Neurosurgery research at Penn Medicine covers all of the key topics in the neurosciences from basic science research to clinical trials. The department is home to a diverse range of laboratories and centers focusing on issues including spinal biomechanics, neurotrauma, neurodegenerative disorders, brain tumors and traumatic brain injury. Below you'll find a list of the labs and centers within our department.
Brain tumors & neuro-oncology
The Amankulor Lab is a neurosurgical oncology lab at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine investigating the immune-modulating properties of IDH-mutant glioma. Their ultimate purpose lies in the lives of the patients and the eradication of this immunosuppressive and universally fatal disease. Dr. Amankulor was named a Cancer Moonshot Scholar by President Joe Biden for his research work. This program created by President Biden was launched to support a workforce that will drive progress to end cancer. The funding received from this award supports the research endeavors conducted within this lab.
Despite intensive multimodal therapies, glioblastomas remain universally fatal. Recent advances in glioma biology have revealed that these tumors exist within a highly complex microenvironment composed of both neoplastic (tumor) and non-neoplastic (normal) cells. Research from the Hambardzumyan Lab and others has shown that glioma growth is sustained by regulatory signals derived from this microenvironment. Consequently, brain tumors are viewed as complex cellular ecosystems where interactions between tumor and non-tumor components influence tumor initiation, progression, and resistance to therapy.
The most abundant non-neoplastic cell population within the glioblastoma microenvironment is the myeloid cell population. Various subsets of these cells are recruited into the tumor mass from the bloodstream, where they exert immunosuppressive properties and secrete growth factors and cytokines in response to signals from the tumor. Although myeloid subsets are genetically stable, they exhibit diverse transcriptional programs in glioblastoma. Their research has demonstrated that the abundance, composition, and expression profiles of myeloid cells differ across various molecular subtypes of human glioblastoma, likely reflecting the genetic heterogeneity inherent to these tumors.
In addition to their research on adult glioblastoma, the Hambardzumyan Lab is dedicated to advancing the understanding of pediatric high-grade gliomas. They focus particularly on hemispheric pHGG and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. Their research explores how the anatomical location of tumors and specific histone mutations shape the tumor microenvironment and influence responses to therapy.
The laboratory examines how various myeloid subsets infiltrate tumors and interact with one another, tumor cells, and T cells. They utilize fresh patient samples, patient-derived organoid cultures, genetically engineered mouse models, and next-generation humanized mice for our research.
The Jackson Lab’s research is at the intersection of immunology, metabolism, and brain tumor biology. The primary goal of their translational research is to understand mechanisms of immune evasion by primary malignant brain tumors and skull base tumors to generate novel immune-based therapies. They utilize a combination of high-dimensional single cell immune and genomic profiling, metabolomics, and advanced tumor organoid and mouse models, to 1) understand the role of myeloid derived suppressor cells in promoting tumor growth and T cell dysfunction, 2) elucidate the mechanisms of tumor-specific T cell exhaustion and clonal lineage of dysfunction T cells, and 3) understand how metabolic networks control immune cell function within the tumor microenvironment.
The Lee Visualization Lab is dedicated to the improved visualization and surgical resection of brain tumors – both benign and malignant. Directed by John Y.K. Lee, MD, MSCE, the lab has both clinical and small animal research effort.
We believe that fluorescence-guided surgery will help neurosurgeons to better detect areas of tumor and increase our ability to achieve total resection, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Our lab is interested in near-infrared fluorescent dyes, because of their increased penetration through normal tissue as well as the lack of any normal autofluorescence in brain when compared to fluorophores in the visible-light range. We are interested in novel compounds and novel application of existing compounds in order to help the surgeon localize tumors intraoperatively, distinguish normal brain from cancerous tissue and clear the surgical margins in real-time. In addition, we are always exploring novel imaging techniques in collaboration with bioengineering and physics, as many of the dyes have unique imaging properties beyond what our eyes can see.
In addition to fluorescent tumor visualization, our lab also continues to refine and innovate novel ways to visualize neurosurgical pathology in the operating room relying on endoscopic refinements, especially as it pertains to skull base surgery.
