Departments
Research in Neurosurgery
Research
In This Section
In addition to exceptional clinical training, the department is known for its robust neuroscience research program.
Eight full-time research faculty members have ongoing programs in a wide range of areas, including neural engineering, a joint program between the Department of Neurosurgery and the Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics that explores brain-computer interfacing, and neuro-oncology.
The research group also has expertise and a body of published work in drug development and improvement, improved imaging methods, using nanotechnology to improve nerve regrowth, pioneering approaches for brain aneurysm treatment through neurosurgery, and more. Investigators have become national leaders in studies on quality of life for both patients and their caregivers.
The Department of Neurosurgery has more than $8 million in active grants and ranks among the highest neurosurgery departments in National Institutes of Health funding nationwide. It also maintains a vigorous clinical research program with a well-developed clinical trials group. More than 40 investigator-initiated or industry-sponsored clinical studies are underway.
Penn State Neuroscience Institute
The Penn State Neuroscience Institute is a cross-campus entity, with closely interacting components at Hershey and one at University Park that facilitates collaborative, interdisciplinary interactions. At the Hershey campus, clinicians and clinical researchers collaborate with their basic scientist colleagues in a variety of departments across both campuses.
Institute researchers, educators and trainees partner with our clinicians treating patients with disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, brain tumors, epilepsy, stroke and addiction, to study the neurobiological basis of these diseases, develop cutting-edge therapies and ultimately improve care for patients.
Research Leadership
Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience and Anatomy and Vice Chair for Research, Neurosurgery
Clinical Studies
Penn State Health Neurosurgery is committed to advancing neurosurgery treatments through research. Each member of our faculty actively participates in research, and many of our faculty members are recognized leaders in their fields.
Current Studies
View active neurosurgery clinical trials in StudyFinder, our searchable database of clinical research taking place at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine.
Learn More About Neurosurgery Research
The Penn State Center for Neural Engineering (CNE) is a large, interdisciplinary research group that brings together neural engineering-focused researchers from the Penn State College of Engineering, the College of Medicine, the Materials Research Institute, and the Eberly College of Science. Chartered in June 2007, the center occupies 22,000 square feet of space in the Millennium Science Complex.
Our departmental philosophy for research is that discovery is as important as patient care. For this reason, we place a strong emphasis on the importance of developing the next new treatment for tumors of the nervous system, repairing nerve damage and surgical approaches.
Our faculty members in neurosurgery have a broad range of research interests. They have successfully worked together and with others in the medical community to answer many questions that face neuroscience.
We are involved in clinical and basic science research, including clinical trials, clinically-based research, preclinical and translational research.
The research group has expertise in:
Development of new drugs to treat brain and peripheral nerve tumors
Increasing effectiveness of delivering drugs to brain tumors through state-of-the-art nanotechnology
Improved methods for imaging brain tumors
A Center for Neural Engineering that leads efforts in the development of brain-computer interfacing
New approaches for neurosurgical treatment of brain aneurysms
Using 3D models to understand tumor growth
Using a neurosurgical approach to deliver nutrients to the spinal cord in models of Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS)
New models for limiting inflammation and immune function in stroke
Using nanotechnology to improve regrowth of nerves following damage
Our department has become a national leader in studies on quality of life for both patients and their caregivers.
Contact Us
To speak to someone in Neurosurgery about our current studies, please call 717-531-7386.