Research

Our laboratory’s research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying multiple neurosurgical pathologies, spanning the range from cerebrovascular disorders to brain tumors, to pain. We are privileged to partner with patients in order to elucidate fundamental disease processes which affect the brain.

Cerebrovascular Research

Our laboratory aims to understand the role of mast cells in neuroinflammation after stroke and other cerebrovascular pathologies such as subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracerebral hemorrhage. Utilizing a combination of molecular and cellular techniques such as Western blotting, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and in-vitro assays, and leveraging both traditional knock-out and conditional knock-out animal models, we seek to answer mechanistic questions underlying inflammation after cerebrovascular injury.

Trigeminal Neuralgia Research

Our laboratory was the first to demonstrate that reactive oxygen species play a critical role in mediating orofacial pain in trigeminal neuralgia. We are working to create more anatomically relevant models of trigeminal neuralgia in order to facilitate preclinical testing of therapies to better treat TN. In addition, we are using machine-learning as well as AI-mediated segmentation techniques to improve the diagnostic accuracy of classical TN, as well as to identify new radiological factors associated with TN outcomes after microvascular decompression. Furthermore, we are using computational tools to analyze resting state fMRI data from trigeminal neuralgia patients.

Clinical Outcomes Research

Our laboratory maintains several institutional databases of patients undergoing surgeries in a retrospective fashion. We