Resident Research Opportunities

UVA Neurosurgeons and Neuroscience researchers are pursuing research in most all areas of neuroscience.   

In September 2009, UVA opened its new MR Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery Center, the first such facility in the world.  Dr. Neal Kassell is leading the development of focused ultrasound technology, which can destroy tumors without making any incisions, without harm to other organs, and without radiation.  Read about UVA's initiative here and learn more about the exciting technology at www.fusfoundation.org/.

UVA Neurosurgery faculty Drs. Greg Helm and James Stone have been awarded a combined $4.5 million to study brain injuries caused by blasts. 

Dr. Aaron Dumont has been awarded a prestigious K08 Award to pursue cerebrovascular research around causes of stroke.  Our cerebrovascular laboratory is actively studying the role of inflammation in cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage and the augmentation of cerebral oxygenation following ischemic stroke.

Dr. Jason Sheehan has been awarded a prestigious Hartwell Foundation grant to pursue focused ultrasound research, and been recognized by AANS as their Young Investigator for 2009.  Learn more here.  Dr. Sheehan is also evaluating an FDA-approved laser-induced thermal ablation treatment for brain metastasis patients.  The laser heats the targeted tumor tissue to destroy it, while leaving the temperature in adjacent tissues at normal levels.  Please contact Dr. Sheehan's office at 434-924-8129 for more information.

Dr. Ed Oldfield is using laboratory and clinical research to understand the basis of the pathogenesis of central nervous system tumors, including pituitary tumors and syringomyelia.  He is also researching drug delivery approaches that can be used to treat brain tumors and other neurological disorders, including neuro-degenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease.   

Our neuro-oncology laboratory's basic science research has recently focused on the role of neuropathological tumor characteristics in predicting outcome and recurrence. 

The neuro-oncology and spine areas are involved in most all major national clinical trials.

Our clinical trials page has links to information about clinical trials led by our doctors and doctors across UVA.

We are also active in other areas of research including Epilepsy, Parkinson's Disease, and more.