Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation

Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation, Doctor, 5550 Meadowbrook Court, Rolling Meadows, IL.

NREF, the philanthropic arm of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, advances patient care by supporting neurosurgical research, education and innovation. The NREF is dedicated to providing education to neurosurgeons at all stages of their careers, as well as funding research into new and existing neurosurgical treatments, in order to identify links between best practices and improved

outcomes in patient care. Through voluntary public donations, corporate support, and donations from allied groups, the NREF supports endeavors that impact the lives of those suffering from epilepsy, stroke, brain tumors, spinal disorders, sports-related head injuries, lower back pain and Parkinson’s disease.

08/03/2026

The 2026 NREF Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) and Emerging Technology Course at Barrow Neurological Institute brought together leading faculty and neurosurgical residents for a weekend of hands-on learning, mentorship and collaboration.

Course Director Juan S. Uribe, MD uribe and AANS/CNS Spine chair Luis Tumialán, MD, reflect on the experience and discuss the value of bringing together expert faculty, innovative technology and the next generation of spine surgeons in a collaborative learning environment.

Thank you to our outstanding faculty, residents and industry partners for making this year’s course a success.

A special thank you to our generous sponsors, whose support helps make this exceptional educational experience possible: Globus Medical, Medtronic and Bioventus Surgical Solutions

Congratulations to Zachary T. Olmsted, MD, PhD of UCLA Neurosurgery and recipient of the 2026-27 NREF & Academy of Neuro...
07/29/2026

Congratulations to Zachary T. Olmsted, MD, PhD of UCLA Neurosurgery and recipient of the 2026-27 NREF & Academy of Neurological Surgeons Research Fellowship Grant.

Dr. Olmsted's research, "Multicellular Signaling Networks Regulating Spinal Cord-Matched Graft Integration After Chronic Spinal Cord Injury," is advancing the search for regenerative therapies that could transform the treatment of chronic spinal cord injury.

Using advanced spatial mapping techniques, this project will investigate how transplanted neural cells communicate with injured spinal cord tissue and identify the molecular signals that determine whether these grafts successfully survive and integrate. By uncovering ways to make chronic scar tissue more supportive of regeneration, this work could help pave the way for durable cell-based therapies and future combination treatments that restore function after spinal cord injury.

Congratulations to Alexander Perdomo-Pantoja, MD, recipient of the 2026-2027 NREF & AANS and CNS Joint Section on Disord...
07/28/2026

Congratulations to Alexander Perdomo-Pantoja, MD, recipient of the 2026-2027 NREF & AANS and CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves Sanford J. Larson Research Fellowship Grant!

At Washington University in St. Louis, Dr. Perdomo-Pantoja is leading an innovative research project, "Engineering Transient, Lesion-Targeted CAR-T Cell Therapy to Modulate Inflammation and Improve Recovery after Acute Spinal Cord Injury," focused on developing a more precise approach to treating acute spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injuries often result in permanent disability, with much of the long-term damage driven by the body's inflammatory response following injury. Dr. Perdomo-Pantoja's research seeks to engineer transient, lesion-targeted CAR-T cells using mRNA technology to safely regulate inflammation during the critical early stages of recovery.

By reducing secondary damage to the spinal cord, this work has the potential to improve neurological recovery while establishing a new framework for targeted immune therapies in spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions.

This research is conducted under the mentorship of Jonathan Kipnis, PhD.

Congratulations to Edwin Nieblas-Bedolla, MD, MPH, of the University of Michigan Department of Neurosurgery, recipient o...
07/27/2026

Congratulations to Edwin Nieblas-Bedolla, MD, MPH, of the University of Michigan Department of Neurosurgery, recipient of the 2026-27 NREF & Andrew T. Parsa Research Fellowship Grant.

Dr. Nieblas-Bedolla's research, "Exploring Astrocyte-Glioblastoma Cell Communication Following Surgical Resection," is investigating an important question in the fight against glioblastoma: how the brain's own healing response after surgery may influence the tumor's return.

By studying how astrocytes communicate with glioblastoma cells that remain after surgical resection, this project aims to uncover the molecular pathways that may allow these aggressive tumors to survive, spread and recur. The findings could identify new therapeutic targets to help slow tumor progression after surgery and improve outcomes for patients with glioblastoma.

