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Welcome to the Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, a pioneering hub of collaborative research nestled within the dynamic tapestry of the Texas Medical Center and its extended network. As a multidisciplinary research institute, we stand at the forefront of innovation, uniting with esteemed schools and programs to unravel the complexities of strokes and cerebrovascular conditions. With a shared vision that transcends institutional boundaries, we forge new pathways in medical discovery, harnessing collective expertise to drive advancements that resonate far beyond our immediate horizons. Explore the synergy of minds and the boundless potential that defines our institute as we work tirelessly to rewrite the future of stroke-related care and understanding.

Acute Stroke

Andrew BarretoAndrew Barreto, MD, MS, FAHA
Associate Professor, Department of Neurology
UTHealth Houston

Ritvij BowryRitvij Bowry, MD
Assistant Professor, Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery
UTHealth Houston

Alexandra CzapAlexandra Czap, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

James GrottaJames Grotta, MD
Founder, Stroke Program
Former Chair, Department of Neurology
Director of Stroke Research, Clinical Institute for Research and Innovation, Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center
Director, Mobile Stroke Unit Consortium

Elizabeth JonesElizabeth Jones, MD
Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Sunil ShethSunil Sheth, MD
Associate Professor, Neurology
Director, Vascular Neurology
UTHealth Houston

Basic Science Research

Jaroslaw (Jarek) AronowskiJaroslaw (Jarek) Aronowski, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Neurology
Vice Chair for Research, Department of Neurology
Roy M. and Phyllis Gough Huffington Chair in Neurology
Director of Stroke Research
UTHealth Houston

Shao-Ling HuangShao-Ling Huang, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Joo JungJoo Jung, PhD
Assistant Professor
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Eunhee KimEunhee Kim, PhD
Assistant Professor, Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Devin McBrideDevin McBride, PhD
Assistant Professor
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Nikunj SataniNikunj Satani, MD, MPH, MBBS
Assistant Professor
Instructor of Vascular Neurology
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Sean SavitzSean Savitz, MD
Professor of Neurology and Frank M. Yatsu, M.D. Chair in Neurology
McGovern Medical School
Director, Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease
UTHealth Houston

Xiurong ZhaoXiurong Zhao, MD
Professor, Department of Neurology
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Bioinformatics and AI

Luca GiancardoLuca Giancardo, PhD
Associate Professor at the Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics (SBMI), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth)

Xiaoqian JiangXiaoqian Jiang, PhD
Professor
Center Director of Secure Artificial intelligence For hEalthcare (SAFE)
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Yejin KimYejin Kim, PhD
Assistant Professor, UTHealth Houston School of Biomedical Informatics

Shayan ShamsShayan Shams, PhD
Assistant Professor
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Biostatistics and Data Sciences

Vahed Maroufy
Assistant Professor, Biostatistics at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health

Mohammad RahbarMohammad Rahbar, PhD
Professor, Epidemiology & Biostatistics
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Robert SuchtingRobert Suchting, PhD
Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Hulin WuHulin Wu, PhD, MS
The Betty Wheless Trotter Professor & Chair Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, SPH Director, Center for Big Data in Health Sciences, SPH Professor, School of Biomedical Informatics

Jose-Miguel YamalJose-Miguel Yamal, PhD
Associate Professor of Biostatistics, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health

Ashraf YaseenAshraf Yaseen, PhD
Assistant Professor, Data Science
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Brain Hemorrhage

Jaroslaw (Jarek) AronowskiJaroslaw (Jarek) Aronowski, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Neurology
Vice Chair for Research, Department of Neurology
Roy M. and Phyllis Gough Huffington Chair in Neurology
Director of Stroke Research
UTHealth Houston

