{"id":14,"date":"2023-08-31T00:15:02","date_gmt":"2023-08-31T00:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/?page_id=14"},"modified":"2026-09-10T15:50:46","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T15:50:46","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--hero-primary horizontal-navigation\"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--hero-primary\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper has-horizontal-nav\">\n\n          <div class=\"title-wrapper\">\n\n                  <div class=\"eyebrow-container\">\n                              \n<div class=\"f--field f--eyebrow\">\n\n    \n  <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/sample-page\/\" >Department of Neurological Surgery<\/a>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n                      <\/div>\n        \n                      \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title has-stripe\">\n\n    \n      <h1>Research<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        \n              <\/div>\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--link eyebrow-link\">\n\n    \n    \n  \n\n<a\n  class=\"link \"\n  href=\"https:\/\/www.keckmedicine.org\/centers-and-programs\/neurosurgery\/\"\n    >\n        Are you a patient?\n    <\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n    \n      \n              <div class=\"horizontal-nav\">\n                      <div class=\"horizontal-menu-container\">\n              <button class=\"expand-menu\">\n                                  In This Section\n                                <svg class=\"menu\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\"\n                  y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 35 35\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 35 35\" xml:space=\"preserve\">\n                  <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill=\"#000\" d=\"M4,23h3v3H4V23z M4,16h3v3H4V16z M10,23\n                  h21v3H10V23z M10,16h21v3H10V16z M10,9h21v3H10V9z M4,9h3v3H4V9z\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n\n                <svg class=\"close\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\"\n                  viewBox=\"0 0 35 35\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 35 35\" xml:space=\"preserve\">\n                  <polygon fill=\"#000\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" points=\"26,10.4 24.6,9 17.5,16.1 10.4,9 9,10.4 16.1,17.5\n                  9,24.6 10.4,26 17.5,18.9 24.6,26 26,24.6 18.9,17.5 \"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n              <\/button>\n\n              <nav\n  class=\"mc--menu mc--\"\n  >\n  <ul class=\"m--menu m--\">\n    \n    \n      <li class=\"has-submenu menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-home menu-item-4 menu-item-has-children\">\n      <div class=\"link-arrow-wrapper\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/\" >Neurological Surgery<\/a>\n\n      <button class=\"expand-children has-submenu arrow-toggle\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Display Submenu for Neurological Surgery\">\n        <svg height=\"35\" viewBox=\"0 0 35 35\" width=\"35\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n          <path d=\"m17.5 20.2142857 6.2142857-6.2142857 1.2857143 1.2857143-7.5 7.5-7.5-7.5 1.2857143-1.2857143z\" fill=\"#000\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"\/>\n        <\/svg>\n      <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"submenus-wrapper\">\n      <div class=\"submenus-wrapper-inner\">\n        <ul class=\"submenu\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                      <li class=\" menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-172\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/inclusive-excellence\/\" >Inclusive Excellence<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/li>\n                      <li class=\" menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-22\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/department-history\/\" >Department History<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n<\/li>\n\n    \n      <li class=\" menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-23\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/research\/\" >Research<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/li>\n\n    \n      <li class=\"has-submenu menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-24 menu-item-has-children\">\n      <div class=\"link-arrow-wrapper\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/training-education\/\" >Training &#038; Education<\/a>\n\n      <button class=\"expand-children has-submenu arrow-toggle\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Display Submenu for Training &#038; Education\">\n        <svg height=\"35\" viewBox=\"0 0 35 35\" width=\"35\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n          <path d=\"m17.5 20.2142857 6.2142857-6.2142857 1.2857143 1.2857143-7.5 7.5-7.5-7.5 1.2857143-1.2857143z\" fill=\"#000\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"\/>\n        <\/svg>\n      <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"submenus-wrapper\">\n      <div class=\"submenus-wrapper-inner\">\n        <ul class=\"submenu\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                      <li class=\" menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-71\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/training-education\/clerkship-program\/\" >Clerkship Program<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/li>\n                      <li class=\"has-submenu menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-72 menu-item-has-children\">\n      <div class=\"link-arrow-wrapper\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/training-education\/residency-program\/\" >Residency Program<\/a>\n\n      <button class=\"expand-children has-submenu arrow-toggle\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Display Submenu for Residency Program\">\n        <svg height=\"35\" viewBox=\"0 0 35 