Broader Impacts

The goal of research in the Translational Neuropsychology Lab is to produce scientific and technological outcomes that impact peoples' lives.

Optimizing Brain Mapping in Neurosurgery Patients

Since 2012, we have had continuous NIH funding to support research into how brain mapping techniques can be optimized in neurosurgery patients. This work began at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and resulted in the establishment of the Program for Translational Brain Mapping in 2017. In 2018 we began to work with clinicians and scientists at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Ongoing NIH supported research across both medical centers enrolls neurosurgery patients prior to neurosurgical interventions.

Mission Statement for the Program for Translational Brain Mapping

Dr. Webster Pilcher, Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery, University of Rochester

Impact of Research from the Translational Neuropsychology Laboratory

We are forever grateful to the patients and their families who invite our research team to be a part of their neurosurgical care experience. The scientific and clinical outcomes produced by our research program are possible because of the courage and agency they bring to their own care.

These are some of their stories. 

• NBC Health News: Musician plays sax during brain tumor surgery

• URMC: A patient plays his saxophone during brain surgery

• Democrat and Chronicle: Still on operating table, patient plays sax to show surgery was success

• People Magazine: Music teacher played his sax during brain surgery after surgeons save his music function

• Facebook Seeker: This music teacher is undergoing brain surgery while playing the saxophone

• New Atlas: Mid-surgery sax solo sounds success for retaining musical ability

Measuring how head hits from contact sports affect the brain

In this article for Wired, Dr. Adnan Hirad and I argued that the focus needs to remain on the real driver of long term injury: how is happening inside the head, regardless of what type of helmet is worn. 

• Wired: Football’s Concussion Crisis Is Awash With Pseudoscience

• The Guardian: Rob Gronkowski was dangerously wrong when he says CTE is 'fixable'

• U.S. News & World Report: Sub-Concussive Hits Cause Minor Brain Damage in College Athletes

• DailyMail: Stop focusing on concussions: Any head hits to football players can damage the brain

• MEAWW: Concussion not the only problem in football: New study shows that even routine hits can cause structural damage to brain

• Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: New research finds it's not just the big hits that damage football players' brains

• HealthDay: Steady Stream of Lesser Head Hits in Football Can Still Damage Brain

• Earth.com: Even routine hits from playing football can cause serious brain damage

Additional Coverage of Research from the Translational Neuropsychology Lab

• New Study Reshapes Understanding of How the Brain Recovers from Injury

• URMC: New imaging technique helps predict how vision recovers after brain tumor removal

• Futurity: Images show how brain heals itself after tumor

• URMC: Student work opens the brain to help surgeons remove tumors