Pediatric Neurosciences Research

Neurosurgery

At Children's we know that there is a symbiotic relationship between research and advancing clinical care. We are committed to collaborating with other institutions to initiatve and conduct research to discover preventitive, diagnostic and wellness strategies for children with serious medical illnesses or challenges.

     
 
CenterforNeurosciencesResearch

    Our team is dedicated to finding cures for pediatric neurological diseases. In 2012, we launched the Children’s Center for Neurosciences Research in collaboration with Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and the Morehouse School of Medicine. Learn more.

  
     
BrainTumor

  • EUREKA Grant
    Barun Brahma, M.D., Tobey MacDonald, M.D., and Ravi Bellamkonda, Ph.D. (Georgia Tech) collaborate on research using nanomedicine to trap the migrating cells in brain tumors. The EUREKA grant was awarded to the Georgia Institue of Technology to enable the design of a treatment for brain tumors that would direct moving tumor cells through a scaffold to a sink, located on the brain’s surface beneath the dura, which would contain a drug to kill the cells.

    • Peds Winter 2010 issue features the article "Brain Exvaders," which discusses the novel bioengineering solution aimed at pediatric brain tumors.
    • Reporter Newspapers interview Children's neurosurgeon, Dr. Brahma, about the exciting new research to remove brain tumors involving teams from Children's, Georgia Tech and Emory University School of Medicine.

    Stem Cells
    Tracy-Ann Read, Ph.D., Research Scientist, is studying medulloblastoma and cancer stem cells in the central nervous system, in conjunction with Emory Department of Neurosurgery.

    Nanomedicine
    Barun Brahma, M.D., Pediatric Neurosurgeon, and Ravi Bellamkonda, Ph.D. (Georgia Tech) are conducting a donor funded research study to use nano-technology to better assist surgeons in distinguishing brain tumors form healthy brain tissue.

    Drug Therapy
    Tobey MacDonald, M.D., Director, Neuro-Oncology Program, is leading a study to develop a drug therapy to stop the spread of medulloblastoma as an alternative to radiation therapy.

Neuropsychology

Cognitive Remediation
We are currently examining the effectiveness of our cognitive remediation program by utilzing pre- and post-testing control patients who have not been through our cognitive remediation program and comparing them with those patients who have received cognitive remediation.

Neurodevelopmental Issues associated with Congenital Heart Disease
The team is analyzing one and two-year neurodevelopmental follow-up in children with congenital heart disease to look at inflammatory markers related to brain injury pre- and post-open heart surgery.

We are also looking at the cognitive effects of congenital cardiac disease in an fMRI and DTI study.

Concussion
Comparing concussed atheletes with normal controls to assess advanced neuroimaging techniques as it pertains to return to play decisions.
Spine

  • Spinal Cord Injury
    Research is currently underway with the Georgia Institute of Technology to decrease secondary injury due to spinal cord injury.

AdditionalResources