Spiros BlackburnSpiros Blackburn, MD
Associate Professor, Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Tiffany ChangTiffany Chang, MD
Assistant Professor, Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Jared ChenJared Chen, MD
Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgeon
Assistant Professor
Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Huimahn ChoiHuimahn Choi, MD
Associate Professor, Vivian L. Smith Department Of Neurosurgery
Interim Vice-Chair, Neuro Critical Care
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Aaron GusdonAaron Gusdon
Assistant Professor, Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Mohammad HirzallahMohammad Hirzallah, MD, MMSc
Assistant Professor Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Center for Space Medicine Section of Neurocritical care and Vascular Neurology Baylor College of Medicine

Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery

Spiros BlackburnSpiros Blackburn, MD
Associate Professor, Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Peng ChenPeng Chen, MD
Professor
Vice Chair in Cerebrovascular Research
Director of Cerebrovascular/Endovascular Fellowship
Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Jared ChenJared Chen, MD
Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgeon
Assistant Professor
Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Mark DannenbaumMark Dannenbaum, MD
Assistant Professor, Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery
McGovern Medical School

Clinical Trial Design

Susan AldermanSusan Alderman, PhD, MS Ed, RN
Biobank Manager
Clinical Research Director, the Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease, McGovern Medical School
Assistant Professor, Clinical, UT Health School of Nursing

Charles GreenCharles Green, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Sean SavitzSean Savitz, MD
Professor of Neurology and Frank M. Yatsu, M.D. Chair in Neurology
McGovern Medical School
Director, Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease
UTHealth Houston

Jose-Miguel YamalJose-Miguel Yamal, PhD
Associate Professor of Biostatistics, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health

Community Outreach

Elizabeth NoserElizabeth Noser, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Neurology
James C. Grotta Chair in Neurorecovery and Stroke, Department of Neurology
Director of Community Engagement, Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease at UTHealth Houston

Endovascular

Yazan AlderaziYazan Alderazi, MD
Stroke and Endovascular Director | HCA Houston Healthcare

Spiros BlackburnSpiros Blackburn, MD
Associate Professor, Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Peng ChenPeng Chen, MD
Professor
Vice Chair in Cerebrovascular Research
Director of Cerebrovascular/Endovascular Fellowship
Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Jared ChenJared Chen, MD
Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgeon
Assistant Professor
Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Mark DannenbaumMark Dannenbaum, MD
Assistant Professor, Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery
McGovern Medical School

Sunil ShethSunil Sheth, MD
Associate Professor, Neurology
Director, Vascular Neurology
UTHealth Houston

Health Services Research and Health Economics

Suja RajanSuja Rajan, PhD
Associate Professor, Management, Policy & Community Health, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health

Mental Health After Stroke

Jennifer BeauchampJennifer Beauchamp, PhD, RN
Associate Professor, Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston

Jason BurnettJason Burnett, PhD
Associate Professor, Geriatric and Palliative Medicine
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Alejandro ChaoulAlejandro Chaoul, PhD
Founder and Director of The Jung Center’s Mind Body Spirit Institute
Adjunct Faculty, McGovern Center for Humanity and Ethics
Adjunct Faculty, Department of Integrative Medicine MD Anderson Cancer Center

Christopher FagundesChristopher Fagundes, PhD
Associate Professor, Rice University

Jennifer HughesJennifer Hughes, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UTHealth Houston

Carina KatigbakCarina Katigbak, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, FAHA
Associate Professor | Department of Research | Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston

Anjail SharriefAnjail Sharrief, MD, MPH
Associate Professor, Department of Neurology
Director, Vascular Neurology Fellowship Program
McGovern Medical School
Director of Stroke Prevention, Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease at UTHealth Houston

Neuroimaging

Muhammad HaqueMuhammad Haque, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Clark SittonClark Sitton, MD
Associate Professor, Radiology

Nursing Training Program

Lisa ThomasLisa Thomas, DNP, RN, CNS
Assistant Professor, Department of Graduate Studies, UTHealth Cizik School of Nursing

Omics Research

Myriam FornageMyriam Fornage, PhD
Professor, McGovern Medical School Institute of Molecular Medicine Research Center for Human Genetics

Pain Management

Deniz DishmanDeniz Dishman, PhD, CRNA, NSPM-C
Assistant Professor, Department of Research Cizik School of Nursing | Director Post-Stroke Pain Management Program at the Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease

Michael NguyenMichael Nguyen, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor

Sarah PrinslooSarah Prinsloo, Ph.D., M.A., LMFT-S, LPC, BCIA
Assistant Professor, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Pediatrics

Ian ButlerIan Butler, MD
Professor
Distinguished Chair In West Syndrome Research

Stephen FletcherStephen Fletcher, DO
Associate Professor, Division Of Pediatric Neurosurgery

Stuart FraserStuart Fraser, MD
Assistant Professor, Pediatric Neurology
Director, Program for Pediatric Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease at the Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease at UTHealth Houston

Natalie MontanezNatalie Montanez, NP
Nurse Practitioner, Hematology - Oncology

Thao NguyenThao Nguyen, DO, FAAP
Assistant Professor, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

David SandbergDavid Sandberg, MD, FACS, FAAP
Neurological Surgery and Pediatric Surgery

Manish ShahManish Shah, MD
Associate Professor, Division Of Pediatric Neurosurgery

Keely SmithKeely Smith, MD, FAAP
Division Chief, Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Associate Professor, Pediatrics

Lakshmi SrivathsLakshmi Srivaths, MD
Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist

Population Health and Health Disparities

Nitha JosephNitha Joseph, PhD, RN, CNE
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DEPARTMENT OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES

Anjail SharriefAnjail Sharrief, MD, MPH
Associate Professor, Department of Neurology
Director, Vascular Neurology Fellowship Program
McGovern Medical School
Director of Stroke Prevention, Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease at UTHealth Houston

Irene Tami-MurrayIrene Tami-Murray, DMD, DrPH, MSc
Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track), Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX.

Yolanda VillarrealYolanda Villarreal, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department Of Family And Community Medicine
Vice Chair of Cross-Cultural Engagement, Department Of Family And Community Medicine, McGovern Medical School

Prevention

Christina KimChristina Kim, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Munachi OkpalaMunachi Okpala, NP
STEP Clinic Program Manager
Stroke Clinic Nurse Practitioner
Community Outreach Organizer
UTHealth Houston

Anjail SharriefAnjail Sharrief, MD, MPH
Associate Professor, Department of Neurology
Director, Vascular Neurology Fellowship Program
McGovern Medical School
Director of Stroke Prevention, Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease at UTHealth Houston

Wesley TuckerWesley Tucker, Ph.D., RDN
Assistant Professor, Nutrition Nutrition and Food Sciences | Texas Women's University

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Deniz DishmanDeniz Dishman, PhD, CRNA, NSPM-C
Assistant Professor, Department of Research Cizik School of Nursing | Director Post-Stroke Pain Management Program at the Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease

Sean SavitzSean Savitz, MD
Professor of Neurology and Frank M. Yatsu, M.D. Chair in Neurology
McGovern Medical School
Director, Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease
UTHealth Houston

Vascular Cognitive Impairment

Seema AggarwalSeema Aggarwal, PhD, APRN, AGNP-C
Assistant Professor in the Cizik School of Nursing, Department of Research
UTHealth Houston

Kendra AndersonKendra Anderson, PhD
Neuropsychologist UTHealth Houston Neurosciences Neurocognitive Disorders Center
Assistant Professor of Neurology Department of Neurology
Division of Neuropsychology McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Myriam Fornage, Ph.D.
Professor, Center for Human Genetics
Laurence and Johanna Favrot Distinguished Professor in Cardiology,

Sean SavitzSean Savitz, MD
Professor of Neurology and Frank M. Yatsu, M.D. Chair in Neurology
McGovern Medical School
Director, Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease
UTHealth Houston

Anjail SharriefAnjail Sharrief, MD, MPH
Associate Professor, Department of Neurology
Director, Vascular Neurology Fellowship Program
McGovern Medical School
Director of Stroke Prevention, Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease at UTHealth Houston