Research

Dr. Lafuente accepts TANS award.

Dr. Lafuente Wins First Runner Up at TANS 2025 Annual Meeting

February 6, 2026

Congratulations to Molly Lafuente, DO, on receiving first runner up among resident lectures at the annual meeting of Texas Association of Neurological Surgeons (TANS) for her presentation, entitled “Direct STAMCA Bypass for Symptomatic, Atherosclerotic Severe M1 Stenosis: Recent Experience From 8 High-Volume Centers.”  



Drs. Mascitelli and Birnbaum Coauthor JNIS Article

November 21, 2025

Justin Mascitelli, MD, and Lee Birnbaum, MD, recently coauthored an article for the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, entitled: “Comaneci-assisted embolization of wide-necked aneurysms: results from the SUCCESS postmarket US study.” The article explores the use of the Comaneci device in treating wide-necked intracranial aneurysms, examining real-world performance, safety considerations, and the device’s role in advancing […]


Neurovascular Team Efforts Enroll Many Patients into Imperative Trial

July 30, 2025

The Department of Neurosurgery would like to congratulate the UT Health neurovascular team on their efforts to enroll many patients into the Imperative trial, a study organized to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Zoom Reperfusion System for mechanical thrombectomy. You can read more about the trial by visiting the link below.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40695608/  



Justin Mascitelli, MD, Authors editorial for the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery

July 10, 2025

Justin Mascitelli, MD, recently authored an editorial for the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, entitled: “Minimally invasive intracerebral hematoma evacuation: a difficult road, but a bright future.” You can view the article by visiting the link below: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40602999/  




Dr. Sayre Research Project Selected for Support by William and Ella Owens Medical Research Foundation

July 8, 2025

The Department of Neurosurgery is exited to share the news that the William and Ella Owens Medical Research Foundation has awarded $1.5 million to UT Health San Antonio to support vital research into Alzheimer’s disease, pancreatic cancer, and childhood cancers. Among the six selected projects, each receiving $250,000, is one led by Naomi Sayre, PhD, […]




Darren Poidevin, CLPO, Coauthors Article for Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics

April 17, 2025

Darren J. Poidevin, CLPO, recently coauthored an article that was published in the Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics (JPO), the official journal of the American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists. The JPO is a peer-reviewed, quarterly scholarly journal. It provides readers with clinically relevant evidence suited to promoting professional education, advancing high-quality research, and ultimately […]



Team Members Submit Electronic Poster for AANS

April 14, 2025

Laureen Raelly-Muze, Cerise Cisneros, Thomas Tyler Patterson, MD, and Alexander Papanastassiou, MD, have submitted an electronic poster for the upcoming annual meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) taking place in Boston from April 25 – 28. Their abstract is entitled “Assessing Postoperative Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease Patients Following DBS: A Study of […]


Groundbreaking Research from Sandeep Burma, PhD, and Bipasha Mukherjee, PhD, Featured in Many News Stories

April 2, 2025

Sandeep Burma, PhD, and Bipasha Mukherjee, PhD, coauthored an article earlier this year describing groundbreaking research that could help delay or eliminate the recurrence of one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer, glioblastoma. Their work has been circulating since that time. It has been featured in more than 90 stories from a variety of […]


Fassil B. Mesfin, MD, PhD, smiles for his photo.

Dr. Mesfin Invited to Write Article for COJ Robotics & Artificial Intelligence

August 9, 2024

The Department of Neurosurgery is excited to share the news that Fassil Mesfin, MD, has written an article for COJ Robotics & Artificial Intelligence. You can view the article by visiting the link below. https://crimsonpublishers.com/cojra/article-in-press.php  



Dr. Anqi Luo Awarded Texas Neurology Society Grant

July 17, 2024

The Department of Neurosurgery is excited to announce that our CNS endovascular fellow, Dr. Anqi Luo, was awarded the Texas Neurology Society Grant to support our ongoing multicenter registry of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Congratulations to Dr. Luo on this outstanding achievement!