35\" width=\"35\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n          <path d=\"m17.5 20.2142857 6.2142857-6.2142857 1.2857143 1.2857143-7.5 7.5-7.5-7.5 1.2857143-1.2857143z\" fill=\"#000\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"\/>\n        <\/svg>\n      <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"submenus-wrapper\">\n      <div class=\"submenus-wrapper-inner\">\n        <ul class=\"submenu\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                      <li class=\" menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-128\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/training-education\/residency-program\/current-residents\/\" >Current Residents &amp; Alumni<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n<\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n<\/li>\n\n    \n      <li class=\" menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-25\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/patient-care\/\" >Patient Care<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/li>\n\n    \n      <li class=\" menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-20\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/faculty\/\" >Faculty<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/li>\n\n    \n      <li class=\" menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-26\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/support\/\" >Support<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/li>\n\n    \n      <li class=\" menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-27\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/contact\/\" >Contact<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/li>\n\n    \n      <\/ul><!-- m--menu -->\n<\/nav>\n\n            <\/div>\n                  <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--featured-block white\"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--featured-block\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"text-image-container\">\n    <div class=\"text-container\">\n\n      \n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title has-stripe\">\n\n    \n      <h2>\n          About Our Research Programs\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n      \n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--description description-medium\">\n\n    \n  <p>The Department of Neurological Surgery\u2019s clinician-scientists and staff researchers conduct basic and clinical research in collaboration with colleagues across the institution. In the lab, in clinical trials and in the operating room, we have pioneered and refined surgical techniques for numerous neurological disorders, from aneurysms to epilepsy.<\/p>\n<p>We are committed to improving patient outcomes, and are dedicated to training residents and fellows in neurosurgical research skills in order to ensure continual progress in our field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n      \n      \n    <\/div>\n\n          <div class=\"image-container\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2023\/09\/Research-Main-768x768.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2023\/09\/Research-Main-1280x1280.jpg 1280w,https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2023\/09\/Research-Main-768x768.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 50vw, (min-width:768px) 100vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                alt=\"A patient looking at a bionic arm\"\n\n                \n        \n                \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--spacer \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--spacer\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--featured-block image-left white\"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--featured-block\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"text-image-container\">\n    <div class=\"text-container\">\n\n      \n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title has-stripe\">\n\n    \n      <h2>\n          Clinical Research\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n      \n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--description description-medium\">\n\n    \n  <p>The Department of Neurological Surgery conducts an ongoing, robust clinical research program to further the treatment of disorders of the brain and spine.<\/p>\n<p>For more information and to search for clinical trials at USC: <a href=\"http:\/\/clinicaltrials.keckmedicine.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">clinicaltrials.keckmedicine.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n      \n      \n    <\/div>\n\n          <div class=\"image-container\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2023\/09\/Research-Clinical-768x768.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2023\/09\/Research-Clinical-1280x1280.jpg 1280w,https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2023\/09\/Research-Clinical-768x768.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 50vw, (min-width:768px) 100vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                alt=\"A doctor in surgical scrubs\"\n\n                \n        \n                \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n        \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--accordions \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--accordions\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  \n      <ul>\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-1-bTDklq15pM\" aria-controls=\"section-1-1-bTDklq15pM\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Neuro-oncology Clinical Trials<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-1-bTDklq15pM\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-1-bTDklq15pM\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Our department continues strong collaborations with the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center on a number of brain tumor clinical trials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-2-bTDklq15pM\" aria-controls=\"section-1-2-bTDklq15pM\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Clinical