Research

The goal of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh is to improve the care and treatment of patients with neurosurgical disease. This goal is being achieved partly though the conduct of state-of-the-art basic and translational research. The department, with more than 40 faculty members and investigators, seeks to be at the forefront of this endeavor; and numerous advances have already been achieved—research translated into practice. Annually, the department has been highly ranked in National Institutes of Health funding, a direct result of the success and quality of its research and development. In the past fiscal year, our faculty and residents were involved in more than 75 research projects having a annual budget award of almost $6.5 million.

Ongoing research includes the disciplines of molecular biology, neurophysiology, neurochemistry, neuroanatomy, and other basic neuroscience arenas. Specific questions addressed include research into the acute and chronic care following neurotrauma, neural recovery and plasticity, the neurobiologic and therapeutic response in neuro-oncology, the underlying mechanisms and treatment of movement traumas, cell death and radiation injury, and cerebrovascular physiology and modeling. The department provides an outstanding research environment for fellows, residents, and students seeking training in neurosurgical research.

Intramural research support for junior faculty and residents is available through the Walter L. Copeland Fund. The Walter L. Copeland Fund was established at The Pittsburgh Foundation in 1961, with instructions that the entire annual proceeds support cranial research in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh. More than $2 million has been granted for various research projects. In November 199, the neurosurgical labs on the ninth floor of Scaiff Hall were dedicated as the Walter L. Copeland Laboratory for Neurosurgical Research.

For detailed information about individual faculty research projects, please visit any of faculty bio pages.