Stanford University


Showing 121-140 of 352 Results

  • Serena Hu, MD

    Serena Hu, MD

    Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and, by courtesy, of Neurosurgery

    BioDr. Hu is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic spine surgeon. She is professor and vice chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and (by courtesy) Neurosurgery, and chief of the Division of Spine Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Hu completed her orthopedic surgery residency at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and her fellowship training in spine and scoliosis surgery at Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center in Downey, California.

    Dr. Hu has extensive experience helping patients with a range of spinal conditions and injuries. She specializes in treating scoliosis (when the spine curves sideways), kyphosis (when the spine is more bent forward than normal) lumbar spine fractures, spondylolisthesis (when a vertebra moves out of place), disc degeneration, and spinal stenosis (spinal canal narrowing). Dr. Hu draws on her expertise to create a customized care plan for each of her patients.

    Dr. Hu has been the principal investigator in more than a dozen clinical trials and studies. She has been awarded multiple research grants from the North American Spine Society, Scoliosis Research Society, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Her research interests include the effects of preoperative pain medication on surgical outcomes as well as decreasing the risk of complications after spine surgery. She has also studied and tested new technologies that make spine surgery safer and more effective.

    She has published more than 145 articles in dozens of peer-reviewed journals, including Global Spine Journal, Journal of Spine Surgery, Spine, and Spine Deformity. She has written about a range of topics, including quality measures in spine surgery, spinal fusion techniques, spine tumor effects on spine stability and lumbar decompression for spinal stenosis. Additionally, Dr. Hu has written more than a dozen book chapters on spinal cord injuries, spine fractures, pediatric kyphosis, spondylolysis (vertebra fracture), and scoliosis.

    Dr. Hu has reviewed articles for Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: A Comprehensive Review, and Spine. She has also served as associate editor for Spine Deformity and deputy editor for Global Spine Journal.

    Having delivered hundreds of presentations, papers, and lectures, Dr. Hu is widely considered one of the world’s leading experts in spine surgery. She has been invited to lecture to her colleagues all over the United States and around the world, including in Hong Kong, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Argentina, and Greece.

    Dr. Hu is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Association, International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, Orthopaedic Research Society, and Scoliosis Research Society. She is past president of the Scoliosis Research Society as well as of the American Orthopedic Association.

  • Yuhao (Danny) Huang

    Yuhao (Danny) Huang

    Affiliate, Department Funds
    Resident in Neurosurgery

    BioI am a resident and post-doctorate researcher in the Department of Neurosurgery at Stanford University. As a physician-scientist with a focus on signal processing and neural electrophysiology, I work with multimodal datasets to understand how brain signals correlate with human behavior. I am interested in using computer vision and machine learning to parse neural correlates of behavior under naturalistic settings. Another area of interest involves building robust neuro-modulatory treatments for functional disorders and epilepsy. I received my BSc at University of Alberta and my MD at Stanford University.

  • John Huguenard

    John Huguenard

    Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences (Neurology Research), of Neurosurgery (Adult Neurosurgery) and, by courtesy, of Molecular and Cellular Physiology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe are interested in the neuronal mechanisms that underlie synchronous oscillatory activity in the thalamus, cortex and the massively interconnected thalamocortical system. Such oscillations are related to cognitive processes, normal sleep activities and certain forms of epilepsy. Our approach is an analysis of the discrete components (cells, synapses, microcircuits) that make up thalamic and cortical circuits, and reconstitution of components into in silico computational networks.

  • Kamran Hussain

    Kamran Hussain

    Affiliate, Neurosurgery

    BioResearching speech neuroprosthetics at the Neuroprosthetics Translational Lab. Research interests include brain-computer interfacing, neuroprosthetics, computational systems neuroscience, and bio-inspired artificial intelligence.

  • Duc Tan Huynh

    Duc Tan Huynh

    Postdoctoral Scholar, Neurosurgery

    BioAs a cell biologist interested in neuroscience, I am fascinated about the molecular basis of nervous system disorders that reveal therapeutic targets and/or biomarkers. My long-term research goal is to identify strategies that revert dysregulation in aging or neurodegeneration. For my postdoctoral training in the Zuchero lab (Neurosurgery), I will investigate how myelination, an essential developmental process, contributes to intelligence and neurodegeneration at the biochemical, cellular, and physiological level. I received my BSc at UCLA and my PhD at Duke University.