Congratulations to Connor Liu, MD of Johns Hopkins University, recipient of the 2026-27 NREF & Bagan Family Foundation R...
07/24/2026

Congratulations to Connor Liu, MD of Johns Hopkins University, recipient of the 2026-27 NREF & Bagan Family Foundation Research Fellowship Grant.

Dr. Liu's research, "Targeting Monocarboxylate Transporter-1 with an Antibody-Drug Conjugate for the Treatment of Glioblastoma," is advancing a promising new strategy for one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer.

By developing targeted antibody-drug conjugates that recognize the MCT1 protein on glioblastoma cells, this work aims to deliver cancer-fighting therapies directly to tumors while minimizing damage to healthy brain tissue. The project will also evaluate how these therapies pe*****te brain tumors and distribute within the brain, helping pave the way for safer, more effective treatments for patients facing malignant brain tumors

Congratulations to Spyridon Karadimas, MD, FAANS, of Stanford Neurosurgery , recipient of the 2026-27 Academy of Neurolo...
07/23/2026

Congratulations to Spyridon Karadimas, MD, FAANS, of Stanford Neurosurgery , recipient of the 2026-27 Academy of Neurological Surgeons Young Clinician Investigator Award.

Dr. Karadimas' research, "Brain Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs) and Developmental Neuroplasticity," is exploring how the brain adapts to the presence of arteriovenous malformations and how those changes can help guide safer surgical care.

Using noninvasive brain stimulation and advanced brain recording techniques, this project will measure brain function in patients with AVMs to better understand which regions remain essential and which have adapted over time. The findings could shift surgical planning from anatomy-based decision-making to a more personalized, function-based approach, helping neurosurgeons preserve critical neurological function while treating these complex vascular lesions.

Congratulations to Jawad Fares, MD of Northwestern Department of Neurosurgery and recipient of the 2026-27 NREF & Acade...
07/22/2026

Congratulations to Jawad Fares, MD of Northwestern Department of Neurosurgery and recipient of the 2026-27 NREF & Academy of Neurological Surgeons Research Fellowship Grant.

Dr. Fares' research, "Mechanistic Dissection of Nucleocytoplasmic Transport as a Biomarker Axis for Oncolytic Virotherapy in High Grade Gliomas," is advancing our understanding of why promising viral therapies work for some glioblastoma patients but not others.

07/21/2026

The NREF proudly welcomes Ernest Braxton MD, MBA to the Cushing Circle of Giving.

Dr. Braxton's generous support will fund groundbreaking research, provide extraordinary educational opportunities, and support studies that identify links between best practices and improved outcomes in patient care. Learn more: https: //www.nref.org/donor-wall/cushing-circle-of-giving.

Congratulations to Benjamin Uy, MD recipient of the 2026-2027 B*CURED and NREF Young Clinician Investigator Award!At the...
07/21/2026

Congratulations to Benjamin Uy, MD recipient of the 2026-2027 B*CURED and NREF Young Clinician Investigator Award!

At the University of California, Irvine, Dr. Uy is leading an innovative research project, "Armored Tri-specific CAR-NK Cells Against EGFR, IL-13Rα2, and CD155 for Glioblastoma Therapy," focused on developing a next-generation cellular immunotherapy for glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat brain cancers, in part because of its diverse cellular makeup and its ability to suppress the body's natural immune response. Dr. Uy's research aims to develop an "off-the-shelf" CAR-NK cell therapy engineered to simultaneously target three receptors commonly found on glioblastoma cells, allowing for more comprehensive tumor recognition and elimination.

The therapy is also designed to deliver immune-stimulating molecules directly to the tumor, activating a broader anti-tumor immune response to eliminate remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence. This research is conducted under the mentorship of Jianhua Yu, PhD.

We're proud to announce that Adriel Barrios-Anderson, MD has been selected as the recipient of the 2026-2027 NREF & The ...
07/21/2026

We're proud to announce that Adriel Barrios-Anderson, MD has been selected as the recipient of the 2026-2027 NREF & The AANS CNS Joint Section on Pediatric Neurosurgery Research Fellowship Grant, conducting research at the University of Washington.

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5550 Meadowbrook Court
Rolling Meadows, IL
60008

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