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Neurosurgery Research

The Department of Neurological Surgery is deeply committed to advancing knowledge and the pursuit of progress in new techniques and treatments in neurosurgery. As both clinicians and researchers in a dynamic academic medical center, neurosurgeons at Rush consistently translate significant scientific innovations into health gains for patients. Continuous investment in basic biomedical and behavioral discovery in concert with translational science ensures that both of these disciplines remain powerful engines of creativity.

Our research efforts have been focused in the following three broad areas:

Brain Tumor and Functional Neurosurgery

Human Cortical Visual Prosthesis
A phase 1 clinical trial to determine the feasibility of a human cortical visual prosthesis in people with blindness

Spine

LimiFlex
A concurrently controlled study of LimiFlex™ Paraspinous Tension Band in the treatment of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis. 

Cerapedics 
An assessment of P-15L bone graft in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with instrumentation. 

TOPS
This clinical study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the TOPS System compared to lumbar spinal fusion for treatment of subjects at level L2/3, L3/4, or L4/5.

MITRON
Metastatic Tumor Research and Outcome Network: A multicenter prospective registry for the mangement and outcome of metastatic spine tumors. 

ISSG Cervical
Prospective radiographic and clinical evaluation of surgical treatment for cervical deformity: A multi-center study. 

ISSG Prospective 
Prospective, multi-center minimally invasive versus open adult spinal deformity outcomes database registry. 

Endovascular Neurosurgery

Enrich Trial
A multi-center, randomized, clinical trial comparing standard medical management to early surgical hematoma evacuation using minimally invasive parafascicular surgery (MIPS) in the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Phil Trial
Study of Phil® Embolic System in the treatment of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas.

Surf
A prospective, multicenter study assessing the embolization of intracranial aneurysms using WAVE™ Extra Soft coils, a part of the Penumbra SMART COIL® System.

Select 2
A randomized controlled trial to optimize patient’s selection for endovascular treatment in acute ischemic stroke.

PROST
This research study is to compare the safety and effectiveness of the pRESET investigational device to the Solitaire FDA approved device in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion..