Investigators in the neurosurgery laboratory focus on two main clinical problems: syringomyelia (cysts in the spinal cord) and brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Our research aims to determine the mechanisms underlying the accumulation of fluid cysts within the spinal cord. Understanding how these cysts form may lead to prevention or improved treatment for this condition. Brain AVMs can be treated with highly focussed radiation (radiosurgery), but lesions larger than 3 cm respond poorly and even smaller lesions take up to 3 years to obliterate. Our work aims to remove these limitations by enhancing the molecular response of AVMs to radiation and promote thrombosis within the abnormal vessels at a much faster rate.
Marcus Stoodley is a neurosurgeon with post-fellowship training in neurovascular surgery. His particular neurovascular interests include brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and occlusive disorders such as moyamoya disease and carotid artery occlusion that are treated with bypass surgery. Over the last 10 years, he has led a research team that has developed an animal model of AVMs that can be treated with radiosurgery and used to develop improved treatment strategies. In addition, over the last 15 years he has been investigating the mechanisms of cyst formation within the spinal cord (syringomyelia) and obtained his PhD from the University of Adelaide for this work.
Enhancing the response of arteriovenous malformations to radiation treatmentAfter developing an animal model that can be used to investigate the effects of radiosurgery on AVMs, we have studied the molecular changes in this model and proposed various strategies to enhance the |
Mechanisms of spinal cord cyst formationCurrent projects are investigating the role of aquaporins and the blood brain barrier in syrinx development. |
