Roberto Rodriguez Rubio, MD
Director
Dr. Rodriguez is an Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery and Otolaryngology here at UCSF.
He is the Director and principal investigator of the laboratory, with extensive experience in neurovascular, white-matter, and skull base neuroanatomy. He is also trained in creating 3D anatomical models and virtual neurosurgical simulations. Dr. Rodriguez Rubio oversees the daily activities of the lab, and mentors fellows and students.
Mitchel S. Berger, MD
Chairman, Department of Neurological Surgery
Dr. Berger is the Chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at UCSF.
Adib A. Abla, MD
Co-Director
Dr. Abla is Chief of Vascular Neurosurgery at UCSF. A vascular and endovascular neurosurgeon, he specializes in the treatment of brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and fistulae (AVM and AVF), cavernous malformations, stroke, and carotid artery disease. He treats both adult and pediatric patients.
He serves as Co-Director of the Skull Base and Cerebrovascular Laboratory.
Ivan El-Sayed, MD
Co-Director
Dr. El-Sayed is Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology and the Director of the Otolaryngology Minimally Invasive Skull Base Surgery program in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) at the University of California, San Francisco.
His research program goal is to develop 1) novel endoscopic surgical approaches and 2) nanotechnologies as multifunctional theranostic devices for the detection, destruction, and monitoring of oral cancer.
Wang Minghao, MD, PhD
Research Fellow
Dr. Wang Minghao is a neurosurgeon at the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China. He received his medical degree at China Medical University in 2009. In 2016, he obtained his Ph.D. degree, with his main research field being the study of the molecular regulation of glioma. To further hone his skills and knowledge of complex brain tumor surgery, he began his work as a visiting scholar and research fellow at the SBCVL in UCSF since March, 2018.
Currently, his research is focused on the microsurgical/endoscopic/
Xiong Li, MD
Research Fellow
Dr. Xiong Li is a neurosurgeon at the Chaoyang Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. In 2013, he obtained his MD from the Capital Medical University. His previous research experience was focused on using microarrays to study LncRNA expression signatures of arteriovenous malformations. To further his skills and knowledge of complex brain vascular surgery, he began his work as a visiting scholar and research fellow at the SBCVL in UCSF in March, 2019.
Currently, his projects are focused on different approaches to upper posterior circulation aneurysms via the IMAX bypass technique, and using 3D technology for neurosurgical teaching and practice.
Hongwei Zhu, MD, PhD
Research Fellow
Dr. Hongwei Zhu is a neurosurgeon at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University in
China. He graduated from Xian Jiaotong University and obtained his Ph.D. degree in
2013, studying the pathology of intracerebral hemorrhage.
His clinical interest point is minimally invasive skullbase surgery. He has been with us at the SBCVL as research fellow since December, 2018. His current research projects focus on transnasal and transcranial endoscopic approaches to the skull-base.
Ioannis Kournoutas, BS
Ioannis is a recent graduate of the University of California, Davis, where he completed his Bachelor's degree in Biopsychology. He has previous research experience at the UC Davis Center for Neuroscience, where he studied the pathophysiology underlying traumatic brain injury.
Beyond collaborating with fellows on ongoing neurosurgical projects, he hopes to expand his knowledge of clinical neuroanatomy, gain experience in 3D printing and volumetric modeling, and explore the role such modalities can play in improving anatomical pedagogy both here at home and abroad.
Ricky Chae, BA
Ricky is a recent graduate from Princeton University, where he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Through previous research experiences, he studied pediatric brain tumors and clinical patterns in meningioma treatment that can be used to precisely inform surgical decision-making.
At the Skull Base and Cerebrovascular Lab, he is eager to build on his research experiences and gain new insights that will enhance neurosurgery in research, education, and patient care. His interests in the lab include collaborating with fellows on surgical neuroanatomy, stereoscopic photography and video, 3D printing, 3D scanning, and neurosurgical simulation in cadaveric specimens. He looks forward to expanding his knowledge of neuroanatomy and engaging with innovative research that will advance medicine worldwide.