Trials for Traumatic Brain Injury<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-2-bTDklq15pM\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-2-bTDklq15pM\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>We have formed a clinical trials program at Los Angeles General Medical Center to study new treatment protocols for traumatic brain injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-3-bTDklq15pM\" aria-controls=\"section-1-3-bTDklq15pM\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Inhalation Therapies<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-3-bTDklq15pM\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-3-bTDklq15pM\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Thomas C. Chen, MD, PhD, and his team have developed a comprehensive research program in inhalation therapies for tumors and degenerative disorders of the brain. An investigational new drug application has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for a trial of intranasal chemotherapeutic agents to treat malignant brain tumors. Further work is underway to develop inhalation delivery systems for ionizing radiation and proteins critical for stroke recovery. Four new research assistant professors have joined our department in support of this effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-4-bTDklq15pM\" aria-controls=\"section-1-4-bTDklq15pM\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Biomedical Implants<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-4-bTDklq15pM\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-4-bTDklq15pM\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Mark Liker, MD, collaborates with the National Science Foundation-supported USC Engineering Research Center and its Biomimetic MicroElectronic Systems Center to study biomedical implanted devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n          <\/ul>\n  \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--spacer \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--spacer\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--featured-block white\"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--featured-block\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"text-image-container\">\n    <div class=\"text-container\">\n\n      \n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title has-stripe\">\n\n    \n      <h2>\n          Basic Research\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n      \n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--description description-medium\">\n\n    \n  <p>A collaborative, multidisciplinary program of basic science research in the Department of Neurological Surgery has helped us develop pioneering breakthroughs in understanding disorders of the brain and spine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n      \n      \n    <\/div>\n\n          <div class=\"image-container\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2023\/09\/Research-BasicSci-768x768.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2023\/09\/Research-BasicSci-1280x1280.jpg 1280w,https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2023\/09\/Research-BasicSci-768x768.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 50vw, (min-width:768px) 100vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                alt=\"A researcher looking at a microscope slide\"\n\n                \n        \n                \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n              \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--accordions \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--accordions\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  \n      <ul>\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-1-Pd8iS1LGtT\" aria-controls=\"section-1-1-Pd8iS1LGtT\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Neurogenetics Collaboration<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-1-Pd8iS1LGtT\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-1-Pd8iS1LGtT\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>The Department of Neurological Surgery has expanded our basic research program in close collaboration with the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. By creating an \u201cincubator lab\u201d for young neurosurgery faculty, we facilitate cross-disciplinary projects and mentorship opportunities. Under this program, William J. Mack, MD, completed a National Institutes of Health (NIH) KL2 project and recently secured a $2.1 million RO1 grant from the NIH to study environmental factors in cerebrovascular disease. This study takes stroke and cerebrovascular disease research into an entirely new direction and has resulted in Mack being recognized as an Outstanding New Environmental Scientist by the NIH.<\/p>\n<p>For more information:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/profiles.sc-ctsi.org\/william.mack\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/profiles.sc-ctsi.org\/william.mack<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-2-Pd8iS1LGtT\" aria-controls=\"section-1-2-Pd8iS1LGtT\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Glioma Research Group<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-2-Pd8iS1LGtT\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-2-Pd8iS1LGtT\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Thomas Chen, MD, PhD, oversees the Glioma Research Group, an alliance of USC laboratories dedicated to developing treatments for central nervous system tumors. By combining the expertise of specialists in cellular and molecular biology, radiation and surgical treatments of gliomas, the Glioma Research Group is a multidisciplinary unit uniquely suited to pursuing new treatments for this devastating disease.