomedix Limited
A phase III multicenter study of intratumoral/interstitial therapy with TransMID compared to best standard of care in patients with progressive and/or recurrent, non-resectable glioblastoma multiforme.
Role: Principal Investigator

Academic Health Center Faculty Research Development Program
Human brain vascular genomics