  • Peter H. Hwang, MD

    Peter H. Hwang, MD

    Professor of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery (OHNS) and, by courtesy, of Neurosurgery

    Current Research and Scholarly Interests- Clinical outcomes in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery
    - Development of innovative medical devices for treatment of sinus disorders
    - Founder of CORSICA, a national research registry for sinus cancer

  • Fabio Iwamoto, MD

    Fabio Iwamoto, MD

    Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences (Adult Neurology) and of Neurosurgery (Adult Neurosurgery)

    BioDr. Fabio Iwamoto is a board-certified, fellowship-trained neuro-oncologist at Stanford Health Care. He is also a professor in the Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Division of Neuro-Oncology, and a professor of neurosurgery in the Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Neurosurgical Oncology at Stanford University School of Medicine.

    Dr. Iwamoto cares for brain and spinal cord tumors, guiding patients from diagnosis through treatment and follow-up. He specializes in managing cancer that has spread to the brain or spinal cord, working with multiple specialists to develop individualized treatment plans. He also has expertise treating tumors called gliomas, including glioblastomas. Throughout the patient journey, Dr. Iwamoto addresses cancer-related complications, such as cancer therapy side effects, numbness, and memory problems. He strives to deliver the highest level of compassionate, patient-centered care, supporting patients and families through complex decisions and challenging moments.

    Dr. Iwamoto’s research focuses on developing and evaluating innovative treatments for brain tumors, particularly gliomas and glioblastomas. He studies immunotherapies, targeted therapies, and novel therapy combinations to improve tumor treatment. He leads several national and international clinical trials with the goal of bringing promising discoveries from the laboratory to patients.

    Dr. Iwamoto has authored many publications in leading journals, including Nature Cancer, Nature Medicine, Neuro-Oncology, and the Journal of Clinical Oncology. He has published several book chapters on key topics in neuro-oncology, including emerging glioma treatments and the diagnosis and management of central nervous system tumors. He has also shared his expertise and research findings around the world at meetings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Association for Cancer Research, and international neuro-oncology forums.

  • Michael Jensen, MD, PhD

    Michael Jensen, MD, PhD

    Clinical Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery

    BioDr. Michael Jensen is a neurosurgeon at Stanford Health Care. He also serves as a clinical assistant professor and director of endoscopic spine surgery in the Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Spine Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine.

    Dr. Jensen specializes in endoscopic and minimally invasive spine surgery for degenerative conditions, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and spine-related pain, with experience in more than 2,000 procedures throughout his career. As Director of Endoscopic Spine Surgery at Stanford, he focuses on motion-preserving techniques that shorten recovery and restore function. He also employs advanced imaging and meticulous surgical planning to make spinal fusion safer and promote lasting healing. Dr. Jensen’s care philosophy emphasizes precision, collaboration, and open communication—ensuring that every patient understands their options and feels confident in their care.

    As a physician-scientist, Dr. Jensen focuses his research on improving the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of spine care. He has studied how cost-sharing policies, treatment timing, and prescribing patterns affect outcomes for patients with neck and back pain. He has also explored the use of machine learning and predictive modeling to guide clinical decision-making in neurosurgery. Currently, Dr. Jensen works with the Endoscopic Spine Research Group to improve patient pain control and functional recovery after endoscopic spine surgery.

    Dr. Jensen has presented his work at national meetings, including those of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and the Society of Lateral Access Surgery. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in journals such as The Spine Journal, JAMA Network Open, and World Neurosurgery. His research spans clinical care, health economics, and translational science, reflecting his commitment to advancing neurosurgical practice and improving patient outcomes.

    Dr. Jensen is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

  • Siddhartha Joshi, PhD

    Siddhartha Joshi, PhD

    Sr Res Scientist-Basic Life, Neurosurgery

    BioI am a neuroscientist with over 20 years of experience in empirical, hypothesis-driven research. My knowledge and expertise cover a wide range of topics and methods within systems neuroscience including sensory perception, neurophysiology and neuroanatomy, eye-movements and pupillometry. My research is focused on how the brain represents and uses sensory information to drive goal-directed behaviors and in exploring how intrinsic neuromodulatory systems influence the neural circuits that drive such behaviors. At Stanford, I am looking to channel my experience towards studying human neural signals that underlie computations governing pain and attention.