<\/p>\n<p>For more information: <a href=\"http:\/\/profiles.sc-ctsi.org\/thomas.chen\">http:\/\/profiles.sc-ctsi.org\/thomas.chen<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-3-Pd8iS1LGtT\" aria-controls=\"section-1-3-Pd8iS1LGtT\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Targeting AVMs<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-3-Pd8iS1LGtT\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-3-Pd8iS1LGtT\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Steven L. Giannotta, MD and Charles Liu, MD, PhD, maintain a vigorous research program studying the angiogenic properties of human endothelial cells from brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). They have created a viral vector to deliver molecular biologically active anti-tumor moieties. Neurosurgical residents, as well as medical students, have taken on important roles in these efforts, generating posters, podium presentations, abstracts and manuscripts.<\/p>\n<p>For more information:<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/profiles.sc-ctsi.org\/steven.giannotta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/profiles.sc-ctsi.org\/steven.giannotta<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/profiles.sc-ctsi.org\/charles.liu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/profiles.sc-ctsi.org\/charles.liu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-4-Pd8iS1LGtT\" aria-controls=\"section-1-4-Pd8iS1LGtT\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Protein Chemistry<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-4-Pd8iS1LGtT\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-4-Pd8iS1LGtT\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Charles Liu, MD, PhD, works in close collaboration with colleagues at the California Institute of Technology in an active protein chemistry lab, where the team is studying ways to manipulate matrix proteins to determine the physiologic and morphologic fate of neural stem cells.<\/p>\n<p>For more information:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/profiles.sc-ctsi.org\/charles.liu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/profiles.sc-ctsi.org\/charles.liu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-5-Pd8iS1LGtT\" aria-controls=\"section-1-5-Pd8iS1LGtT\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Skull Base and Spinal Anatomy Skills Center<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-5-Pd8iS1LGtT\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-5-Pd8iS1LGtT\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>The departments of Neurosurgery and Neuropathology have joined resources to form a neuroanatomy dissection laboratory at Los Angeles General Medical Center for teaching surgical anatomy and performing research in cranial and spinal anatomy. Both departments are dedicated to focused training of young residents in neuroanatomy and development and maintenance of exceptional surgical skills. The skills center has stimulated novel research with this collaborative effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-6-Pd8iS1LGtT\" aria-controls=\"section-1-6-Pd8iS1LGtT\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Tumor Microenvironment<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-6-Pd8iS1LGtT\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-6-Pd8iS1LGtT\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Josh Neman, PhD current research investigates the biology and tumor microenvironment of medulloblastoma (the most lethal pediatric brain tumor) and breast to brain metastatic tumors. Dr. Neman\u2019s expertise and strengths in stem cell biology and neuroscience have allowed him to develop novel molecular, cellular, and systems approach to study the interaction between the brain and cancer cells \u2013a bidirectional interplay poorly understood. Furthermore, Dr. Neman\u2019s overall research goals are to 1) innovatively enhance and exploit the tumor-brain microenvironment, 2) identify the cellular roots of treatment failure and 3) test agents to selectively attack the resistant cells, in order to better treat patients with brain tumors.<\/p>\n<p>For more information: <a href=\"http:\/\/profiles.sc-ctsi.org\/yousha.ebrahim\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/profiles.sc-ctsi.org\/yousha.ebrahim<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-7-Pd8iS1LGtT\" aria-controls=\"section-1-7-Pd8iS1LGtT\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Pituitary Tumors<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-7-Pd8iS1LGtT\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-7-Pd8iS1LGtT\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n        \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Gabriel Zada, MD is the Co-director of USC Pituitary Center and Direct of Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery Program. He has a keen clinical and academic interest in brain and skull base tumor surgery, and has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles on various neurosurgical topics, mostly relating to brain and pituitary tumors as well as endoscopic skull base surgery. Dr. Zada\u2019s research interests are on the role of epigenetic modification in pituitary adenomas and their role in tumorigenesis and progression.<\/p>\n<p>For more information: <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/faculty-search\/gabriel-zada\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View Gabriel Zada&#8217;s profile<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n          <\/ul>\n  \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-14","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.2 (Yoast SEO v28.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Research - Department of Neurological Surgery<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/research\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Research\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/neurological-surgery\/research\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Department of Neurological Surgery\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-10T15:50:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/neurological-surgery\\\/research\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/neurological-surgery\\\/research\\\/\",\"name\":\"Research - 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