Research Opportunities
The research component of the residency program is typically done at the PGY-5 and PGY-6 years. Residents are encouraged to plan and design their research projects well in advance. Research is typically performed at the University of Michigan. However, a number of residents have pursued funded projects at outside institutions.
Recent resident research projects include:
JC Leveque, MD: Research aimed at utilizing a biodegradable scaffold to aid in recovery of spinal cord function and axonal regrowth after injury. These scaffolds are formulated from a biodegradable compound (poly(e)-caprolactone), and are implanted into rat spinal cord after T9/10 laminectomy with spinal cord transection. Research was supported by a grant from the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award. Advisor was Dr. Frank LaMarca.
John Cowan, MD: Research focused on surgical outcomes and utilization, quality healthcare delivery, and public health, and included a fellowship in the Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholars Program at the University of Michigan. This work has been awarded the 2003 CSNS Resident Award, the 2006 CNS Resident Award, and the 2007 Cone Pevehouse Award.
Hunter Brumblay, MD: Research examines biodegradable scaffolds for the promotion of axonal growth in a rat model of spinal cord injury. Scaffolds are composed of PCL (polycaprolactone) that have different micro and macro architectural features to determine if there are differences in regeneration across the level of spinal cord injury.
Cheerag Upadhyaya, MD: Fellowship in the Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholars Program at the University of Michigan.
W. Chris Fox, MD: Endovascular neurosurgery fellowship at the University of Florida. Mentors include Dr. Brian Hoh, a neurosurgeon, and Dr. Chris Firment, an interventional neuroradiologist. Research with Dr. Hoh examines hematopoietic stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells and their roles in cerebrovascular disease. The fellowship is funded by the University of Florida.
Debbie Song, MD: Clinical fellow in the NINDS/surgical neurology branch at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. Basic science research on developmental pathways in gliomas and medulloblastoma tumorigenesis, as well as on therapeutic targets in models of von Hippel Lindau disease.
Daniel Orringer, MD: Planned research aims to develop nanodevices designed to visibly delineate tumor margins in the operating room to enhance the precision of the brain tumor surgery. Research will be performed in collaboration with Dr. Kopelman in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Michigan. The work is supported by a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award from the National Cancer Institute and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Basic/Translational Research Fellowship.