    My work thus far [1-4] supports the idea that there is a need for simultaneous measurements of behavior, brain state and large-scale cortical activity to understand how the brain’s circuits: (i) are modulated by ascending sympathetic activation and (ii) provide top-down control of descending sympathetic control. These are technically challenging experiments [3,4] that have thus far largely been explored in animal models. My current goal is to leverage opportunities to directly measure human brain activity via electrodes implanted for monitoring epilepsy. Towards this end, I will use state-of-the-art neurophysiological, behavioral, pupillometric techniques combined with quantitative analyses.

    Representative publications:

    1. Joshi S, Gold JI (2020) Pupil Size as a Window on Neural Substrates of Cognition. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 24(6), 466-480. PMCID: PMC7271902.

    2. Joshi S (2024). Control of Pupil Responses. Encyclopedia of the Human Brain (Elsevier), Second Edition, Vol.1, 374-387.

    3. Joshi S, Li, Y, Kalwani R, Gold JI (2016). Relationships between pupil diameter and neuronal activity in the locus coeruleus, colliculi and cingulate cortex. Neuron 89:221-234. PMCID: PMC4707070.

    4. Joshi S, Gold JI (2022) Context-Dependent Relationships between Locus Coeruleus Firing Patterns and Coordinated Neural Activity in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex. eLife 11:e63490. PMCID: PMC8765756.

  • Neda Kaboodvand

    Neda Kaboodvand

    Basic Life Res Scientist, Neurosurgery

    Current Role at StanfordNeda Kaboodvand, PhD, is an Applied Scientist at Stanford University School of Medicine. Her work focuses on modeling human behavior and leveraging multimodal data to improve clinical decision-making and system performance. She designs and leads experimental and observational studies and develops machine learning and computational models to evaluate interventions, predict outcomes, and enable adaptive, personalized systems. Her research integrates high-dimensional behavioral and physiological data to generate actionable insights and optimize real-world systems.

  • Julia Kaltschmidt

    Julia Kaltschmidt

    Professor of Neurosurgery

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe lab’s primary research interest is to understand how specific neuronal circuits are established. We use mouse genetics, combinatorial immunochemical labeling and high-resolution laser scanning microscopy to identify, manipulate, and quantitatively analyze synaptic contacts within the complex neuronal milieu of the spinal cord and the enteric nervous system.

  • Vanessa W.Y. Kan

    Vanessa W.Y. Kan

    Postdoctoral Scholar, Neurosurgery

    BioI am a second-year postdoctoral researcher in Irene Llorente’s laboratory at the Department of Neurosurgery. I completed my Ph.D. at the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences GSN-LMU in Munich, Germany, where I was trained as a circuit neuroscientist. During my doctoral work, I focused on dissecting the circuit mechanisms underlying cortical hyperexcitability in ALS, uncovering the pathophysiological role of hyper-responsive layer 2⁄3 neurons (one of the main inputs to layer 5) in the disease course. Currently, my research bridges circuit neuroscience, stem cell biology, and bioinformatics to explore mechanisms of neural repair and regeneration. I utilize advanced experimental and computational tools, including in vivo calcium imaging in awake, freely behaving rodents; machine learning-based motion sequencing (MoSeq); anterograde and retrograde viral tracing techniques; and transplantation of iPSC-derived glial-enriched progenitors and cortical interneurons. In parallel, I apply spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing to map cell-type–specific interactions and molecular signatures during neural circuit remodeling.

    My research focuses on understanding the circuit mechanisms underlying neurological conditions such as stroke and identifying how cell-based therapies mediate repair. The ultimate goal of my work is to uncover molecular and cellular processes that promote graft–host integration and functional recovery, paving the way for next-generation regenerative therapies for the injured brain.

    In addition to translational research, I am also passionate about scientific education and outreach. I mentor community college students twice a year through the Stanford Science Small Group, in which I share my own experience in research and guide them through the research process. To expand my outreach efforts, in the past summer, I collaborated with Invent Your Own Future as well as The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and organized a summer camp on Neuroscience x AI research for over 20 high school students in Hong Kong.