Glioblastoma (GBM), glioma grade IV, is a devastating cancer with an annual incidence of 3.19/100,000 individuals per year (~10,000) and a median survival of 14.6 months following standard-of-care surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Few advances in treatment have been realized over the past 20 years, and 2-year survival remains close to 25 percent. In the O'Rourke Lab we are developing novel methods for treating GBM and improving the outcomes of patients with this devastating disease. Our research focuses several areas of immuno-oncology, supported by model establishment and development. Dr. O'Rourke's position in the University of Pennsylvania Brain and Spinal Cord Tumor Program provides our group with access to significant tumor tissue resources, providing a wide variety of GBM models for our research.
Brain injury & neurotrauma
The Cullen Lab applies biomedical engineering principles and technologies towards two complementary goals; an improved understanding of the causative mechanisms of neural injury, and the development of cutting-edge neural tissue engineering-based treatments to promote regeneration and restore function. This lab was founded in 2009 with significant support from the Department of Neurosurgery here at the University of Pennsylvania. The research has received additional funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and the University Research Foundation at the University of Pennsylvania.
The Smith Neurotrauma Laboratory focuses on the mechanical events at the time of brain injury and how they relate to long-term outcome. It specifically concentrates on the fate of nerve fibers in the brain, called "axons," that appear to be exquisitely vulnerable to trauma. Brain trauma is a devastating disease that affects over 2 million people in the United States each year. However, the mechanisms of brain trauma have only begun to be elucidated. Prior research has shown that some unique features of the physical damage induced by brain trauma can trigger progressive degenerative damage. This startling finding is the basis of our research efforts at Penn.
The Wofford Lab is dedicated to characterizing and controlling the interplay between the injured brain and the immune system. The primary goals of their work are to understand the complex neuroimmune interactions that occur during brain injury and to utilize cutting-edge engineering techniques to control immune cells as a way to improve brain health. The lab's research integrates advanced techniques including high-dimensional single-cell immune profiling, neuropathological characterization, in vitro cultures, and sophisticated animal models to achieve these goals. Through these efforts, the Wofford Lab strives to translate groundbreaking discoveries into effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for brain injuries.
The Wolf Lab in the Department of Neurosurgery is dedicated to understanding the underlying mechanisms of how traumatic brain injury can lead to persistent learning and memory dysfunction, post-traumatic stress disorder, and post-traumatic epilepsy. Our unique systems neuroscience and computational approaches are uncovering changes in how regions of the brain communicate and encode information following injury. These alterations in the limbic system, a group of brain regions dedicated to memory and emotional processing, potentially underlie the cognitive and emotional disorders that persist following injury. In addition, hyperexcitability in this circuitry following TBI may lead to post-traumatic epilepsy. Using the knowledge of these circuitry alterations, we are developing neuromodulation strategies for the treatment of these disorders following TBI.
Cerebrovascular
The Kim Innovation Laboratory for Image-Guided Interventions, or the “KIMNOVATION” lab, is at the forefront of cerebrovascular research, conducting investigations into a diverse range of disorders affecting both intracranial and extracranial vessels, including brain aneurysms, congenital malformations, and strokes. Established in 2022 through the generous support of the Kim Family, Dr. Visish Srinivasan leads this state-of-the-art neurointerventional facility. The lab, comprising 700 sq. ft. of wet lab space along with an animal prep area, facilitates a wide spectrum of experiments, covering both microsurgical and interventional radiology techniques. Additionally, it is fully equipped with endovascular and microsurgical tools.
Functional neurosurgery & neuromodulation
The Cajigas Lab is a translational neurosurgery research laboratory interested in addressing clinical knowledge and treatment gaps in the fields of movement disorders, epilepsy, and pain. The lab utilizes computational, engineering, and statistical methods to analyze electrophysiological data to assist with surgical planning, development of novel neurologic targets for neuromodulation, and understand the neural control of movement with the goals of restoring function after neurologic injury.
The Halpern Lab's work is particularly centered on developing deep brain stimulation (DBS) techniques to address conditions like bulimia, binge eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and certain movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. Their approach is to apply neural stimulation directly to areas of the brain like the nucleus accumbens, which is involved in dopamine regulation and compulsive behaviors.
Additionally, the lab is involved in research exploring the potential of non-invasive methods, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), for treating depression and OCD. He stresses the importance of these non-invasive approaches and is working on projects that could use TMS to define neural circuits, potentially leading to improved treatments for psychiatric conditions. His research also extends to the treatment of anorexia, suggesting that similar brain stimulation approaches used for obesity could be applied here due to overlapping mechanisms in these disorders.
The primary mission of the Richardson Lab in the Department of Neurosurgery is to restore lost function after brain injury or disease using brain-machine interface (BMI) technology. BMIs can modulate neural circuits, strengthen weakened pathways, and provide non-native conduits through which individuals can interact with the world. We strive to advance the clinical viability of this technology and, along the way, to provide new insights about brain physiology.
The Yoshor Lab focuses on developing electrical stimulation strategies to restore vision to those with acquired blindness. As part of developing prosthetic vision, they also study natural visual perception to better understand how visual information is encoded and processed. Work from the laboratory has been published in leading scientific journals, including the Journal of Neuroscience, Nature Neuroscience, Neuron, PNAS, Current Biology, Cell, and Nature Medicine.
Spine & spinal disorders
The Malhotra Lab, collectively, is devoted to advancing research initiatives to improve patient and population care. Initially, our sole focus was to improve the care of patients with metastatic and primary spinal cancers through improved surgical techniques and post-operative management. Starting in 2006, after recognizing that our techniques and discoveries might benefit a broader population, we additionally, and in parallel, began to study degenerative spinal disorders. Our endeavors are cyclical and have start points in the laboratory, at the veterinary school, and in clinical research. We seek to maximize the number of intersections between the phases of scientific inquiry and optimally convert every successful idea from bench to bedside to standard of care.
The Penn Spine AiM (Artificial Intelligence & Mechanobiology) Lab, led by Dr. John H. Shin, advances the understanding and treatment of complex spinal disorders through innovative computational methods and multidisciplinary collaboration. By integrating advanced imaging analytics, machine learning, and biomechanical modeling—including finite element simulations—the lab develops methodologies that enhance surgical decision-making and patient outcomes in spinal deformity and oncology. Our research includes creating predictive models for surgical risk stratification that combine imaging-based algorithms with comprehensive biomechanical frameworks to optimize surgical approaches.
Central to our program is the development of predictive tools that integrate quantitative imaging biomarkers with advanced machine-learning algorithms. These tools accurately quantify patient-specific risk factors, including frailty, sarcopenia, and biomechanical instability, by measuring parameters such as skeletal muscle indices, radiodensity, and adiposity distributions. Incorporating finite element modeling and simulation, we achieve detailed insights into spinal biomechanics by replicating tissue-level responses to mechanical stress, thereby supporting precise surgical planning.
Our research portfolio further encompasses comparative effectiveness studies of emerging medical technologies in spinal surgery. We evaluate diverse surgical approaches, instrumentation, and implants by leveraging large-scale clinical datasets to assess performance, cost-effectiveness, and clinical outcomes. This comprehensive evaluation informs evidence-based decision-making and promotes the adoption of advanced therapeutic modalities.
The Sharpe Lab at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine operates at the intersection of spine biomechanics, neurosurgical innovation, and artificial intelligence to advance patient care through data-driven and mechanistic insights. Our research spans rigorous biomechanical testing of spine and spine injury models, evaluation of spinal interventions, and the development of predictive technologies that inform surgical planning and personalized treatment strategies. Leveraging institutional registries, national datasets, and state-of-the-art laboratory equipment—including MTS platforms and novel imaging systems—we investigate the biomechanical underpinnings of spine pathology while validating AI frameworks for clinical translation.
Neuroscience & brain mapping
The Beauchamp Lab studies the neural mechanisms for multisensory integration and visual perception in human subjects. Of special interest is human communication. When conversing with someone, we use both visual information from the talker's face and auditory information from the talker's voice. While multisensory speech perception engages a broad network of brain areas, the most important is the superior temporal sulcus. Multisensory integration is particularly beneficial in understanding speech when the auditory modality is degraded, such as in a noisy room. To understand the neural mechanisms of multisensory integration and visual perception, we use a variety of methods, including intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) and blood-oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI). Through these sophisticated studies, we hope to unlock one of nature's great mysteries: how the brain performs amazing computational feats, such as understanding speech, that allow us to make sense of the auditory and visual world around us. Every advance in deepening our knowledge of these processes is not only exciting for its own sake but will also help children and patients with language and perceptual difficulties.
