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Department of Neurosurgery

Dr. Vibhor Krishna
Dr. Vibhor Krishna is a board-certified neurosurgeon who is an early adopter of focused ultrasound. His efforts have yielded key advancements in the field, including the application of focused ultrasound ablation for epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. His NIH-funded research primarily focuses on optimizing the technique and exploring its applications in clinical trials.

 

Dr. Dominique Higgins

Dr. Dominique Higgins is a neurosurgeon-scientist specializing in the surgical treatment of brain tumors. He is leading numerous clinical trials aimed at finding more effective treatments for gliomas and other malignancies within the central nervous system, specifically the use of targeted drug delivery for brain tumors using implantable focused ultrasound devices. Dr. Higgins’ NIH-funded research aims to refine therapeutic approaches that improve survival rates and quality of life for patients with brain tumors.

 

Dr. Nicole Silva

Dr. Nicole Silva is a PGY 5 neurosurgery resident at ºÚÁÏÍø Health. She received a grant from the Focused Ultrasound Foundation to fund her research studying gender differences in treatment delays of focused ultrasound for essential tremor. Dr. Silva also works as a research fellow in the Krishna Lab. She hopes to pursue a career in functional and epilepsy neurosurgery. 

 

Dr. Aaron Gelinne
Dr. Aaron Gelinne is a PGY 6 neurosurgery resident at ºÚÁÏÍø Health. He graduated from the University of Rochester with a Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Engineering, and is particularly interested in integrating his engineering background to come up with innovative solutions to neurosurgical problems.

Department of Biomedical Engineering 

Dr. Paul Dayton
is distinguished for his contributions to focused ultrasound, particularly in using microbubble and nanodroplet contrast agents to enhance the efficacy and precision of ultrasound imaging and therapy.  Recognized as the recipient of the Carl Hellmuth Hertz award from the IEEE in 2020, Dr. Dayton has published more than 300 articles in the biomedical acoustics space, and his translational work has led to several licensed technologies and companies.  Dayton’s work is critical in expanding the possibilities of ultrasound in medical diagnostics and treatment, especially in cancer therapy.

 

Dr. Gianmarco Pinton
specializes in focused ultrasound, with a particular emphasis on acoustic beamforming, wave physics, and neuromodulation. His NIH-funded research aims to improve the safety and efficacy of ultrasound therapies by enhancing the accuracy and control of ultrasound beams within biological tissues. Dr. Pinton’s innovative approaches in the field are instrumental in refining therapeutic ultrasound applications, making treatments more targeted and minimally invasive.

 

Dr. Jason Franz
is a prominent researcher specializing in the study of gait disorders. He focuses on biomechanical analyses to understand and improve locomotor function. His work combines innovative wearable technology and advanced computational methods to understand gait dysfunction after focused ultrasound ablation and develop interventions to enhance mobility in individuals affected by gait abnormalities.

 

Dr. Oleg Favorov
is an expert in exploring brain function and its modulation through focused ultrasound, leveraging this technology to modulate neural activity non-invasively. His research aims to understand the mechanisms by which ultrasound can influence brain circuits, specifically paving the way for establishing ultrasound-based stimulation that is safe and can precisely target and modulate brain function.

Department of Cell Biology and Physiology

Dr. Adam Hantman
Dr. Adam Hantman is a prominent researcher known for his expertise in neural circuits and motor control. His work primarily focuses on understanding how the brain coordinates complex movements, investigating the neural pathways and mechanisms that underlie motor functions. Dr. Hantman’s research employs focused ultrasound imaging and neuromodulation to map and manipulate specific neural circuits, providing insights into the fundamental aspects of motor learning and execution.

Department of Neurology

Weili Lin, PhD
Dr. Weili Lin is a world-renowned neuroimaging researcher credited with developing novel MRI techniques to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic applications. His work on improving imaging resolution and functionality is critical for advancing medical imaging practices globally.

 

Dr. Daniel Roque
Dr. Daniel Roque is a movement disorders neurologist specializing in deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound ablation. Dr. Roque is interested in hyperkinetic movement disorders and is credited with establishing the Tremor Interdisciplinary Clinic at ºÚÁÏÍø, a first-of-its-kind clinic in the country.

 

Yasmeen Rauf, MD
Dr. Yasmeen Rauf is a brain tumor specialist who leads ºÚÁÏ꿉۪s CAR-T cell therapy trial in treating glioblastoma. Her NIH-funded research aims to pioneer combined modalities that enhance the targeting and efficacy of CAR-T with focused ultrasound in treating malignant brain tumors.

 

Dr. Varina Boerwinkle
Dr. Varina Boerwinkle is Division Chief of Child Neurology at ºÚÁÏÍø Health. Her approach to clinical care is based on assessing for potential for improvement and cure. She believes that advanced diagnostics and treatments offer the potential for better outcomes.

 

Dr. Soma Sengupta

 

 

 

 

Dr. Soma Sengupta is Division Chief of Neuro Oncology and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Neurosurgery. She is a physician-scientist, clinical trialist specializing in brain tumor treatment and research with over 90 publications on clinical trials, case reports, lab-based research, and healthcare policy. Her primary area of lab-based research looks to improve patient outcomes for brain tumor patients. This includes individuals with primary brain tumors as well as metastatic brain tumors.

Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Dr. Gianpietro Dottie
Dr. Gianpietro DottiÌý²¹²Ô»å Dr. Barbara Savoldo are leading figures in cellular therapies, particularly in developing and applying CAR T-cell therapy for cancer treatment. Their collaborative work has significantly advanced the understanding and effectiveness of immune-based strategies to target and eradicate malignant cells. Their research has improved clinical outcomes and opened new pathways for treating various types of cancers with precision and personalized approaches.

Eschelman School of Pharmacy

Dr. Shawn Hingtgen
is a leading researcher in brain tumors, specializing in the development of new treatments utilizing focused ultrasound. His work aims to enhance the delivery and efficacy of therapeutics to brain tumor sites, employing ultrasound to improve non-invasive treatment options. Dr. Hingtgen’s innovative approaches are crucial in advancing the potential of focused ultrasound in overcoming the blood-brain barrier, offering promising new avenues for treating malignant brain tumors.