The primary focus of the Chen Lab's translational research is to develop novel methods for restoring the function of the brain after it has been damaged by combining aspects of stem cell biology, neural tissue engineering, and neural interface technologies. In addition, we are interested in new techniques for preserving brain function during neurosurgical procedures. The goal of these research endeavors is to improve the outcomes of patients suffering from a variety of brain disorders and diseases.
The Foster Lab studies how the human brain constructs our experience of the past, present and possible future. Humans have the remarkable ability to relive our prior perpetual experiences through our memories. The Foster Lab studies the human brain to understand the neural systems and processes which support this ability. To do so, we work at the interface of neuroscience and neurosurgery utilizing unique recordings performed directly within the human brain. Through this approach, we seek to capture the electrophysiological brain signatures of how we perceive and later retrieve information about the world. We hope such an approach to studying the human brain also serves to provide important translational findings for linking studies across species and neuroscience methodologies.
The Pesaran Lab seeks to understand large-scale circuits in the brain and engineer novel brain-based therapies. For every decision made as a person, neurons are firing and communicating with each other to complete some sort of task. Bijan Pesaran and his team look at things like coordination, decision-making, speech, and brain mapping to learn how these neurons are working together and what they are actually saying to each other. Then to take it a step further, what if some neurons are unable to communicate and a person has a neurological disorder? The Pesaran Lab is also looking at ways that advanced technologies can be used to help and correct the problems that these neurons are having so the person can return to a normal life.
Centers
The Penn Brain Tumor Center brings together some of the most experienced specialists in neuro-oncology, neurosurgery, radiation oncology, neuropathology, and neuroradiology — united by a shared commitment to advancing what is possible for patients with brain tumors. Every patient is evaluated by a multidisciplinary team that develops a treatment plan tailored to their specific diagnosis, goals, and circumstances. With access to advanced surgical techniques and one of the most comprehensive clinical trial portfolios in the country, our patients benefit from therapies that are often available nowhere else — offering real options even in the most difficult situations.
For clinicians and scientists looking to work at the leading edge of neuro-oncology, Penn offers a rare combination of research depth and clinical scale. Our center integrates basic science, translational investigation, and clinical innovation across a collaborative, highly productive program — where laboratory findings move quickly toward patient impact. Trainees at every level benefit from close mentorship, access to exceptional resources, and the intellectual environment of one of the country's premier academic medical institutions. It is a place where rigorous science and meaningful patient care reinforce each other at every turn.
Penn's Center for Brain Injury and Repair is a research-driven, interdisciplinary collaborative with the mission to better understand the underlying cellular and molecular events that occur following a Traumatic Brain Injury to improve management of patient care and quality of life.
Traumatic brain injuries are complicated – complicated due to variety of both severity and type of injury, and particularly complicated by the effects these injuries have on a very complex brain. In order to better understand these complicated effects, the Penn Center for Brain Injury and Repair has assembled a diverse and highly collaborative team to address the full spectrum of traumatic brain injuries. With this multi-disciplined approach, we have uncovered several important cellular and molecular mechanisms of traumatic brain injury. We have found that all forms of brain trauma share some of these mechanisms, while others are unique to specific brain injury circumstances.
We believe that the Penn Center for Brain Injury and Repair team is one of the strongest, most integrated research teams. Working in a highly collaborative environment, researchers are studying ways to significantly improve the quality of life for people suffering from traumatic brain injury and to prevent the "secondary" or delayed injuries that are initiated by brain trauma.
The Center for Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery provides innovative surgical treatment for patients with movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential multiple sclerosis tremor, dystonia, and medically intractable epilepsy. Currently, the main focus of the Center for Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery is deep brain stimulation. We provide innovative surgical treatment for patients with movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential multiple sclerosis tremor, dystonia and medically intractable epilepsy.
The Center, under the direction of Casey H. Halpern, MD, serves as a functional surgery center for the treatment of neurological disease and is an international training center for surgeons in the functional neurosurgery field. Currently, the main focus of the Center for Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery is deep brain stimulation (DBS); however, vagal nerve stimulation and virtual surgeries are also being performed to further expand treatment and research in the field.
Along with Penn neuroradiology, Penn neurosurgeons are participating in a clinical trial that is testing a prototype system that conducts neurosurgery in virtual reality. Similar to a pilot simulator, surgeons perform the operation and face potential problems in virtual reality, before operating on the patient in real life. Penn is one of just a few centers worldwide participating in this trial.